The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence

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Oklahoma students join together in November to
celebrate our freedoms!

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What ARE our Freedoms?

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We can find them in a very important paper
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Written many years ago in 1776
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The Declaration of Independence
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When American was young, we were ruled by
Englands king
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But in July of 1776, leaders from the Americans
colonies met to declare we wanted our
independence!
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They sent a written message to the king, asking
for freedoms and the right to rule themselves!
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Several American leaders helped write the
Declaration of Independence, like John Adams and
Benjamin Franklin
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But the final job was done by Thomas Jefferson
of Virginia.
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Americans wanted to explain why ruling themselves
was important.
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On July 4th, the Declaration of Independence was
read aloud to everyone!
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This is why we celebrate the 4th of July and why
we study the Declaration of Independence during
Celebrate Freedom Week!
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So, what does the Declaration of Independence
really say?
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Here are some of its most important words and
ideas
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Americans believed that they should be treated
equally
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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal
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Americans believe we all have rights to be
free
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What are these rights?
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
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These basic rights are unalienable- this means
that everyone is born with them and no one
can take them away.
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that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
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And what is one of the most important jobs for
our leaders ?
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That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men,
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Americans also believe that governments should
protect our freedoms (our rights.)
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Americans believe that we are the ones who say
what government should do for usWe have the
POWER!
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deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed.
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So what happened after the colonies declared
their independence?
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The colonists had to fight a war to win their
independence!
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Since then, other countries have read our
Declaration of Independence to make their own
governments protect their freedoms!
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Lets recite the Declaration of Independence
together!

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal
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that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
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That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men,
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deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed.
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Celebrate Freedom Week

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SourcesDocuments of Freedom, by Judith Yero
and theNational Archives and Records
Administration