Gryphon English

Welcome to Mrs. Griffin's "Gryphon English" webpage

 

1. "When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

It has become necessary that we separate and declare our independence from Britain.

2. "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."

Everyone gets equal rights. One of those rights is freedom.

3. "To secure these basic rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

The leaders of the government should be elected by the people.

4. "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive (in protecting rights and responding to the people), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government..."

5. "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states."

Great Britain is a tyrant who has interfered with the colonies.

6. "To prove (that England has interfered with colonial rights), let the facts be submitted to a candid world: He has refused to assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

7. "In every state of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petition 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 the free people."

8. "We, therefore...solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states..."

 

Homework:

1. In general, why was the Declaration of Independence written?

2. What basic rights does the document claim individuals have?

3. According to the document, why do the colonists have the right to declare independence?

4. According to the colonists, how has the King responded to their grievances?

5. How do you think the King and Parliament felt when they read this? What do you think their response was?

6. What risks did the colonists take by writing this?

7. From whose point of view was the Declaration of Independence written?