The Declaration of Independence

Why did Thomas Paine question British authority to rule the colonies in Common Sense?

a. He believed the king would only approve laws that benefited Britain.

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence outlines the principles upon which the new government would be based. Which of these best describes one of those principles?

a. a government based on a social contract

In which section of the Declaration of Independence is the purpose of government described?

a. the introduction

Was the Declaration of Independence intended to be a formal declaration of war? Why or why not?

b. No. The war started a year before the Declaration of Independence was written.

As the result of a conflict between British troops and a colonial militia in Massachusetts,

b. Thomas Paine published Common Sense.

Does the preamble to the Declaration of Independence indicate reasons why the new independent government might be similarly removed or overthrown? Why or why not?

b. Yes. It outlines when it is appropriate to remove a government.

The Declaration of Independence refers to rights as being unalienable. What does "unalienable" mean?

b. cannot be surrendered

Which best summarizes the social contract outlined in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence?

c. Government has the power to protect natural rights, but people can change their government if it fails to do so.

Why were taxes an ongoing source of conflict for the American colonists?

c. They were taxed without having representation in Parliament.

John Locke, an Enlightenment-era philosopher, influenced the American movement for independence. Locke believed that all people were entitled to natural rights. Which quotation from the preamble to the Declaration of Independence enshrines natural rights?

d. "[T]hey are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

As the colonies moved toward independence, the First Continental Congress was created in

d. 1774

Which had the greatest influence in prompting the Second Continental Congress to declare independence?

d. increased open public support for independence

Which statement describes a natural right?

d. the rights that cannot, or should not, be taken away

Which best describes why the Boston Tea Party is considered such a significant event in US history?

not b