SS.7.CG.1.5

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Describe how British policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: Students will trace the causal relationships between British policies, British responses to colonial grievances and the writing of the Declaration of Independence (e.g., Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts).

Clarification 2: Students will recognize the underlying themes of British colonial policies concerning taxation, representation and individual rights that formed the basis of the American colonists’ desire for independence.

General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 7
Strand: Civics and Government
Standard: Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law and the American political system.
Date Adopted or Revised: 05/24
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2106010: M/J Civics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2106015: M/J Civics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2106016: M/J Civics & Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2106020: M/J Civics, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2106025: M/J Civics, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2106026: M/J Civics, Advanced & Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7821023: Access M/J Civics and Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2019, 2019 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7821021: Access M/J Civics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2106029: M/J Civics and Digital Technologies (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2100045: M/J United States History & Civics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SS.7.CG.1.AP.5: Identify how British policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

The Declaration of Independence:

In this lesson plan, students will analyze the ideas and grievances set forth in the Declaration of Independence while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. Students will then show what they know by rephrasing excerpts from the Declaration in their own words.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Road to Independence:

In this lesson plan, students will learn how British policies and colonial reactions led to the Declaration of Independence while completing guided notes that accompany a teacher-presented slideshow. Students will then show what they know by creating a timeline.

Type: Lesson Plan

Colonial Concerns:

In this lesson plan, students will learn about the "Road to Revolution" -- British policies and the colonists' responses to those -- through brainstorming and note-taking. Students will review by playing Bingo and then write to show what they have learned.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Britain vs. America: What Led to the Declaration of Independence:

Learn why Great Britain and her 13 American colonies split between 1763 and 1776 with this interactive tutorial. At the end of this time span, Britain and America were at war, and the Declaration of Independence had announced the United States of America as a brand new nation, no longer colonies of Britain.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Project

Teaching Idea: Road to Revolution Talk Show :

Students will create a talk show or podcast that explains the grievances of the colonists and the British policies and events that led to the American Revolution. 

Type: Project

Teaching Ideas

Grade 7 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea

Middle School Source Analysis: Rhetorical Appeals in the Declaration of Independence:

In this activity, designed for use in the debate classroom, students will use prior knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos to analyze the grievances in the Declaration of Independence and classify the rhetorical appeals in each.

 

Type: Teaching Idea

Original Student Tutorials Social Studies - Civics - Grades 6-8

Britain vs. America: What Led to the Declaration of Independence:

Learn why Great Britain and her 13 American colonies split between 1763 and 1776 with this interactive tutorial. At the end of this time span, Britain and America were at war, and the Declaration of Independence had announced the United States of America as a brand new nation, no longer colonies of Britain.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Britain vs. America: What Led to the Declaration of Independence:

Learn why Great Britain and her 13 American colonies split between 1763 and 1776 with this interactive tutorial. At the end of this time span, Britain and America were at war, and the Declaration of Independence had announced the United States of America as a brand new nation, no longer colonies of Britain.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Teaching Idea

Grade 7 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea