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The Colonies Under British RuleIn the 1600s and 1700s, Europeans came toNorth America looking for religious freedom,economic opportunities, and political liberty.They created 13 colonies on the East Coast ofthe continent. Later, when the colonists wonindependence, these colonies became the 13original states.Each colony had its own government, but theBritish king controlled these governments. Bythe 1770s, many colonists were angry becausethey did not have self-government. This meantthat they could not govern themselves and maketheir own laws. They had to pay high taxes tothe king. They felt that they were paying taxes toa government where they had no representation.They were also angry because the colonists wereforced to let British soldiers sleep and eat intheir homes.In 1774, leaders from the colonies met inPhiladelphia to discuss British laws that theybelieved were unfair. They believed that GreatBritain did not treat the colonists as equalcitizens. They thought the people needed morecontrol over their government. In 1775, colonistsfought against the British army in Massachusetts.The leaders met again and decided to organizean army. George Washington became thecommander in chief of that army.New HampshireMassachusettsNew YorkPennsylvaniaRhode IslandConnecticutNew JerseyDelawareMarylandVirginiaNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaThe 13 original states.Answer these Civics Test questions.1. Why did the colonists fight the British?2. There were 13 original states. Name three.Intermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship1
The Declaration of IndependenceMany colonists wanted to separate from GreatBritain and form a new country. In 1776, theleaders met in Philadelphia again. They agreedthat the colonies should be free and independentstates. They asked Thomas Jefferson to write adocument for them that expressed these ideas.He wrote the Declaration of Independence whichannounced that the colonies were independentfrom Great Britain.The Declaration of Independence alsopromised Americans three rights: life, liberty,and the pursuit of happiness. This meant thatthe colonists had basic freedoms that thegovernment could not take away.The Declaration of Independence was adopted onJuly 4, 1776. Today we celebrate IndependenceDay on July 4 every year.Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in“Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776,” byJean Leon Gerome Ferris.Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZC4-9904.Answer these Civics Test questions.1. What did the Declaration of Independence do?2. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?3. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?4. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?5. When do we celebrate Independence Day?To read the entire text of the Declaration of Independence, visit www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration transcript.html.2 Intermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship
The Father of Our CountryGeorge Washington was born in Virginia onFebruary 22, 1732. Washington owned a largefarm in Mount Vernon, Virginia. He had manyyears of experience as a soldier in the army.When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, thecolonies chose Washington to be the commanderin chief of the Continental Army to fight theBritish. The war was long and difficult but thecolonists finally won independence in 1783.Washington became a national hero during theRevolutionary War. In 1789, he was chosen asthe first president of the new United States. Heserved as president until 1797 and died in 1799.Today Americans call George Washington the“Father of Our Country.” He is rememberedon Presidents’ Day in February. The state ofWashington and our nation’s capital, Washington,DC, were named after him. There are universities,roads, and hospitals named after him. We alsofind Washington’s face on dollar bills, coins, andstamps.George Washington’s home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-highsm-12540.General George Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania,during the Revolutionary War, by Percy Moran.Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-3793.Answer these Civics Test questions.1. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?2. Who was the first President?Discuss these questions with your classmates.Who was one important leader in your country’s history?Why was that person important?How did this person influence the history of your country?Intermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship3
All Men Are Created EqualThomas Jefferson was an important leader in thecolonists’ fight for independence. He believed indemocracy and in people’s basic rights. Jeffersonwas the main writer of the Declaration ofIndependence. Later when the new governmentwas formed, President George Washington choseJefferson to be the first secretary of state. In1801, Jefferson became the third president of theUnited States. He served as president for eightyears.In the Declaration of Independence, ThomasJefferson wrote about values and ideas that wereimportant to the colonists. These ideas are stillimportant to Americans today. Read the famouswords below from the Declaration and thinkabout their meaning. Think about what theyThomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale.Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZC4-2474mean to you personally. Share your ideas withyour teacher and classmates.We hold these truths to be self-evident,We believe that there are certain ideas that are true and obviousthat all men are created equal,We believe that everyone is equalthat they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,We believe that they have certain natural rights and those rights cannot betaken away by any governmentthat among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.We believe in the right to live freely and the right to look for happiness.Answer these Civics Test questions.1. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?2. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?4 Intermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship
Review—Establishing IndependenceIrregular Past Tense Verbs:The verbs below have irregular forms in the past tense. Write a sentence using the past tenseform of each verb.1. become:2. begin:3. choose:4. feel:5. fight:6. meet:7. think:8. win:9. write:Word Scramble:Rearrange the letters to form the names of the 13 original states. Remember that the statenames might be one word or two words.1. eywkornNew York8. arinthracloon2. awrdlaee9. nehhrweaspmi3. smusaesthtasc10. hsntcaiulroao4. nlayrmad11. yeneeswjsr5. ensradolihd12. ireaogg6. irniivga13. anlnnisyevpa7. oenicncttcuIntermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship5
Civics Test Questions—Establishing IndependenceRead the test questions and write the answers. Take turns practicing them with your partner.1. What did the Declaration of Independence do?2. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?3. Why did the colonists fight the British?4. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?5. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?6. There were 13 original states. Name three.7. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?8. Who was the first President?9. When do we celebrate Independence Day?6 Intermediate Level Establishing Independence H www.uscis.gov/citizenship
the colonists had basic freedoms that the government could not take away. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Today we celebrate Independence . Day on July 4 every year. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in “Writing the Declaration of
