Guided Reading for the Declaration

Part 1: As you read the Declaration of Independence, complete and answer the following:

1. Who is America’s Declaration of Independence directed at?
2. List any words or phrases that you are unsure of: (Don’t know the meaning)
3. How many problems / complaints did the colonists mention?
4. In your own words, what is meant by the paragraph which states:
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”?

Part 2: Questions to consider as the video plays:

1. What does Morgan Freeman mean when he refers to the contradictions between the ideals of the Declaration and the “sometimes painful realities of American life?”
2. Think about the impact of reading the Declaration aloud, as opposed to reading it to oneself. Which is more profound? Why?
3. What is the tone of the Declaration of Independence?
4. Think about the way the actors pronounce difficult and archaic words, use body language to express ideas, and employ rhythm and cadence for a smoother flow and increased drama. How does this style and emphasis help you understand what is being said with more clarity?