The Best Declaration of Independence Worksheets!

Declaration of Independence worksheets for your social studies class!

On July 4, 1776, the American Revolution officially began when our Founding Fathers in the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence!

And in doing so, declared that the thirteen American colonies now considered themselves a new nation - FREE from Great Britain and the British Crown

One of my 5th Grade worksheets on the Declaration of Independence! Included as part of my 5th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Bundle!

The following questions are three of my favorite worksheet questions to ask 5th graders on the Declaration of Independence:

#1: What are three rights listed in the Declaration of Independence, and why are they important?

I like this question for 5th graders because it asks them to identify specific information from the document and then think critically about why those rights are important. It also allows them to explore what a natural right is and the role of government in protecting those rights, which are key themes of the Declaration of Independence.

#2: Why did the colonists write the Declaration of Independence, and what did they hope to achieve by doing so?

This question asks students to consider the historical context of the document and its purpose (and the big idea as to why members of Congress wanted it!). It also encourages them to think about the actions the colonists took to break away from British rule and establish the United States of America and a new government, as well as the importance of this document in the greater arena of U.S. history. This is an important skill for 5th graders to develop as they begin to study history in a more complex and nuanced way. 

#3: How did the Declaration of Independence reflect the ideas of the Enlightenment, and why were these ideas important to the colonists?

In asking your students this question, you're asking them to research primary sources of information so that they can consider the influence of the Enlightenment on the thinking of the colonists and how those ideas are reflected in the Declaration of Independence. It also encourages them to explore the impact of these ideas on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the formation of the United States, and the role of ideas in shaping history. This is a good question for 5th graders because it challenges them to think beyond the document itself and consider its broader historical and philosophical context.

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When it comes to 8th graders, here are three of my favorite worksheet questions to ask about the Declaration of Independence:

#1: How did the Declaration of Independence reflect the tensions and contradictions in American society at the time it was written?

I really like this question for 8th graders because it encourages them to think critically about the historical and social context in which the Declaration was written. It also challenges them to consider the contradictions between the ideals of the document (such as "all men are created equal") and the reality of American society at the time, such as the institution of slavery.

#2: What role did the ideas of the Enlightenment play in the development of the Declaration of Independence, and how did these ideas influence the structure of the new American government?

This is one of my favorite questions for 8th graders because it asks them to consider the philosophical and intellectual underpinnings of the Declaration of Independence and how these ideas shaped the new American government. It also encourages students to think about the legacy of the Enlightenment in American political and social thought. This is an appropriate question for 8th graders because it challenges them to think more deeply about the ideas behind the document and the impact of those ideas on American history.

#3: How did the Declaration of Independence influence other movements for independence and self-determination throughout the world?

By asking your students this question, you're asking them to consider the global impact of the Declaration of Independence, and its role as a model for other movements for independence and self-determination. It also encourages students to think about the role of the United States in the world and the impact of its founding documents on the development of democracy and human rights around the world. This is an appropriate question for 8th graders because it challenges them to think beyond American history and consider the global impact of the document.

Check out my article on some of my absolute favorite classroom activities to do with 8th graders when it comes to the Declaration of Independence!

Bell Ringer! from my 8th grade presentation on the Declaration of Independence - included in my amazing 8th Grade U.S. History Curriculum Bundle!

"When in the Course of human events"

Worksheets on the Declaration of Independence may incorporate everything from the actual text of the Declaration itself to the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Articles of Confederation, to specific subject areas or historical events that contributed to colonists' desire for American independence from the British empire (the Boston Massacre, for example).

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"

Those words are considered by many to be among the most important and significant in human history and in the English language. Make sure your students understand and comprehend the true power behind those words and their rightful place in US history!

Interesting facts about the Declaration of Independence (share with your students!)

There's more than one copy of the Declaration of Independence

The "Committee of Five," Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, were tasked with supervising the reproduction of the approved version of the Declaration. The Philadelphia print shop that printed them dispatched the copies across the thirteen colonies. It's believed that 100s of these copies were printed and distributed, however only 26 are known to still be in existence!

Source: https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-declaration-of-independence

Two original copies of the Declaration of Independence have been located since 1989

Of those 26 copies mentioned in the previous fact, two have been found relatively recently! In 1989, a man in Philadelphia purchased a picture frame at a flea market for $4. To his surprise, he discovered the original copy had been strategically hidden by someone in the back of his new picture frame. The original copy that he had stumbled upon was in exceptional condition, and eleven years later, in 2000, it was sold for $8.1 million!

The other copy was discovered in 2009 at the British National Archives. This original copy had also been hidden by someone and was discovered amongst a box of papers that had been captured from the American colonists in the Revolutionary War.

Source: https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-declaration-of-independence

During WWII, the Declaration of Independence (and the U.S. Constitution) were moved out of Washington D.C. and to Fort Knox in Kentucky for safekeeping

Shortly after the U.S. was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, the two important and historic documents were sent from their home at the National Archives building in Washington D.C. to Fort Knox military base in Kentucky. The documents were taken there by a military escort and remained there until late 1944!

Source: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-declaration-of-independence

John Hancock was the first of the 56 men to sign the Declaration of Independence

One of the wealthiest men in the colonies, Hancock was an outspoken critic of the British and King George and a strong supporter of American independence. He was selected to serve as the president of the Second Continental Congress and as such, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. It's also noteworthy that his signature on the Declaration is by far the largest of those who signed it - perhaps two reasons why "John Hancock" is sometimes used interchangeably with the term "signature".

Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/john-ancock#:~:text=As%20president%20of%20the%20Continental,need%20glasses%20to%20read%20it.)

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