Why Did Americans Declare Independence on July 4, 1776?
Mystery
Historians view documents from the past. In this lesson, students will explore why American colonists wanted to declare independence in 1776. As students…
Overview
Historians view documents from the past. In this lesson, students will explore why American colonists wanted to declare independence in 1776. As students prepare to read a modified version of the Declaration of Independence, they view images from the past and sort the American colonists’ beliefs about just government and the unjust actions of Great Britain.
Grade Levels
- K-5
Learning Objectives
- Explain connections between events
- Analyze a primary source to determine its main ideas
- Identify the purposes of the Declaration of Independence
- Use evidence from a primary source to explain: “Why did Americans declare independence on July 4, 1776?”