Themes come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify key themes of The Declaration of Independence, and support their choices with details from the text.
An important theme of The Declaration of Independence is injustice. The document lists not only the grievances held against King George III, but the grievances against a tyrant. In George’s tyranny, he has dissolved representative governments, restricted currency, levied unfair taxes, and taken away territory. In every step, King George has treated the people of the colonies not as citizens of England, but as petulant children. By doing this, King George has robbed the colonists of their rights as English citizens, which is unjust.
Another important theme raised in The Declaration of Independence is the strength of the ruled over the rulers. With the rise of the Enlightenment and the merchant class, the belief in the Divine Right of Kings had been slowly fading anyway; however, few people realized the power that they held over their government. With this document, the colonists were forging a new path in history by creating their own government, because the one King George III was running was corrupt and tyrannical. For the first time in history, the people were deciding their futures, and throwing away the ideas of traditional rulers.
An additional important theme in The Declaration of Independence is the justifications for a war. War, ideally, should always be a last resort. The grievances outlined by Jefferson in the document prove that all necessary steps were taken in order to prevent war from becoming a reality. In doing so, Jefferson also shows all of the inappropriate, tyrannical ways that King George has responded to those steps, leaving no other option but to declare and then fight for freedom from an unreasonable tyrant.
A final important theme found in The Declaration of Independence is the inalienable rights of all people. Jefferson outlines them: all men are created equal, and they have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The document doesn’t just outline a list of complaints; for the first time in history, it declares that everyone is born with rights that cannot be given or taken away by anyone except, well, God. A king or queen has no right to interfere with the people’s liberty, and if they do, the people have the right to cast them away. For the first time in history, the people are made equal to the monarchs by their inalienable right to equality.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in The Declaration of Independence. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Help students see personal relevance by linking the big ideas from The Declaration of Independence—like injustice or inalienable rights—to real-world situations they might face at school or in their community. This makes abstract concepts easier to understand and encourages deeper classroom discussions.
Guide students to think of situations—such as unfair rules, standing up for a friend, or wanting to make a change—that connect to the text’s themes. Jot down their ideas on the board or in small groups to capture a range of experiences.
Draw a T-chart on the board or provide handouts. On one side, list themes from the Declaration (like ‘Injustice’ or ‘Rights’). On the other, have students share parallel examples from their own lives or current events. This helps students build connections and see the enduring relevance of historical documents.
Invite students to draw a quick picture or act out a short scene showing how a theme from the Declaration appears in everyday life. This approach supports diverse learners and adds creativity to your lesson.
Prompt students to talk about why the themes from The Declaration of Independence are still important. Ask guiding questions—like ‘Have you ever seen injustice at school?’ or ‘Why do rights matter for everyone?’—to encourage thoughtful reflection and real-world connections.
The Declaration of Independence highlights key themes such as injustice under British rule, the strength of the people over rulers, justification for war, and the concept of inalienable rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Students can identify themes by analyzing key passages, looking for repeated ideas, and connecting grievances listed in the text to broader concepts like freedom and equality. Using storyboards helps visualize and support their choices.
The idea of inalienable rights is crucial because it declares that all people are born with basic rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—that cannot be taken away by any government or monarch.
A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard illustrating different themes found in the document, then write brief descriptions explaining how each scene represents a specific theme.
The document justifies war by listing grievances against King George III, showing that all peaceful options were tried, and arguing that fighting was the only way left to secure freedom and rights.