Alexei Francis Unit 2_Analysis_Declaration of Independence_3.0

Declaration of Independence
Analysis
Objective What did the Declaration of Independence actually declare?
Background on the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The document
announced that the thirteen American colonies were at war with the kingdom of Great Britain, and that they regarded themselves as a
newly independent nation. The document has four main parts - an introduction, a preamble that outlines a general philosophy of
government, an indictment or list of particular charges or grievances against the King of England, and finally a denunciation that made the
case for independence.
Document Pre-Analysis: Watch this video and answer the two guiding questions below.
1) Who are the colonists addressing this song towards? Cite one piece of evidence from the video that led you to reach this conclusion.
The colonists were addressing the British and the King. In the video they were showing clips of King George and they were saying
“it’s too late to apologize”.
2) Why do you think it is “too late to apologize”? What has Great Britain done that the colonists feel it is “too late”?
It is “too late to apologize” when they were suffering before, but when they were declaring that they want independence from the King
and Great Britain. Great Britain has done many things to make the colonists believe that it is “too late” because before the British were taxing
the colonists for little things such as tea and paper. These taxes were paying of the debt that Great Britain had for all the wars that took place.
The colonists have been asking for change for years but they didn’t do anything.
Primary Source: Declaration of Independence

Preamble
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When in the course of human events, it becomes
necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands
which have connected them with another, and to assume
among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God
entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.