Lesson 27 Social Studies TEKS 4 - 15, 21, 22, 23 ALMANAC TEACHERS GUIDE 7- 14, 16, 21, 22, 23 8 - 15, 19, 29, 30 Declaration of Independence STAAR 4, 7 - Writing - 1, 2, 3 of the 4, 7, 8 - Reading - 1, 2, 3 8 - Social Studies - 3 •

Instructional Suggestions

1. FOLDED ENVELOPE INVITATIONS: Using the “Texas Declaration of Independence” (included in this lesson), students will design a Folded Envelope Card (see Appendix) inviting delegates to the Convention of 1836. They will write the date, time, and location on the invitation, as well as draw an illustration of the meeting place. Students will then choose a delegate and write his name on the front.

2. COMPARISON OF DECLARATIONS: Give each student copies of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the United States Declaration of Independence (both are included in this lesson). On the separate Student Activity Sheet, they will compare both documents by: A restored version of Independence Hall at Washington- on-the-Brazos. Photo by Robert Plocheck.

L27 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Declaration of Independence

a. Identifying specific phrases used in both documents that are similar. TEXAS: “Lives, liberty and property” U.S.: “Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” b Identifying who is being accused. c. Identifying the rights addressed in both documents, such as “trial by jury,” “right of representation.” d. Identifying specific complaints in the Texas document that are not in the United States document, such as religion.

3. ANNOTATED TEXAS DECLARATION: Give each student a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence (included in this lesson). They will use it to answer the questions on the Student Activity Sheet using illustrated annotations; such as, an illustration or symbol of the event, conflict, or item in the document, along with a summary explanation. 4. DECLARATION TERMINOLOGY: Students will work in groups. Each group will define a selected number of terms from the Texas Declaration of Independence that are listed on the Student Activity Sheet. Students will locate the words or phrases in the Texas Declaration of Independence and then rewrite the sentence or phrase A copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence using contemporary terminology. lies on a table in Independence Hall, a restored 5. GRIEVANCES AGAINST version of the building where the declaration was signed on March 2, 1836, at Washington-on-the- T-CHART: Students will work in groups Brazos. Photo courtesy of the Texas Department to analyze the grievances the Texans had of Parks & Wildlife. against the Mexican government, as listed in the Texas Declaration of Independence. Using the T-chart on the Student Activity Sheet, students will write the grievance on one side and the historical back- ground on the other side. L27-1 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity Comparison of Declarations

Use copies the Texas Declaration of Independence and the United States Declaration of Independence and compare both documents in each of the four ways outlined, below.

a. Identify specific phrases used in both documents that are similar: ______

b Identify who is being accused: ______

c. Identify the rights addressed in both documents: ______

d. Identify specific complaints in the Texas document that are not in the United States document: ______L27-2 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity Annotated Texas Declaration Read your copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence and answer these questions using illustrated annotations; such as, an illustration or symbol of the event, conflict, or item, along with a summary explanation of the event, conflict, or item. a. To which constitution does the third paragraph refer?

b. To which convention does the eighth paragraph refer?

c. To which citizen does the ninth paragraph refer?

d. To which conflict does the 14th paragraph refer?

e. To which battle does the 17th paragraph refer?

f. Highlight five words you do not know on your copy of the Texas Delcaration. Write each word and its definition below and draw an illustration of the definition. 1. ______2. ______3. ______4. ______5. ______L27-3 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity Declaration Terminology

Working in groups, define a selected number of the terms from the Texas Declaration of Independence that are listed at left. Locate the words or phrases in the Declaration and rewrite the sentence or phrase using contemporary terminology. inestimable and 1. ______inalienable rights ______oppression ______sovereign states military despotism 2. ______minions ______tyrant ______remonstrances 3. ______mercenary ______malfeasance and abdication ______anarchy 4. ______enjoins ______posterity ______grievances acquiese 5. ______incarcerated ______zealous endeavor ______procure 6. ______axiom ______palladium of civil liberty arbitrary ______desperadoes 7. ______emissaries ______dictates of our ______ownconscience melancholy conclusion 8. ______forbearance ceases to ______be a virtue ______plenary powers 9. ______rectitude of our intentions ______L27-4 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity Grievances Against Mexico T-Chart

