Thomas Jefferson in 1776 it is said that
people are born with certain natural rights that no
government should be able to take away.
Governments are set up to help people
keep these rights,not to take them away.
It is from the people that government gets its power
to make laws and enforce them. When government abuses
this power and takes away the natural rights
of the people, the people have a right to change
that government or get rid of it and form a new one.
The ways that the English government had taken away
the colonist's (American) rights are listed in the Declaration.
The members of the Second Continental Congress
signed it pledging to support it
"with our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
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In conclusion: The single most important political idea in America is the idea of equality, proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence |
1. Open a new Word document
and title it The Declaration of Independence.
2. In pairs, write what democracy means to you.
Compare your definition to that of another pair.
As a group of four, come up with one definition
that you all agree upon and send to the Discussion Forum.
2. The following link will lead you to the Declaration
of Independence of the United States.
To read it CLICK on
the round icon saying: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
To get explanation in English click on the underlined sentences.
3. Read the second paragraph
of the Declaration of Independence carefully.
A. It is written "...all men are created equal..."
We know that people are very different from each other.
Explain the meaning of this sentence in a few sentences.
mentioned? Explain them in the Discussion Forum.
**4. A. Copy the sentence from the Declaration
of Independence (in paragraph 2) that explains
that if a government does not protect the rights
of its citizens,
then the citizens should get rid of that government.
B. Is it relevant to our life in Israel today? How?
** 5. The Declaration of Independence looks up at God,
in a spirit of humility, in acknowledging of His supremacy.
The authors of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
acknowledge that their rights are a gift from God.
God is named four times in the document: as a law giver,
as a maker, as a judge and as a protector.
Find 2 of these four; copy the sentences
and explain the meaning in the Discussion Forum.
5. Read the Declaration of Independence of the state of Israel.
In English in this site:
In Hebrew in this site:
For questions A,B,C & D
copy the correct answers and email your teacher.
A. What are the three principles upon which the state of Israel is based?
1. Immigration, freedom, faith
2. Freedom, justice, peace
3. religion, conscience, culture
B. Why is the Holocaust mentioned?
1. To show how urgent it was to build a home for Jews.
2. To make the world feel pity for us.
3. Because it was a significant event.
C. What is the appeal which was addressed to the Jewish people all over the world?
1. To strive for peace.
2. To immigrate to Israel and help to build the country.
3. To help the countries in the Middle East.
D. Where is God mentioned in the Declaration?
1. Not mentioned.
2. In the first paragraph.
3. In the last paragraph.
** 6. Find three similarities and three differences
between the U.S.
Declaration of Independence compared to the Israeli one.
You may discuss it with friends.
7. The following is a link to a historical
speech made by Turkey's leader
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk about Turkey's independence.
A. According to this speech, what is the duty of the Turkish people?
** B. How is this declaration different from the
U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Israeli one?
8. Bring clippings to class of the operation of
a democratic form of government.
Search in newspapers/electronic newspapers and newsmagazines.
Examples can be elections, protests,
city council meetings and any others that you think are appropriate.
- Display and explain your clippings in your English room.
former chairperson of AMIT Israel,
for her most valuable contributions.
