Introduction
Most people have heard that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Many, however, do not realize that after he wrote his first draft, the document was
further shaped by a committee and then by the Continental Congress itself (go
here for more details).
Thus we see that even the best writers in America have had to acknowledge the need for
revision and editing of their work.
History leaves little doubt of Jefferson's ability to shape prose to his purposes.
The editing done in this case was probably different from the kind most students find
necessary. His draft underwent other kinds of changes, more substantive in nature,
which in some cases changed the shape and effect of the final document.
This project asks students to take an analytical look at both Jefferson's draft
and the final document and discover the differences between them in light of the
purpose of the Declaration, its intended audience,
and the requirements put upon its creators by the politics of times in which
it was written.
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The Task
The task involves writing an analytical essay discussing the differences
between the draft and the final document. Merely determining the differences will
not suffice, however. Students should also speculate upon the aspects in bold text
above in determining the probable reasons for the changes noted therein.
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The Process
The best approach is to establish a system for comparing the documents section
by section. The resources section below has links to
each version of the Declaration of Independence. Get one version of the
document in a browser window and put that to one side of the screen. Open the other
version in a new browser window (right-click on the link) and arrange that window
on the other side of the screen. It should then be a simple matter to scroll down
each document keeping them parallel. The differences should jump out at you.
Then, either take notes on a piece of paper or open a Notepad window and take
notes there. That might be easier since you might want to include direct
quotations in your paper.
Do not forget to research the topic further with the links provided in the resources
section.
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Resources
Below you will find links to copies of the rough draft of the
Declaration and its final form. Following that are some additional resources
you'll find helpful in completing the project.
From Constitution.org
--
Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence
--
Declaration of Independence (final form)
From another site
--
Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence
--
Declaration of Independence (final form)
Additional Resources
--
A History of the Declaration of Independence
--
The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence
--
A Timeline of Jefferson's life
--Another Timeline
--
American Sphinx: The Contradictions of Thomas Jefferson
--
LIFE AND LABOR AT MONTICELLO
--
Today in History for April 13, Jefferson's Birthdate
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Evaluation
As always, make your project reflect a thorough approach to the topic, and you
will not need to fear the result.
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Conclusion
Just about all government documents and speeches are designed to influence the
thinking and behavior of the governed. This work, therefore, is some of the most
carefully crafted writing imaginable. Even watching a show such as West Wing
can alert us to the degree to which various factors are considered in their
creation. This project attempted to put you in touch with these subtleties and
necessities.
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Last updated June, 2008.
Based on a template from
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