Introduce students to the concept of Founding principles based on natural law and natural rights as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Analyze primary source documents to determine the extent to which the writing of the Declaration of Independence contributed to the quest to end slavery in the United States in the Founding era.

Objectives:

1. Students will analyze the application of Founding principles of liberty, justice, and equality in the Founding era by:
   – Analyzing Founding ideas and actions on slavery in primary source documents.
   – Examining the Preamble and clauses relevant to slavery contained in the U.S. Constitution of 1787.
2. Students will reflect on the ideas, institutions, and individuals in the Founding Era to determine how we might apply the lessons gleaned from this period to today.

Full Document Set

Abbreviated Document Set

The Declaration of Independence as approved by the Continental Congress, 1776 Petition to the Massachusetts Legislature, January 13, 1777 Constitution of Massachusetts, 1780 Constitution of Kentucky, 1792 Elizabeth (Mumbet) Freeman portrait, 1811 Legal notes by Chief Justice William Cushing about the Quock Walker case, 1783 The Northwest Ordinance, 1787 The Southwest Ordinance, 1790 Excerpts from the U.S. Constitution, ratified 1788 Preamble Articles related to slavery Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, 1790

The Declaration of Independence as approved by the Continental Congress, 1776 Petition to the Massachusetts Legislature, January 13, 1777 Elizabeth (Mumbet) Freeman portrait, 1811 Excerpts from the U.S. Constitution, ratified 1788 Preamble Articles related to slavery Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, 1790

 

• Introductory Essay: The Declaration of Independence and the Promise of Liberty 
• Graphic Organizer, Primary Sources in Lesson 1 
• Concluding Analysis, Lesson 1 
• Answer Key, Lesson 1

The following lesson asks students to consider how the Declaration of Independence sets forth principles or ideals that serve as the backbone or foundation for the United States. At times in U.S. history, these principles have not always been faithfully applied, most clearly seen in the existence of slavery. Students will look at primary source documents as they consider the following question:  How did the principles of the Declaration of Independence contribute to the quest to end slavery?

The main activity in this lesson requires students to conduct primary source analysis. Two sets of primary sources are included with this lesson: a longer set and an abbreviated set. The abbreviated documents have been selected for learners with lower reading levels or for classes wishing to explore the guiding questions for this lesson that cannot dedicate as much time to it. Questions have been provided for each primary source. Teachers may choose to use the provided questions as scaffolds for students or remove them as best suits their teaching situation. Graphic organizers have been provided to use as an additional tool alongside the questions accompanying each document or in place of them. 

For primary source analysis, students may work individually, in pairs, or in small groups as best fits your classroom. Additionally, primary sources can serve as the basis for a stations or jigsaw activity.