Declaration Decoders: A250 Declaration of Independence DBQ Kit

• Declaration Decoders Interactive
• Puzzle Primary Sources
• Facsimiles of Primary Sources
• New Nationalism Crossword Sheet
• DBQ Skill Practice Graphic Organizer
• Declaration Decoders Portraits

Get Started

Declaration Decoders Interactive:  Digital interactive with guided challenges to decode clues using the available resources.

Document 1: The Declaration of Independence 

• Puzzle Draft of Declaration of Independence: Uncover the code in Draft of Declaration of Independence using magnifying glass.
• DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze the Declaration of Independence transcript using the graphic organizer
• Puzzle Declaration of Independence: Locate the code in the transcript. Use a Caesar Cipher and shift the letters by 13.

Document 2: Jefferson to Henry Lee

• DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze Thomas Jefferson’s letter to Henry Lee transcript using the graphic organizer.
• Puzzle Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee: Prep this puzzle by cutting the facsimile along the dotted lines. Arrange the strips pieces in order.

Document 3: Declaration of Sentiments

1. DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze Declaration of Sentiments transcript using the graphic organizer.
2. Puzzle Declaration of Sentiments: Find the red words. Count the number of red words in a line. Put the numbers together with an additional 0 before the second 9.

Document 4: Gettysburg Address 

1. DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze the Gettysburg Address transcript using the graphic organizer.
2. Puzzle Gettysburg Address: Use Morse Code: –. — — -.. / -.-. .. – .. –.. . -.

Document 5: New Nationalism

1. Puzzle: New Nationalism — Crossword: Use the transcript to fill in the crossword. Decode the shaded boxes to reveal the hidden word.
2. DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze New Nationalism transcript using the graphic organizer.

Document 6: “I Have a Dream”

1. DBQ Skill Practice: Analyze the “I have a Dream” speech transcript using the graphic organizer.
2. Puzzle “I have a Dream”: Find the blacked-out words in the facsimile. Locate blacked-out words in the transcript.

Group the Documents
Use the graphic organizer to group documents.

Final Challenge
Match each historical figure to their wall position using the logic grid to uncover the final code.

Reflect
Students submit their written reflection on the full activity.

DBQ Skill Practice — Write a Thesis
Write a thesis statement using the graphic organizer, drawing on all documents analyzed throughout the activity.