GRIEVANCES HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

L27-5 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity UNANIMOUS Notes Declaration of Independence, BY THE DELEGATES OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS, IN GENERAL CONVENTION, AT THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON, ON THE SECOND DAY OF MARCH, 1836.

hen a government has When, in consequence of such acts ceased to protect the lives, of malfeasance and abdication on the liberty, and property of the part of the government, anarchy pre- people,W from whom its legitimate vails, and civil society is dissolved powers are derived, and for the ad- into its original elements. In such a vancement of whose happiness it was crisis, the first law of nature, the right instituted; and so far from being a of self-preservation, the inherent and guarantee for the enjoyment of those inalienable rights of the people to ap- inestimable and inalienable rights, be- peal to first principles, and take their comes an instrument in the hands of political affairs into their own hands evil rulers for their oppression. in extreme cases, enjoins it as a right When the Federal Republican Con- towards themselves, and a sacred ob- stitution of their country, which they ligation to their posterity, to abolish have sworn to support, no longer has such government, and create another a substantial existence, and the whole in its stead, calculated to rescue them nature of their government has been from impending dangers, and to se- forcibly changed, without their con- cure their future welfare and happi- sent, from a restricted federative re- ness. public, composed of sovereign states, Nations, as well as individuals, are to a consolidated central military des- amenable for their acts to the public potism, in which every interest is dis- opinion of mankind. A statement of regarded but that of the army and the a part of our grievances is, therefore, priesthood, both the eternal enemies submitted to an impartial world, in of civil liberty, the ever-ready minions justification of the hazardous but un- of power, and the usual instruments avoidable step now taken, of sever- of tyrants. ing our political connection with the When, long after the spirit of the Mexican people, and assuming an Constitution has departed, modera- independent attitude among the na- tion is at length so far lost by those tions of the earth. in power, that even the semblance of The Mexican government, by its freedom is removed, and the forms, colonization laws, invited and in- themselves, of the constitution discon- duced the Anglo-American popula- tinued; and so far from their petitions tion of Texas to colonize its wilderness and remonstrances being regarded, under the pledged faith of a written the agents who bear them are thrown constitution, that they should contin- into dungeons, and mercenary armies ue to enjoy that constitutional liberty sent forth to force a new government and republican government to which upon them at the point of the bayonet. they had been habituated in the land L27–6 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity of their birth, the United States of tinuance of civil liberty, or the capac- America. ity for self-government. Notes In this expectation they have been It has suffered the military com- cruelly disappointed, inasmuch as the mandants, stationed among us, to Mexican nation has acquiesced in the exercise arbitrary acts of oppression late changes made in the government and tyranny, thus trampling upon the by General Antonio Lopez de Santa most sacred rights of the citizens, and Anna, who, having overturned the rendering the military superior to the constitution of his country, now offers civil power. us the cruel alternative, either to aban- It has dissolved by force of arms, don our homes, acquired by so many the state Congress of Coahuila and privations, or submit to the most in- Texas, and obliged our representa- tolerable of all tyranny, the combined tives to fly for their lives from the seat despotism of the sword and the priest- of government, thus depriving us of hood. the fundamental political right of rep- It has sacrificed our welfare to the resentation. state of Coahuila, by which our inter- It has demanded the surrender of ests have been continually depressed a number of our citizens, and ordered through a jealous and partial course military detachments to seize and of legislation, carried on at a far dis- carry them into the Interior for trial, in tant seat of government, by a hostile contempt of the civil authorities, and majority, in an unknown tongue; and in defiance of the laws and constitu- this too, notwithstanding we have tion. petitioned in the humblest terms for It has made piratical attacks upon the establishment of a separate state our commerce, by commissioning for- government, and have, in accordance eign desperadoes, and authorizing with the provisions of the national them to seize our vessels, and convey constitution, presented to the general the property of our citizens to far dis- Congress a republican constitution, tant ports for confiscation. which was, without just cause, con- temptuously rejected. It denies us the right of worship- ping the Almighty according to the It incarcerated in a dungeon, for a dictates of our own conscience, by the long time, one of our citizens, for no support of a national religion, calcu- other cause but a zealous endeavor lated to promote the temporal inter- to procure the acceptance of our con- est of its human functionaries, rather stitution, and the establishment of a than the glory of the true and living state government. God. It has failed and refused to secure, It has demanded us to deliver up on a firm basis, the right of trial by our arms, which are essential to our jury, that palladium of civil liberty, defense, the rightful property of free- and only safe guarantee for the life, men, and formidable only to tyranni- liberty, and property of the citizen. cal governments. It has failed to establish any public It has invaded our country, both system of education, although pos- by sea and by land, with intent to lay sessed of almost boundless resources waste our territory and drive us from (the public domain) and although it our homes; and has now a large mer- is an axiom in political science, that cenary army advancing, to carry on unless a people are educated and en- against us a war of extermination. lightened, it is idle to expect the con- L27–7 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity

