#104 Declaring Independence

The opening of the original printing of the Declaration, printed on July 4, 1776 under Jefferson's supervision.

Agenda:

Select notetaker.

SOAPSTone-based discussion:

• Use SOAPSTone analysis to guide first part of discussion.

Open discussion:

• This portion of class can address many different issues, among the possibilities:
  • Why were Americans, who were loyal to King George III in 1760, now in favor of independence in 1776?
    • How were Americans defining themselves?
  • Consider the grievances discussed in the latter part of the document.
    • What events do they reference? (Think back to your group research).
  • If you were a member of the British parliament tasked with responding to these grievances, what would you say?
    • As a third-party observer, do you think the case for independence was made strongly in this document? Why or why not?
  • What strikes you as the most important belief in the preamble?
  • What are “unalienable rights”?
    • Where might they stem from?
    • What is a truer type of freedom: the freedom for individuals to be able to choose to give up ones own rights or the protection of some fundamental rights as "unalienable"?
  • What is consent important for the authors of this document?
    • To what extent to Americans today consent to governance? For example, does it matter that most Hotchkiss students cannot vote even though they pay sales taxes?
  • What questions might you have for Thomas Jefferson about this document?
  • Who were the “Americans” represented in 1776?
  • To whom exactly does “men” refer?
    • How has that definition expanded?
  • Should the Declaration of Independence be celebrated on July 4th?
    • What did the Declaration of Independence accomplish? Who gained liberty? Who did not?
    • What did it leave unresolved?
  • Does this document hold up looking back from the 21st century? – more or less than you might have remembered or its reputation in history books?

Discussion Self-Reflection

• Save 5-6 minutes at end to complete “Discussion Self-Reflection”

Homework: #105

Notes:

• HH250-01 notes prepared by Ginny Barnes.
• HH250-09 notes prepared by Ashley Spark.
• HH250-10 notes prepared by Firas Kora.