OBJECTIVE:  You will learn about how the Declaration of Independence relates to the Bill of Rights (which are part of the U.S. Constitution).

 GUIDING QUESTIONS

             1) How does the Declaration of Independence relate to the Bill of Rights?

DISCUSSION

The Declaration of Independence was completed in 1776.  Thomas Jefferson argues, in the Declaration of Independence, that people will suffer quite a bit before deciding to take up arms against their oppressor (ruler).  Jefferson used this premise to begin his lengthy justification for rebelling against the Tyrant King George III of England.  As you will explore in this lesson, Jefferson believed that many unjust and harsh actions by the King had ultimately lead to the Colonists deciding to take up arms against British rule.  After the Revolution ended, however, the Founding Fathers wanted to make sure that injustices of British rule were not continued in the emerging nation known as the United States.  But, how could past injustices be prevented in the future?  The Bill of Rights, also known as the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1788 (more than 10 years after the Declaration), answered these concerns.  Did they do a good job?  You will explore this question in this lesson.

As you read and listen to these links, complete the grid in the assignment area (paste into a Word document)..

READINGS

GRIEVANCES IN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 http://www.constitution.org/usdeclar.htm 

Read the entire text of the Declaration of Independence, which was written in 1776.  You should read it twice before proceeding any further.  Take your time and be patient.  Read it once silently to yourself and then read it out loud to yourself.  This document was meant to be spoken aloud, not read silently.  To hear an excellent reading of this document online, please visit

click here to watch the video

·        Choose at least four grievances and then copy and paste the “List of Grievances” into your Word document - Ratification Guidesheet.  

(The List of Grievances begins with the sentence, "He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." and ends with the sentence, " He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."  These sentences and all the sentences in between are considered the List of Grievances in the Declaration of Independence.  These are specific grievances (complaints) against King George III, the ruler of Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.)

BILL OF RIGHTS

Now, you will read the Bill of Rights.  The Bill of Rights are the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and were completed in 1788 (More than 10 years after the Declaration of Independence was written).  http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html 

Read over the Bill of Rights very carefully.  Now, go back to the two specific grievances you picked out in the Declaration of Independence.  The Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the United States Constitution) were designed to specifically address concerns over abuses raised in the Declaration of Independence.  Now, pick two grievances from your list of three or four that you set aside previously and find two amendments in the bill of rights (1-10) that specifically address the grievances you have chosen.  Your assignment is to indicate how the two amendments from the Bill of Rights that you have chosen specifically address the two grievances that you have chosen from the Declaration of Independence.  Essentially, you must explore how they relate to one another.  Remember, you are comparing two separate grievances with two separate amendments.   

Assignment 1.03 - Debates for Ratification and The Bill of Rights.

1. Create a Word document with three columns and make it look like this (you can copy and paste this into a Word document).

RATIFICATION GUIDESHEET

2. Read the Grievances from the Declaration of Independence.  List at least four.
3. Read the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution and find the ones that address the grievances in the first column.
4. Write your personal analysis for each one.
5. Go to the assignment area and click on assignment 1.03.  Turn in your assignment.