It has, through its emissaries, in- destruction of their liberty, and the cited the merciless savage, with the substitution therefor of a military Notes tomahawk and scalping knife, to government; that they are unfit to massacre the inhabitants of our de- be free and incapable of self-govern- fenseless frontiers. ment. It hath been, during the whole The necessity of self-preservation, time of our connection with it, the therefore, now decrees our eternal contemptible sport and victim of suc- political separation. cessive military revolutions, and hath We, therefore, the delegates with ple- continually exhibited every charac- nary powers, of the people of Texas, in teristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyran- solemn convention assembled, appeal- nical government. ing to a candid world for the necessities These, and other grievances, were of our condition, do hereby resolve and patiently borne by the people of DECLARE, that our political connec- Texas, until they reached that point tion with the Mexican nation has forever at which forbearance ceases to be a ended, and that the people of Texas, do virtue. We then took up arms in de- now constitute a FREE, SOVEREIGN, fense of the national constitution. We and INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC, and appealed to our Mexican brethren are fully invested with all the rights and for assistance. Our appeal has been attributes which properly belong to in- made in vain. Though months have dependent nations; and, conscious of the elapsed, no sympathetic response has rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly yet been heard from the Interior. and confidently commit the issue to the We are, therefore, forced to the decision of the Supreme Arbiter of the melancholy conclusion that the Mexi- destinies of nations. can people have acquiesced in the

RICHARD ELLIS, President A.B. Hardin Thomas Jefferson Rusk of the Convention and J.W. Bunton Chas. S. Taylor Delegate from Red River. Thos J. Gasley John S. Roberts R. M. Coleman Charles B Stewart Robert Hamilton Sterling C. Robertson Collin McKinney Thos Barnett Benj Briggs Goodrich Albert H Latimer John S.D. Byrom G.W. Barnett James Power James G. Swisher Franco Ruiz Jesse Grimes Sam J. Antonio Navarro S. Rhoads Fisher David Thomas Jesse B. Badgett John W. Moore Wm D. Lacey Edwd Conrad John W. Bower William Menefee Martin Parmer Saml A Maverick from Jno Fisher Edwin O. LeGrand Bejar Mathew Caldwell Stephen W. Blount Sam P. Carson William Mottley Jas Gaines A. Briscoe Wm Clark, Jr J.B. Woods Stephen H. Everitt Sydney O. Penington Jas Collinsworth Geo W Smyth Wm Carrol Crawford Edwin Waller Jno Turner Elijah Stapp Asa Brigham Claiborne West Geo. C. Childress Test. H.S. Kimble, Wm B Scates Bailey Hardeman Secretary M.B. Menard Rob. Potter L27–8 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity In Congress, July 4, 1776 Notes The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

