A Fourth of July Firecracker.

• Author: PRICE, SEAN
• Position: Teaching principles in the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence ignited a firestorm 225 years ago this summer. Here's why.

FOCUS: An Annotated Study of the Opening Section of the Declaration of Independence

TEACHING OBJECTIVES

To help students understand the origins and meaning of one of America's most important documents, the Declaration of Independence.

Discussion Questions:

* Suppose a group of Americans decides they want to secede from the U.S. Can they cite the Declaration of Independence to bolster their demand?

* If there had been TV in 1776, would the Declaration have been effective as a prime-time broadcast?

* Were the truths cited as "self-evident" (obvious) really obvious in 1776? Are they obvious around the world today?

* What does the Declaration suggest should be the fate of tyrants?

CLASSROOM STRATEGIES

Critical Thinking/Discussion: The ideas in the Declaration of Independence were not original with Thomas Jefferson or the other Founding Fathers. Many were borrowed from English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) and other thinkers. Does that fact diminish the document's power? (Jefferson wasn't trying to be original; he drew on accepted ideas to persuade the world that what the colonists were doing in breaking free of Britain was reasonable and necessary.)

* Why, in a society where human slavery was widespread, did Jefferson write "all men are created equal"? What did the phrase mean then? How has it been interpreted over the last 225 years?

* Refer to governments "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Remind students that one of the main complaints of the colonists was that Britain had levied taxes on them without their consent. If Britain had given the colonies seats in Parliament, would independence have become unnecessary?

* Have students read a copy of the full text of the Declaration, which goes on to make a series of charges against King George III of England. Is it a balanced account, or wartime propaganda? How might the Declaration convince other countries to come to the aid of the colonies?

* Next, ask students to suppose they were with Jefferson when he decided to change Locke's language and change "property" to "pursuit of happiness." What might they ask Jefferson about the change?

So you're mad at the mother country. You've got grievances aplenty and you want the world to know it. It's time to cut the apron strings and start a new nation.

That's what it was like for delegates from the 13 American colonies when they voted...