Here you will find a selection of four lesson units which show the impact and influence of the Declaration of Independence from the American Revolution to the fight for women’s suffrage. A variety of primary sources and pedagogical strategies are built into these lessons. Designed for elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms, these lesson plans help to illustrate how the Declaration of Independence is the cornerstone of American ideals. 

The Declaration of Independence: In the summer of 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted a document that declared to the world that a new nation, the United States of America, had been born. Students will use text analysis strategies to discover what Jefferson and the Continental Congress had to say, and develop their own ideas based solely on the original text. (middle and high school)

The American Revolution: The Boston Massacre, “Yankee Doodle,” and the Declaration of Independence: Over the course of three lessons, students will explore the Revolutionary era through three primary sources: an image of the Boston Massacre, the song “Yankee Doodle,” and the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. These primary sources provide three ways to understand the ideals of the founders. (elementary and middle school)

Declarations of Independence: In 1848 over 200 men and women gathered in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the rights of women and women’s suffrage. Out of that gathering came the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, which argued for women’s voting rights and reforms in marital laws. The blueprint for that document was the original Declaration of Independence. (middle and high school)

The Preamble to the US Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Declaration of Independence: Over the course of three lessons, students will analyze three documents that define American democracy: the Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the second section of the Declaration of Independence. Understanding these three texts is an essential part of understanding American ideals and citizenship. (elementary and middle school)

What Does Liberty Look Like?: During the Revolutionary era, many saw an opportunity to test the boundaries of liberty. In this lesson students will explore several perspectives on liberty during this period.