Our Pennsylvania Story
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Lesson 19:
The Declaration of Independence, United States
Constitution, and Bill of Rights
This planwas called theUnited States Constitution. It is the plan of government still used
for our country today. It gives us the rules and laws underwhich our people live andwork.
Bill of Rights
There is onemore part to our story. Many Americans wanted a list of freedoms for all
of the people. This list would be added to our new Constitution.
Anothermeetingwas held in Philadelphia. Themenwrote a list of rights and
freedoms. These ideas were called the Bill of Rights. Theywere promises by the new
government. In our country, we havemany freedoms, such as the freedom of religion and
the freedom of speech. Many of these new freedoms were part of the Bill of Rights.
Match the correct letter to each phrase:
1. TheDeclaration of Independence
A. American freedoms
2. The United States Constitution
B. Rules to run the United States of America
3. The Bill of Rights
C. A paper saying Americans were free of
England
Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
