THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Friday is DOI day - a celebration of the most beloved document in American history.  To prepare, use the VoiceThread below to provide some context and complete the front of your Declaration of Independence preactivity handout.

Now, complete your primary source analysis of the Declaration by reading the copy in Creating America or from the National Archives. Use this podcast from Colonial Williamsburg to help! And, if you are a football fan ...!

Below are some awesome links about the DOI - check them out if you get a chance!

The National Archives - Charters of Freedom  http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/declaration.html - The National Archives provides a great site about the DOI, including actual images, articles about the DOI, and the opportunity to join the signers.

USHistory.org - From the Independence Hall Association - http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/ - "This site provides a wealth of information about the signers of the Declaration, the history of the Declaration, and an online version of the Declaration for you to read. The site also provides links to other Declaration-related biographies and histories and a guestbook where you are invited to add comments and ideas. This site is a good resource for anyone curious about the Declaration and its history, or for the student who needs resources for his or her research paper."

A User's Guide to the Declaration of Independence - http://www.founding.com/home.htm - Founding.com has a great interactive site detailing the political philosophy of the DOI.

Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents - http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/declara1.html - This special exhibition is the second in a series of public previews of unique documents from the collections of the Library of Congress. These previews will culminate in the permanent exhibition, "Treasures of the Library of Congress," funded by the Xerox Foundation, which will open in 1997, the 100th anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson Building.

The Declaration of Independence Road Trip - http://www.independenceroadtrip.org/ - The Road Trip website "serves as a destination for those interested in the project, featuring tour schedules, press materials, photographs and videos that describe the project and engage viewers from around the country. It also features an interactive exhibit where visitors learn more about the key ideas put forth in the Declaration. The site is a full resource center, designed to encourage civic participation through an online voter registration function, as well as lists of civic engagements and historical resources."

Save Our History - The Declaration of Independence - http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/declaration/main.html - This site from the History Channel complements the documentary about the DOI.  The site contains DOI info, biographies of many of the signers, a quiz, and information about visiting the Declaration - which we will do in May!