hen in the Course of human invariably the same Object evinces a events, it becomes neces- design to reduce them under absolute sary for one people to dis- Despotism, it is their right, it is their solveW the political bands which have duty, to throw off such Government, connected them with another, and and to provide new Guards for their to assume among the powers of the future security.--Such has been the earth, the separate and equal station patient sufferance of these Colonies; to which the Laws of Nature and of and such is now the necessity which Nature’s God entitle them, a decent constrains them to alter their former respect to the opinions of mankind Systems of Government. The history requires that they should declare the of the present King of Great Britain causes which impel them to the sepa- is a history of repeated injuries and ration. usurpations, all having in direct ob- We hold these truths to be self-ev- ject the establishment of an absolute ident, that all men are created equal, Tyranny over these States. To prove that they are endowed by their Cre- this, let Facts be submitted to a candid ator with certain unalienable Rights, world. that among these are Life, Liberty and He has refused his Assent to Laws, the pursuit of Happiness.--That to the most wholesome and necessary secure these rights, Governments are for the public good. instituted among Men, deriving their He has forbidden his Governors to just powers from the consent of the pass Laws of immediate and press- governed, --That whenever any Form ing importance, unless suspended in of Government becomes destructive their operation till his Assent should of these ends, it is the Right of the be obtained; and when so suspended, People to alter or to abolish it, and to he has utterly neglected to attend to institute new Government, laying its them. foundation on such principles and He has refused to pass other Laws organizing its powers in such form, for the accommodation of large dis- as to them shall seem most likely to tricts of people, unless those people effect their Safety and Happiness. would relinquish the right of Repre- Prudence, indeed, will dictate that sentation in the Legislature, a right in- Governments long established should estimable to them and formidable to not be changed for light and transient tyrants only. causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more He has called together legislative disposed to suffer, while evils are suf- bodies at places unusual, uncomfort- ferable, than to right themselves by able, and distant from the depository abolishing the forms to which they of their public Records, for the sole are accustomed. But when a long train purpose of fatiguing them into com- of abuses and usurpations, pursuing pliance with his measures. L27–9 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity

