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..."
-
A brief history of the Declaration of Independence:
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ -
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Links students and teachers to a wealth of resources on primary documents:
http://www.nara.gov/ -
Students can research the history of and even sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence at:
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/declaration_join_the_signers.html -
This site includes the full text of the United States Constitution:
http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html -
This site also includes the full text of the United States Constitution, as well as other facts and information on the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights:
http://memory.loc.goc/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html -
Information, lessons, and activities related to our government. This site is extremely simplified, relevant and useful for teachers and students. The information on the site is divided by grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, and for Parents and Teachers:
http://bensguide.gpo.gov -
The John Hancock Organization provides information, background, history, transcripts and engravings of the Declaration of Independence:
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm -
Links to United States history sites, museums and documents:
http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/favoritelinks.html -
Education World presents ten lesson plans for teaching about three important freedom documents--the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Included: Activities that involve students in creating time lines and posters, writing new amendments. For use in upper elementary classes but may be adapted for younger grades:
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson190.html -
Links to favorite American holidays, including the Fourth of July:
http://www.holidays.net/independence/story.htm -
Lesson plans for teachers prepared by teachers:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com//4thOfJuly.htm -
Library of Congress exhibits on the Declaration of Independence:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt024.html -
Text version of the Declaration including the list of colonial representatives who signed it:
http://www.wtvi.com/teks/freedom/ -
Benjamin Franklin "Timeline" includes links to we sites about Benjamin Franklin and other significant leaders:
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/benfranklintimeline/ -
White House for Kids, Information, "Lessons of Liberty on the Freedom Timeline:"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/index.html -
The National Anthem Project
http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/