Thomasjefferson.exposición

North American Literature

Student:

Montoya Ruiz, Julio César

Professor:Cardenas Cornelio, Yony

2011

ImagineYou are 18 years old and live in your own apartment in your father’s house…

1. He takes half of your paycheck every week2. He tells you where you are allowed to spend the rest

of it.3. He tells you where you are allowed to go on

weekends.4. He sleeps in your apartment whenever he feels like it.

What do you do? Remain silent, try to talk to him, or just move out. If you try to talk to him, what would you say?

Incidents leading to colonists’ anger towards England and King George III

A. Proclamation of 1763B. Navigation ActsC. Sugar ActD. Stamp ActE. Townshend ActsF. Boston MassacreG. Tea ActH. Intolerable Acts

In June of 1776, the Continental Congress asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. It was approved on July 4, 1776.

Freckled and sandy-haired, rather tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker.

In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause.

As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence.

This powerful advocate of liberty was born in 1743 in Albermarle County, Virginia.

He studied at the College of William and Mary, then became a lawyer.

The Declaration of Independence had three parts

A. Statement of a theory of a democratic government

(roughly 200 words long)

B. List of British wrongs or grievances inflicted upon the colonies

(roughly 1000 words long)

C. Concluding statement of independence

( roughly 200 words long)

First part of the Declaration of Independence- The Key Ideas of Government:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the

pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are

instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent

of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or

abolish it and to institute a new form of government.”

VOCABULARY

Self-evident.-so clear or obvious that no proof or explanation is needed.

Endowed with.-If someone or something is endowed with a particular quality or feature, the person or thing naturally has that quality or feature.

Unalienable.-unable to be removed. Secure.- to defend. Institute.- to put into effect; cause to be used. Derive.- to get or to obtain. Just.- fair; morally correct. Consent.- permission or agreement obtained from someone or

something having authority or power. Abolish.- to put an end to something, such as an organization, rule,

or custom.

Understanding and Interpreting

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that

they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among

these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights,

Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the

consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government become

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and

to institute a new form of government.”

1. What are the 3 basic rights listed in the Declaration of Independence?

Understanding and Interpreting

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the

pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are

instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent

of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or

abolish it and to institute a new form of government.”

2. According to the passage, what are governments supposed to do?

Understanding and Interpreting

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted

among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the

governed; that whenever any form of government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or

abolish it and to institute a new form of government.”

3. If the government fails to achieve its purpose, what is the consequence?

Understanding and Interpreting

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted

among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the

governed; that whenever any form of government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or

abolish it and to institute a new form of government.”

4. Do you think the colonists felt that their natural rights were being protected? Why or why not?

Understanding and Interpreting

Second Part of the Declaration of Independence

“HE has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly…”

“HE has kept among us, in time of peace, standing armies…”

“For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us…”

“For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world…”

“For imposing taxes on us without our consent…”

1. Who is HE?

2. Why would Jefferson include these statements in the Declaration of Independence?

3. In your opinion, which grievance was the worst? Give your reason why.

Understanding and Interpreting

Third Part of the Declaration of Independence

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General

Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States… And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

1. Was the United States founded as a loose confederation of independent states or a strong centralized nation?

2. What do you think their fate would have been if Britain had been the victor in the Revolution?

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance”

Thomas Jefferson