GOV: Unit 1 Lesson 4

Last updated almost 5 years ago

4 questions

What events led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

Would you consider the writing of the Declaration of Independence a form of protest? Why or why not?

Under what circumstances does it become necessary to "dissolve the political bands" that connect you to your government?

Would any of these actions, on their own, merit an insurrection? Explain.

Thomas Jefferson owned over 100 slaves, so we know that he didn’t mean black and white men are equal. Did he mean all white men? Or all elite white men, since they were the only ones who could vote? (just consider it, no need to type a response)

“Their creator”, this is acknowledgment that there is a divine being that created humans. This is not an inclusion of religious ideas in government. As a matter of fact, Jefferson was very clear about separating the government and the church.

Thomas Jefferson purposefully changed Locke’s statement of life, liberty, and property to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Jefferson would argue that the government should protect the wellbeing of citizens, not just their wealth.

The purpose of creating a government is to protect the natural rights of man.

When a government no longer protects natural rights, and actually begins to strip away them away, it is the duty of the citizens to change the government or to abolish it. But citizens shouldn’t take these actions for insignificant reasons. How do we determine what is significant versus what is insignificant?