Declaration of Independence Quiz

What is a ruffian?

a bully

What is a resolution?

a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted on by an official body or assembled group

How does the idea that honest common people are more important than kings help support the central argument that the colonies should be self-governing and independent?

The idea that honest common people are more important than kings helps support the central argument that the colonies should be self-governed and independent because the colonies will not select one king every common person will have a voice. Thomas Paine said that the colonists did not owe loyalty to King George III or any other monarch and the idea of having kings and queens was wrong.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson, one of the youngest delegates, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

How does the Declaration of Inedependence begin?

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

What is a traitor?

A traitor is a person who betrays his or her own country.

According to the colonists, how has the King responded to their grievances?

According to the colonists, the king has responded to their grievances with only repeated injury.

When was the Declaration of Independence accepted?

On July 4, 1776 the delegates accepted Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, making only a few changes.

What is the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independance is a 1776 document stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation.

When was the Declaration read to congress?

The Declaration was read to Congress on July 2, 1776.

What are unalienable rights?

Unalienable rights are rights that can not be taken away. (natural and unalienable rights can overlap)

How does the second paragraph begin?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

What is a preamble?

A preamble is an introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document.

What does absolved mean?

Absolved means to be free

According to the document, why do the colonists have the right to declare independence?

According to the document, the colonists have the right to declare independence because the king has refused to assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good, it was their right, their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

What bold move did John Hancock do?

John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration first. He penned his signature boldly, in large, clear letters. "There," he said, "I guess King George will be able to read that."

Why do the authors give reasons for breaking ties with the British government before stating the central idea that the colonies are now independent states?

The authors gave reasons for breaking ties with the British government before stating the central idea that the colonies were then independent states because when the king or a high official in Britain read the document they would know the reasons why the colonies were declaring independence, when they did.

What colonial actions were omitted, or not mentioned, in this document? Why did the colonists choose to omit some colonial actions in the document?

The colonial actions that were not mentioned in this document were the end to slave trade and the expansion of women's rights. The representatives could not agree on these two issues therefore they were omitted from the Declaration.

What risks did the colonists take by writing this?

The colonists risked their lives by writing this document because each of the representatives signed their names on the paper. When the king read the document he could hunt down all the people who signed the document, to hang them. Since these colonists were representatives for each of the colonies all of the colonies could get punished too.

Why did the men who signed the Declaration of Independence risk their lives by doing so?

The men who signed the Declaration of the Independance were risking their lives by doing so. In the text it states, "The delegates faced a difficult decision. There could be no turning back once they declared independance. If they fell into British hands, they would be hanged as traitors." Once the men signed the independence Britain had their names and could hunt them down to hang them for betraying their country.

What is allegiance?

the loyalty owed by a subject to a monarch or a citizen to a government

What is to impoverish?

to make poor

What is to redress?

to set right; to remove the cause of a grievance or complaint

What are natural rights?

Natural rights are rights that belong to all people from birth.

What is the first part of the Declaration of Independence?

Part 1: Unalienable Rights - natural rights - ability to be free and choose how you live - can provide new guards if a government fails to protect the rights of its citizens The unalienable rights allow the citizens to keep their natural rights and make it their duty to throw off the government and provide new guards for future security if they have failed to protect them.

What is the second part of the Declaration of Independence?

Part 2: Colonial Grievances - disbanding colonial legislatures - sending troops to the colonies in peacetime - limits on trade - taxes imposed without the colonists word The colonial grievances point out that the colonies petitioned the king to correct the grievances, but he did not and that shows that he is a tyrant and not fit to rule.

What is the third part of the Declaration of Independence?

Part 3: Independence - united states of america - political ties with Britain have been cut The independence says that the United States has the full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other things which independent states may of right do.

Who was Richard Henry Lee?

Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia who served in the First and Second Continental Congresses. He was born in 1732 and died in 1794.

Who was Robert Livingston?

Robert Livingston was an American lawyer and statesman from New York who served in the Second Continental Congress. Livingston was appointed to the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He was born in 1746 and died in 1813.

Who is Roger Sherman?

Roger Sherman signed the Declaration of Independence and helped to draft the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He later served in the U.S. Congress as both a representative and a senator. He was born in 1721 and died in 1723.

What basic rights does the document claim individuals have?

Some basic rights the document claims individuals have are that all men are created equal, we all were born with unalienable rights, and among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

From whose point of view was the Declaration of Independence written?

The Declaration of Independence was written in the point of view of the colonists and their representatives.

In general, why was the Declaration of Independence written?

The Declaration of Independence was written so the thirteen colonies could declare that they were free from Britain and an independent country.

What is the passage from Common Sense?

The King of England has other things to do than calling war against others and providing jobs those in his country; this is what is causing different areas to be wealthier than others. A good honest citizen has more worth to the country and to God, than any wicked king that has ever lived. (Thomas Paine basically said that all kings are bullies)

What fateful step did Congress take?

The fateful step that Congress took was that they chose a committee to draw up a declaration of independence. The committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Their job was to tell the world why the colonies were breaking away from Britian.

What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? Why is this document still significant today?

The purpose of the Declaration of the Independence was so that the colonies could claim to the king that they were the free United States of America. This document is still significant today because it marked the first time we claimed independence from the king and we still use this document as a reference for many things today.