Paired Texts > The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense

by BirdBrain History

2015

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

8th Grade Informational Text 1230L
Benedict Arnold: Two Sides of a Bitter Coin
  • David White
  • 2014

This article summarizes the life of American general Benedict Arnold and how his name has become synonymous with treason and betrayal.

Pair “Benedict Arnold: Two Sides of a Bitter Coin” with “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” and ask students to discuss themes of loyalty and nationality in regards to the relationship between the United States and Great Britain. Why were some colonists loyal to the British king throughout the American Revolution?

9th Grade Informational Text 1130L
The Road to American Independence
  • Jessica McBirney
  • 2016

In “The Road to American Independence,” the text recounts the major events that led the American colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War and independence from Great Britain.

Pair “The Road to American Independence” with “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” and ask students to analyze the reasons why America felt compelled to fight in the Revolutionary War. Then have students analyze why so many British people held the opposing view.

7th Grade Informational Text 730L
The Founding of American Democracy
  • Jessica McBirney
  • 2016

The Constitution was formed to protect the rights of citizens and states more than 200 years ago, and it is still the basis of our government today.

Pair “The Founding of American Democracy” with “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” and ask students to more closely analyze the roadblocks and challenges that faced America after it gained its freedom from Great Britain. In what ways was the speaker of “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” right and wrong about the problems that America would face after deciding to create its own government?

5th Grade Informational Text 830L
Two Famous Friends
  • Jean K. Potratz
  • 2016

In the informational text “Two Famous Friends,” Jean K. Potratz discusses the rocky friendship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “Two Famous Friends” to provide students with additional information about America’s independence and Thomas Jefferson. How did Jefferson contribute to the Declaration of Independence? Why do students think that both Jefferson and John Adams agreed on independence from Britain, despite their other opposing views? How could Jefferson and Adams’ opposing views highlighted in “Two Famous Friends” have been a result of wanting to create an independent country?
5th Grade Informational Text 920L
The Desperate Ride of Caesar Rodney
  • Candace Fleming
  • 2016

When it was time to vote on American colonies’ independence from England, delegate Caesar Rodney raced to Philadelphia to share his vote.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “The Desperate Ride of Caesar Rodney” to provide students with additional information about America’s independence. What additional information does “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” provide about the Declaration of Independence”? Why was it an important part of America’s independence? How important was Rodney’s vote based on each text?

5th Grade Informational Text 920L
Waiting for Miss Liberty
  • Barbara D. Krasner
  • 2015

In the informational text “Waiting for Miss Liberty,” Barbara D. Krasner discusses the construction of the Statue of Liberty on an island in New York Harbor.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “Waiting for Miss Liberty” and ask students to discuss the importance of freedom in America. Why do students think that France intended the Statue of Liberty to embody freedom? In addition to achieving freedom from Great Britain, how else is America a free nation?

5th Grade Historical Fiction 760L
With Liberty and Justice for All?
  • Dianne Swann-Wright

In Dianne Swann-Wright’s “With Liberty and Justice for All?” Hannah, a fictious slave of Thomas Jefferson, describes her life as a slave.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “With Liberty and Justice for All?” and ask students to discuss the Declaration of Independence. What are the main ideas in the Declaration of Independence? How does the short story show how Thomas Jefferson goes against some of the ideas he expressed in the Declaration of Independence?