Texas Declaration of Independence Primary Source Analysis

Students will read and analyze the Texas Declaration of Independence of 1836 by answering 31 questions (some are creative tasks). Some questions have the students compare this document to the United States' Declaration of Independence. This would be great for a sub and the answers are included where appropriate! 

 Sample questions include:
--Citing evidence from the text, under what circumstances does a government become oppressive and evil?
--In the 5th paragraph, how do the Texans justify why they are writing this document? 
--Explain the meaning of the word “habituated.”
--Who do you think the citizen is in the first paragraph of the second page and why?
--Inferring from prior knowledge and drawing from the text, summarize why the people of Texas ran out of patience. 
--Rewrite this phrase in your own words to demonstrate understanding: “our appeal has been made in vain.”
--Compare and contrast what this document will mean for the futures of white men, black men, and women of any cultural and ethnic background. Why do you think this document does not contain any phrase along the lines of “all men are created equal?” 
--Imagine you were there when the Mexican government received word of this Declaration. How do you think they received it? How would Santa Anna have responded to it? In your answer, include at least 6 lines of historically plausible, yet creative, dialogue that Santa Anna and General de Cos would have exchanged upon receiving and reading this document.

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