Written Assignment 3

Thomas Jefferson is largely responsible for writing one of the most memorable documents in American history, the Declaration of Independence. Largely overlooked, however, is the fact that he sketched out a number of these ideals in an earlier document, A Summary View of the Rights of British America. The assignment this week asks that you read both documents (available at the links provided online, or from pages 120-121 in your documents reader--the green paperback--and from page D-1 in your textbook), and compare the two documents. Discuss the ideas the two documents have in common, and attempt to figure out if Jefferson made any changes in his argument, as well. This assignment is due in class on February 3, 2011.