A Crossroads Resource

Unit IV: What was the American Revolution? 1760-1836

Question/Problem 7: Did the new nation meet the goals stated in the Declaration of Independence?

Goals of the Declaration of Independence
Suggested Answers

Directions for Part A: Read the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. Think about what the authors hoped to achieve in the American Revolution. Underline their goals.

--We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Directions for Part B: Using your knowledge of Question/Problems 1-6, especially the Constitution and the early American nation, list three or more ways in which the goals of the authors were met (successes) and three or more ways in which the goals were not met (failures).

Successes

1. "abolished" British rule of the colonies.

2. "instituted" a new government under the Constitution.

3. Bill of Rights protected individual rights.

4. increased liberty and happiness for most Americans.

Failures

1. slavery seemed to contradict "all men are created equal."

2. Revolutionaries exiled tens of thousands of Loyalists for remaining loyal to Great Britain.

3. "traditional women's role" was not part of the Revolution.

4. "consent of the governed" was limited, predominantly to white males with property.

Directions for Part C: Write an essay in which you describe the ways in which the goals of the authors of the Declaration of Independence were and were not met between 1787 and 1810. Use three examples of each.

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