Transcript Document

The Declaration
of Independence
Oklahoma students
join together
in November
to celebrate
our freedoms!
What ARE our Freedoms?
We can
find them
in a very
important
paper…
Written
many
years ago
in 1776…
The Declaration
of Independence
When
American
was young,
we were
ruled by
England’s
king…
But in July
of 1776,
leaders from
the Americans
colonies met
to declare we
wanted our
independence!
They sent a written message
to the king,
asking for freedoms and the
right to rule themselves!
Several
American
leaders helped
write the
Declaration of
Independence,
like
John Adams
and Benjamin
Franklin…
But the
final job
was done
by
Thomas
Jefferson
of
Virginia.
Americans
wanted to
explain why
ruling
themselves
was
important.
On July 4th, the Declaration
of Independence was read
aloud to everyone!
This is why we celebrate the
4th of July and why we study
the Declaration
of Independence during
Celebrate Freedom Week!
So, what
does the
Declaration
of
Independence
really say?
Here are some of its most
important words and ideas…
Americans believed that they
should be treated equally…
“We hold these truths
to be
self-evident,
that all men
are created equal …”
Americans believe we all have
rights to be free…
What are these
“rights”
?
The right to “life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.”
These basic rights are
unalienablethis means that everyone
is born with them and
no one
can take them away.
“…that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights,
that among these are
Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.”
And what is one of the most
important jobs
for our leaders ?
“…That to secure these
rights,
Governments are
instituted among Men,”
Americans also believe that
governments should protect
our freedoms (our rights.)
Americans believe
that we are the ones
who say what government
should do for us…
We have the POWER!
“…deriving their
just powers
from the
consent of the governed.”
So what happened after the
colonies declared
their independence?
The colonists had to fight a
war to win their
independence!
Since then,
other countries
have read our
Declaration of
Independence
to make their own
governments protect
their freedoms!
Let’s recite the
Declaration of
Independence together!
“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.”
“…That to secure these
rights,
Governments are
instituted among Men,”
“…deriving their
just powers
from the
consent of the governed.”
Celebrate
Freedom Week
Sources:
Documents of Freedom,
by Judith Yero
and the
National Archives and Records
Administration