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DOE Lesson Plan - 7th Grade - Worksheet: Balfour Declaration
Worksheet: The Balfour Declaration
Foreign Office
November 2nd 1917
Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.
“His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours Sincerely,
Arthur James Balfour
Document Discovery
What was the Balfour Declaration?
Why is the Balfour Declaration so important?
How is the Balfour Declaration relevant today?
What is the date of this document? What is the status of World War I in the Middle East at this time?
What is the format of this document? Does its format and length surprise you? Why?
Important Personalities: Identify Sir Arthur James Balfour and Lord Rothschild.
Sources:
United Kingdom Government History
On whose behalf is Sir James Balfour writing this letter? (Who does he represent?)
Why is Lord Rothschild the recipient of this letter?
Explain the following terms:
a) “A national home for the Jewish people”
What is a “home”? What does a home offer its inhabitants?
What is the difference between a home and a state?
b) “Will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this objective”
What is the “objective”?
Who will be responsible for making this possible?
c) “Nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
How does this statement protect the rights of the local, Arab population?
What does it say about the rights of Jewish people who do not come to the Land of Israel?