THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:

A GLOBAL LEGACY

Anthony J. Fitzpatrick

The American Institute for History Education

The Premise

The Declaration of Independence has been a social and political inspiration for many throughout the world.

While many have laid claim to the legacy of the Declaration, we are going to attempt to see if that is true using some of the analytical strategies that we’ve learned. SPECS and ARTIST We’re also going to use some classic graphic

organizers (Oh Yeah – I’m going Venn).

Here is how we’re going to do this: Every table will SPEC the Declaration of

Independence. Every table will SPEC one other declaration. Every table will complete a Venn Diagram. Those tables with a laptop should research the

following: Circumstances surrounding the two declarations Determine the level of comparison between the

two documents Make a declarative statement concerning the

comparison

The Declarations:

Thomas Jefferson’s Original Rough Draft The Declaration of Sentiments The Haitian Declaration of Independence The Unanimous Declaration of Independence

made by the Delegates of the People of Texas A Declaration of Independence by the

Representatives of the People of the Commonwealth of Liberia.

The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Southern Rhodesia)

Opinion on Haiti:

it would be inconsistent on the part of a free nation to take measures against a people who had availed themselves of the only means they had to throw off the yoke of the most atrocious slavery; if one treats the insurrection of the negroes as rebellion, what name can be given to that insurrection of Americans which secured their independence?

-A Pennsylvania Legislator