He has dissolved Representative habitants of these States: Houses repeatedly, for opposing with For cutting off our Trade with all Notes manly firmness his invasions on the parts of the world: rights of the people. For imposing Taxes on us without He has refused for a long time, af- our Consent: ter such dissolutions, to cause others For depriving us in many cases, of to be elected; whereby the Legislative the benefits of Trial by Jury: powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large For transporting us beyond Seas to for their exercise; the State remain- be tried for pretended offences ing in the mean time exposed to all For abolishing the free System the dangers of invasion from without, of English Laws in a neighbouring and convulsions within. Province, establishing therein an Ar- He has endeavoured to prevent bitrary government, and enlarging its the population of these States; for Boundaries so as to render it at once that purpose obstructing the Laws for an example and fit instrument for in- Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing troducing the same absolute rule into to pass others to encourage their mi- these Colonies: grations hither, and raising the condi- For taking away our Charters, abol- tions of new Appropriations of Lands. ishing our most valuable Laws, and He has obstructed the Administra- altering fundamentally the Forms of tion of Justice, by refusing his Assent our Governments: to Laws for establishing Judiciary For suspending our own Legisla- powers. tures, and declaring themselves in- He has made Judges dependent on vested with power to legislate for us his Will alone, for the tenure of their in all cases whatsoever. offices, and the amount and payment He has abdicated Government of their salaries. here, by declaring us out of his Pro- He has erected a multitude of New tection and waging War against us. Offices, and sent hither swarms of Of- He has plundered our seas, rav- ficers to harrass our people, and eat aged our Coasts, burnt our towns, out their substance. and destroyed the lives of our people. He has kept among us, in times of He is at this time transporting large peace, Standing Armies without the Armies of foreign Mercenaries to Consent of our legislatures. compleat the works of death, desola- He has affected to render the Mili- tion and tyranny, already begun with tary independent of and superior to circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy the Civil power. scarcely paralleled in the most barba- rous ages, and totally unworthy the He has combined with others to Head of a civilized nation. subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowl- He has constrained our fellow Citi- edged by our laws; giving his Assent zens taken Captive on the high Seas to their Acts of pretended Legislation: to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their For Quartering large bodies of friends and Brethren, or to fall them- armed troops among us: selves by their Hands. For protecting them, by a mock Tri- He has excited domestic insurrec- al, from punishment for any Murders tions amongst us, and has endeav- which they should commit on the In- L27–10 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com. Lesson 27 — Texas Declaration of Independence STUDENT activity oured to bring on the inhabitants of which denounces our Separation, our frontiers, the merciless Indian and hold them, as we hold the rest of Notes Savages, whose known rule of war- mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace fare, is an undistinguished destruc- Friends. tion of all ages, sexes and conditions. We, therefore, the Representatives In every stage of these Oppressions of the united States of America, in Gen- We have Petitioned for Redress in the eral Congress, Assembled, appealing most humble terms: Our repeated to the Supreme Judge of the world for Petitions have been answered only the rectitude of our intentions, do, in by repeated injury. A Prince whose the Name, and by Authority of the character is thus marked by every act good People of these Colonies, sol- which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to emnly publish and declare, That these be the ruler of a free people. United Colonies are, and of Right Nor have We been wanting in at- ought to be Free and Independent tentions to our Brittish brethren. We States; that they are Absolved from all have warned them from time to time Allegiance to the British Crown, and of attempts by their legislature to ex- that all political connection between tend an unwarrantable jurisdiction them and the State of Great Britain, is over us. We have reminded them of and ought to be totally dissolved; and the circumstances of our emigration that as Free and Independent States, and settlement here. We have ap- they have full Power to levy War, con- pealed to their native justice and mag- clude Peace, contract Alliances, estab- nanimity, and we have conjured them lish Commerce, and to do all other by the ties of our common kindred to Acts and Things which Independent disavow these usurpations, which, States may of right do. And for the would inevitably interrupt our con- support of this Declaration, with a nections and correspondence. They firm reliance on the protection of di- too have been deaf to the voice of jus- vine Providence, we mutually pledge tice and of consanguinity. We must, to each other our Lives, our Fortunes therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, and our sacred Honor.

Georgia North Carolina Massachusetts Pennsylvania New York New Hampshire John Hancock Robert Morris William Floyd Josiah Bartlett Button Gwinnett William Hooper William Whipple Maryland Benjamin Rush Philip Livingston Matthew Lyman Hall Joseph Hewes Samuel Chase Benjamin Franklin Francis Lewis Thornton William Paca George Walton John Penn John Morton Lewis Morris Massachusetts Thomas Stone Samuel Adams George Clymer New Jersey South Carolina Charles Carroll John Adams James Smith Richard Stockton of Carrollton Robert Treat Paine Edward Rutledge Elbridge Gerry Virginia George Taylor John Witherspoon Rhode Island James Wilson Francis Hopkinson Thomas Heyward George Wythe Stephen Hopkins Jr. George Ross John Hart William Ellery Thomas Lynch Jr. Thomas Jefferson Delaware Abraham Clark Connecticut Benjamin Harrison Caesar Rodney Roger Sherman Arthur Middleton Samuel Huntington Thomas Nelson Jr. George Read William Williams Francis Lightfoot Thomas McKean Oliver Wolcott Lee Carter Braxton L27–11 Copyright © 2014 by TEXAS ALMANAC & Texas State Historical Association; www.TexasAlmanac.com.