Unit 2: Week 6: Assignment 2

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