Primary
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
This video lesson from Khan Academy provides the text of the Declaration of Independence. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.
Interactive
Library of Congress

Loc: Creating the Declaration of Independence Interactive

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
As part of 'Creating the United States' interactive resource, this section deals with creating the Declaration of Independence. Connect particular phrases and ideas set down in the Declaration of Independence with texts that preceded it....
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Richard Henry Lee

For Students 9th - 10th
Good, introductory biography from the University of Groningen of Richard Henry Lee and the Lee family. Text provides hyperlinks to related information.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Letters of Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton

For Students 9th - 10th
In this letter, which he wrote shortly after the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson describes to Edmund Pendleton how to set up the Virginia Legislature.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Draft of the Declaration

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can read the draft that Jefferson submitted to Congress. Changes made by Adams and Jefferson are marked to indicate Jefferson's words and then the final wording that was adopted.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Drafting the Documents

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress provides us with a detailed description of what follows the drafting of the original Declaration of Independence. It provides us with information about what happens to the document after Thomas Jefferson's rough...
Primary
Indiana University

Maurer School of Law: The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Full text of the Declaration of Independence, with signers from each state and links to related information.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: John Bull & Uncle Sam Exhibit : American Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Library of Congress, a look at "Four Centuries of British-American Relations." This site is about the American Revolution and provides artifacts from that time such as The Stamp Act manuscript, a proof sheet of stamps,...
Primary
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: School Publishers: An Interview With Thomas Jefferson

For Students 3rd - 5th
"What do you think Thomas Jefferson was like as a person? What were his interests and hobbies? Where did he go to school? Imagine yourself as a reporter in 1826, about to interview Mr. Jefferson at Monticello, his home."
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...
Website
Cengage Learning

Houghton Mifflin: Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)

For Students 9th - 10th
Houghton Mifflin provides biographical information regarding Thomas Jefferson, including his involvement in the Declaration of Independence, the presidency, and much more.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Declaring Independence [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Follow the steps that Americans took before declaring their independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence set out the ideals and reasons behind this stunning move. Use the student exercises to understand the different levels...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...
Primary
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Colonial Williamsburg: History: Kids: Declaration of Independence

For Students K - 1st
Site in which students can zoom in on the actual Declaration of Independence document.
Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich Fordham University site of primary source material that include full-text, and multimedia sites. There are additional study and research guides such as Modern History in the Movies.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Argument of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Argument of the Declaration of Independence." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses the The Declaration of Independence, and includes information on Thomas Jefferson's role in its creation.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: To Establish Justice

For Students 9th - 10th
Outline explaining the ideals and intentions for a newly formed nation as spelled out in the of the Declaration of Independence.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Common Sense and Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the philosophy of Thomas Paine in his widely read Common Sense pamphlet, and "natural rights" philosphy as expressed in the opening passage of the Declaration of Independence.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Road to Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
A time line and explanation of the many events, including the colonists' interpretations of those events, that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Declaring Indpendence

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence espoused by those brave souls who signed their names to the revolutionary document in 1776.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Was the Revolution Justified?

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific look at the twenty-seven specific reasons Thomas Jefferson cited in the Declaration of Independence and the support for those reasons of why the colonists felt justified in breaking the bonds with Great Britain.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Declaration of Independence: An Expression of the American Mind

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "The Declaration of Independence: "An Expression of the American Mind"." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.