Understanding and Interpreting The Declaration of Independence

1. What reason for writing the Declaration does Jefferson give in its first paragraph?
2. According to the Declaration, where does a government get its powers?
3. What are the “unalienable rights” that Jefferson mentions?
4. Jefferson basically mentions four “self-evident” truths. Name them. Then argue for or against the notion that they are in fact self-evident.

Well-chosen words and phrases and a smooth and clear style help a writer to persuade someone of her or his point of view. But language alone is not likely to win an argument if one is trying to convince a mature, thoughtful audience.

The bulk of Jefferson’s Declaration is composed of solid, concrete details that help prove his case against the king of England.

1. How many reasons does Jefferson give?
2. Which three or four would you have considered most persuasive if you had been an American colonist at the time?
3. At one point in the Declaration, Jefferson shifts from “He” as a paragraph opener to “For”. Why does he do this?
4. What are your thoughts about the Declaration of Independence? Using your own words, explain what it is, why it was written, and how it was important to our country then and how it continues to be important to us today.