Declaration of Independence: “1776” Time Travel



Declaration of Independence: “1776” Time Travel

It was not easy to get all the representatives in the Second Continental Congress to unanimously agree to the Declaration of Independence.

Below are the key reasons why the decision to go to war and separate was so difficult for the representatives. Keep these in mind while we watch the time travel, and see if you can find any evidence for them.

A. Didn’t think they could win

B. Loyalty to Britain, the mother country

C. Different regions = different needs and values

D. Most of the conflict was in New England

E. Fear of losing business connections with Britain, economy

F. Slavery

The following questions will help guide your viewing as we watch the time-travel daily. We will go over the answers that we have seen in the time-travel as a class at the end of each period. Do not talk or ask questions during the time-travel!!!!!! Save your questions until we pause for the day so you do not disrupt the time-travel (write yourself notes in the margins if needed to remember your questions).

Day 1 in red

1. What is John Adams trying to get passed/voted on from the very beginning of the video?

Independence

2. People keep asking to open the windows. Why don’t they just open them?

It’s nasty hot, average in the high 80’s and into the 90’s all summer, but the meeting is secret because they are committing treason and don’t want anyone to hear them through the windeows

3. What type of personality does John Adams have?

Stubborn, bull headed, determined, obnoxious and disliked

4. What is Abigail Adams’ complaint when she writes to John?

No pins (for sewing, since she is a part of the Daughters of Liberty), shortage of metal since the war is going on and they need to make weapons and ammunition; also all the kids are sick

5. Why does Ben Franklin want someone other than John Adams to propose the vote for independence? Who “volunteers”?

No one likes John Adams so they might vote against independence just because he supports it, also John has made it a personal cause

Richard Henry Lee, the delegate from Virginia, volunteers to ask his legislature to propose independence

6. Who is Lyman Hall? Why is his appearance significant and interesting to everyone?

New delegate from Georgia, no one knows which way he will vote on independence, so they are all trying to find out because he might tip the numbers in the next vote

7. Who is Ben Franklin’s son? What can you tell about Franklin’s feelings for his son?

The Royal Governor of New Jersey, Ben does not approve of his connection to the King of England

8. What gets read out loud to the colonists? What can you tell about the war effort by listening to it?

A letter from General George Washington in charge of the continental army; it is an update about how the military is doing - they are low on supplies, poorly trained, and going up against a much bigger army, plus England has hired mercenaries to help fight

9. What “big event” disrupts the congressional meeting?

A fire in town, usually a full town event because it can burn the town down and they need volunteers

10. Why does Georgia make the decision to say “nay” to the vote for independence?

The people of Georgia are against independence, but he is for independence = so he hasn’t decided whether he should vote the way they want of if he should vote the way he wants since he knows more than they do; decides to play it safe for now

11. What arguments do the delegates from Pennsylvania give for not wanting independence?

12. What does South Carolina consider itself?

13. Why does Cesar Rodney say, “I leave you a divided Delaware”?

14. What does unanimous mean? Why does Dickinson think the vote for independence should be unanimous?

15. What is the point of writing the Declaration of Independence , other than just stalling?

16. Why does New York abstain from voting (not vote)?

17. Why do they choose Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration?

18. With such a big division in congress’s votes for independence, what do John Adams and Ben Franklin decide they need to do?

19. What are the problems that George Washington lists in his latest letter?

20. What would it take for Maryland to say yes to independence? (A very common concern) Does the trip work?

21. Which birds are proposed as being symbols for America?

22. John Hancock (president of the congress) asks if there are any suggestions for amendments to the declaration. What are amendments? Why would they allow amendments?

23. Why is King George called a tyrant?

24. What was the amendment process like? Lengthy, difficult, etc?

25. What is the biggest issue when debating the Declaration of Independence?

26. What are the south’s main arguments for keeping slavery in America?

27. The south claims the North is just as guilty as the South in terms of slavery…why?

28. Why does the South walk out in protest?

29. What kind of tone is Washington’s latest letter to congress?

30. Why and to what does Georgia change its vote?

31. Why does Cesar Rodney (of Delaware) come back?

32. What does it take for South Carolina to vote yes for accepting the Declaration of Independence and separating from England?

33. Why is it requested that everyone sign his name on the document?

34. Why does everyone still respect the one-man holdout?

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