Declaration of Independence Close Read for Civics & American Government

In this Declaration of Independence Close-Read, students work through three pages of excerpts from Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration, answering questions in the margins to define key terms, analyze the text, and determine the big ideas behind this foundational document. (If you’ve enjoyed the Influential Documents Annotated Close Read or the John Locke & Thomas Jefferson | Social Contract Close-Read & Comparison, this is designed to match!) Perfect for middle and high school students in Civics, American History, or American Government!

Aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics, SS.7.CG.1.6 The Declaration of Independence, this resource guides students through the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence, analyzing excerpts for key ideas and comprehension. The margins are lined with close-read questions that ask students to define words, interpret chunks of the text, and think critically about what they’re reading.

Questions include:

• What are the three unalienable rights Jefferson believes all men are born with? 
• Quote the line that relates to the phrase “no taxation without representation”.
• What does it mean to ”petition for redress”?

Students are also asked to address two Big Idea Questions:

• What are the four truths Thomas Jefferson holds to be self-evident?
• How did Thomas Jefferson apply the theories of natural rights and the social contract to explain to the world why the American colonists were seeking independence from Great Britain?

This resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF and includes an Answer Key. A digital version is available through TPT Easel, which can be assigned directly to Google Classroom or shared with your students via a link!