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.

The Founding of American Democracy
The Founding of American Democracy
Jessica McBirney

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?

7th Grade Informational Text 860L
The Road to American Independence
The Road to American Independence
Jessica McBirney

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.

9th Grade Informational Text 1130L
Benedict Arnold: Two Sides of a Bitter Coin
Benedict Arnold: Two Sides of a Bitter Coin
David White

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?

8th Grade Informational Text 1230L
Two Famous Friends
Two Famous Friends
Jean K. Potratz

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 830L
The Desperate Ride of Caesar Rodney
The Desperate Ride of Caesar Rodney
Candace Fleming

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
Waiting for Miss Liberty
Barbara D. Krasner

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 Informational Text 920L
With Liberty and Justice for All?
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?

5th Grade Historical Fiction 760L
Weighing in With Words
Weighing in With Words
Andrew Matthews

In "Weighing in With Words," Andrew Matthews describes how Mercy Otis Warren became a well-known voice in the fight for independence.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “Weighing in With Words” and ask students to think about the use of satire as a persuasive tool. What is the narrator’s perspective in “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense”? What is the author’s purpose of “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense”? What would Mercy Otis Warren think about this piece of satire? Why?

5th Grade Biography 1090L
The Midnight Rider
The Midnight Rider
Virginia Stevens

In "The Midnight Rider," a brave and selfless man races against time to cast a tie-breaking vote for independence.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “The Midnight Rider” and ask students to discuss the different points of view that the authors of each text have about the Declaration of Independence. What is the author’s point of view in “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense”? What is the point of view of the author in “The Midnight Rider”? Why do you think that their points of view are different? Have you ever become angry with someone who was once your friend because they changed their feelings about something that you both once liked?

5th Grade Informational Text 1070L
American Revolution
American Revolution
Britannica Kids

In "American Revolution," Britannica Kids describes the causes and main battles in the Revolutionary War.

Pair “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense” with “American Revolution” and ask students to compare the points of view in both articles. What is the point of view of the speaker in “The Declaration of America’s Immense Offense”? What is the point of view of the colonists in “American Revolution”? How are these two points of view on the American Revolution different?

5th Grade Informational Text 830L