Social Sciences and History / Unit 1 SSH 0025 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Reading a Founding Document for Its Claim
The idea
The exam quotes founding documents and asks what they claim, who they address, and on what authority. Three questions answer almost any such item. What does the text claim to be true or to do? Whose consent or authority does it rest on? Who is meant to hear it?
In practice
The Declaration of Independence claims that the colonies are, and by right ought to be, free and independent states, absolved of allegiance to the Crown. Its authority is the consent of the governed and the natural rights it names; its audience is a candid world, which is why it lists grievances. The Articles of Confederation claim to bind sovereign states into a league; the authority is the states themselves, which is why the national government could not tax. The Constitution's preamble claims to act for "We the People," an authority above the states, which is why it could. A question that shows the phrase "a firm league of friendship" points to the Articles; "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor" points to the Declaration; "in order to form a more perfect union" points to the Constitution.
Where people slip
The trap is mistaking a grievance list for a claim. The grievances are evidence; the claim is independence, on the people's authority, not Parliament's.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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