Unit 3: Week 10: Assignment 1

The Relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights

Why were they written?

The Declaration was written to declare freedom from British rule.

The B.o.R. was written to assure freedoms to the American people that were not given to them under English rule

What was the justification that was used for declaring independence?

What were the grievances in the Declaration?

What was the purpose that the authors of the documents hoped to convey?

The authors of the Declaration hoped to convey the idea that they were independent from Britain.

The authors of the B.o.R. hoped to convey the idea that the U.S. would provide freedoms that were previously withheld from them under British rule

The grievances were complaints against the King of England because of the rights they felt he was withholding from them

How do the authors define the term "all men are created equal?"

The authors of the declaration used their grievances against the king, as well as their claim that a government should exist to protect people's rights, not take them, as justification

The authors define "all men are created equal" as to mean that no one man has the power to take another man's rights.

What will be the impact that this definition has on American society?

How is the modern definition different from this definition?

It will affect American society as people begin to question if ALL men, particularly slaves, are truly equals.

The modern definition states that all people are created equally, regardless of race, sex, or ethnic/religious background, while the previous definition was used only to state that rights could not be taken away

Declaration of Sentiments

What grievances were made by the declaration?

What demands were made in the Declaration?

Why do you think Stanton modeled the Declaration of Sentiments after the Declaration of Independance?

What are the similarities between the two documents?

What reaction do the women expect?

How do the women plan to continue fighting for women's rights?

What do you think life was like for middle-class white women in the United States in the 1840's?

The grievances made were that men prohibited women from voting, made them submit to laws that they had no part in, stripped them of their property, keeps them from making money, and prohibits them from participating in the Church and State.

The demands made in the Declaration were that women be treated in an equal way with men, that they be allowed to own land and vote, that women should know what laws are to be made and their context, and that no law shall be passed that inhibits a women's happiness.

What was the most controversial?

Women's right to vote was the most controversial demand.

It was likely modeled after the D.o.I. because it would resonate with the people who the Declaration of Sentiments was for (white men who fought for freedom).

How are they defining equality?

The Declaration of Independence defines equality as equal representation in government regardless of location. The Declaration of Sentiments defines equality as equal representation regardless of sex.

Both are used to argue against what they feel is unfair suppression in their government. They are both worded very similarly, and are were not taken well by the opposing side which the documents were written for.

The women expect to be ridiculed about the Declaration, as they realize that the debate over women's rights is something that will take a great many years to finally be settled.

The women plan to continue fighting for equal rights by instilling their ideals into their children, since their children will have greater power and voice in their government than the women do.

The life of a middle-class white woman in the U.S. was one of extreme suppression in the government and church. They were not allowed to own property once they were married, and were not given the right to vote.