NY Social Studies 7.3c
The Standard
Influenced by Enlightenment ideas and their rights as Englishmen, American colonial leaders outlined their grievances against British policies and actions in the Declaration of Independence.
New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework
Key Idea 7.3
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE: Growing tensions over political power and economic issues sparked a movement for independence from Great Britain. New York played a critical role in the course and outcome of the American Revolution.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students trace how natural rights, social contract theory, English legal rights, and Common Sense shaped colonial arguments. They analyze the Declaration’s sections and connect specific grievances to British actions.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a short excerpt, students can identify the idea or grievance, paraphrase it, and explain its purpose. They can cite evidence showing how colonial leaders justified separation from Britain.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the Declaration created the new government or immediately ended the war. They often confuse natural rights with rights held under English law. Some assume all colonists supported independence or that declared rights applied equally to everyone.
How to Assess It
- Give students one Declaration excerpt and ask: What claim or grievance appears here, and how does it support independence? Require one quoted phrase as evidence.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Students sort cards from Locke, Common Sense, and the Declaration into natural rights, social contract, grievances, and arguments for independence.
Ask students to write: Which Enlightenment idea gave colonial leaders the strongest reason for independence? Cite two excerpts.
Teams match British action cards to Declaration grievance cards and earn a point only after explaining each link.
Students rewrite a school policy complaint as a three-part declaration with a principle, grievance, and requested change.
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Printable 7.3c Worksheet
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