Graphic Organizer: An “Apple of Gold” in a “Picture of Silver”:
Graphic Organizer for Background Essay: An “Apple of Gold” in a “Picture of Silver”: The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution
- I can identify the republican principles that informed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
- I can explain how the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution uphold common republican principles.
- I can explain the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Directions: As you read about each principle, use two different-colored highlighters to highlight how that principle is represented in each document. One color should be used for how the principle is represented in the Constitution, and the other color should be used for how the principle is represented in the Declaration of Independence. In the margin, rephrase what you highlighted in your own words or make a note about how the content relates to you. After you have finished reading and annotating, fill in the organizer below by copying down the words and phrases that represent each principle in each document.
| Principle | Declaration of Independence | U.S. Constitution |
|---|---|---|
| popular sovereignty | “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” | “We the People” |
| justice and equality | ||
| rule of law | ||
| national security | “as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do” | |
| common good | ||
| liberty |
Analysis Questions
- What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence, the “apple of gold”?
- What is the purpose of the U.S. Constitution, “the picture of silver”?
