Lesson 2- Citizens

Objective- Students will learn about the Virginia Declaration of Rights as well as the
Declaration of Independence. We will explore their influences on each other as well as
their influence on the U.S. Constitution. They will learn that the Virginia Declaration of
Rights served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of
America and that the Declaration of Independence stated grievances against the king of
Great Britain declared the colonies independence from Great Britain affirmed certain
unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). Students will then
consider what the citizens protected by their fictional government will look like.

Snapshot- Imagine if a group of people decided they didnt want to be part of the U.S.
any more and had to fight for freedom against the U.S. army.
Q: What would it be like? Why do you think they might have chosen to start a revolution?
It might sound crazy, but something very similar happened in 1775, when the American
colonists decided to split from the British Empire.
Hook- (Bring up Weird Al Yankovics Tacky.)
Yesterday we started planning our new Constitutions. I decided my citizens needed a
new anthem, so I chose one to show to you.
As technology has advanced we have developed new methods for communicating, one of
which you just watched.
Q: What are some ways people communicated in the past? What are some of the ways we
communicate now? Are any the same?
Instructional Input- (Bring up video of American Revolution. Pass out notes.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/stamp-act)
We are going to watch a short three-minute video about different events that lead the
American colonists to call for a revolution.
*Show video*

Lets review what we learned. The British King George the Third is ruling the American
colonists. He and the British parliament pass several laws that anger the colonists. In
1765 they passed the Stamp Act that forced the colonists to pay taxes on anything written
on paper. In 1773 they passed the Tea Act, which placed taxes on British teas and made it
so that the colonists could only by British tea. After these and other taxes American
colonists decided they were tired of what they called taxation without representation.
All of this leads to creation of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Declaration of
Independence.
Virginia Declaration of Rights:

George Mason created the Virginia Declaration of Rights on June 12th, 1776 after
Virginia made the decision to break from Great Britain. This document guarantees the
rights of Virginian landowners. This influential document influences the Declaration of
Independence and serves as a model for the Bill of Rights.
Declaration of Independence:

Once the American Revolution starts the colonists have to decide whether they want new
representation in Britain or whether they want to break completely from Britain. When all
the colonies finally decide to break from Great Britain a five-man committee is formed to
draft the Declaration of Independence. After revisions are made the Continental Congress
adopts the Declaration of Independence on July 4. This document stated grievances
against the king of Great Britain and declares the colonies independence from Great
Britain. It also guarantees certain unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness). And finally, establishes the idea that all people are equal under the law.
Excerpt from the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable 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.

Guided Practice- (Bring up images of political pamphlets.) During this time people
didnt have cell phones or Internet to exchange their ideas. One of the ways they would
communicate with each other is by making pamphlets. They would write down
everything they wanted to say and make copies of it to give to people. The pamphlets
they made during that time period are very much like the Zines we are making in class.
So, when you are making your Zine consider adding text.
The section we are going to work on in our Zines today is about the citizens that your
constitution will protect. Your task for today will be to develop what your citizens look
like and what sets them apart from other people.
(Show examples of Zines with a variety of different characters.)

Q: How did the artists we just look at develop characters? How did they make them
individuals? How did they make them similar? How can clothing be used to unite people?
Make them different?
Q: How can you tell people apart when they are from different countries?
Can you? Was it the same 100 or even 200 years ago?
Independent practiceWhen you are designing your citizens in your planning booklet think about all the things
we just talked about. What do they look like and what do they wear? How old are they?
How many citizens are there? Maybe they all look very different, but wear similar
clothes. Maybe they all look exactly the same and can only be told apart by their clothing.
You should also consider how their appearance relates to the Constitution you wrote.
My citizens right to look and dress however they like is protected by the Constitution I
wrote. You can add writing, borders and props to fill up your pages as well.
Closure- (Pass out exit ticket.)

Exit Ticket:
1) What two documents influence the Constitution?

2) What is one thing you should think about when designing a character?

Notes Worksheet for Students:

Vocabulary:
Taxes: A sum of money demanded by a government to pay for government projects.
Parliament: Parliament examines what the Government is doing, makes new laws, holds
the power to set taxes and debates the issues of the day. It is the government in Great
Britain.
Virginia Declaration of Rights:
The Virginia Declaration of Rights served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the
Constitution of the United States of America and had a great influence on the Declaration
of Independence.
Declaration of Independence:

The Declaration of Independence states complaints against the king of Great

Britain.

It declares the colonies independence from Great Britain.

It guarantees certain unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness).

It establishes the idea that all people are equal under the law.
American Revolution History:

The British King George III governs the American colonists.

He and the British parliament pass several laws that anger the colonists. Like the
Stamp Act and the Tea Tax.

After these and other taxes American colonists decided they were tired of what
they called taxation without representation.

All of this leads to the American Revolution when the colonists create the
Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.