Declaration of Independence Facts
What truth is "self-evident" according to the Declaration?
"All men are created equal."
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
*Thomas Jefferson* wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Who was on the committee to write the Declaration?
*Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston* were on the committee.
What is a government's responsibility towards its citizens?
A government's responsibility towards its citizens is to *protect them and their rights*.
What three "unalienable rights do men have?
The three unalienable rights of men are *life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.*
What rights does an independent state have?
They can *wage war, make alliances, establish trade and business, and make peace treaties*.
Why did the colonists write the Declaration of Independence?
They wrote the Declaration of Independence to explain why they needed to break away (dissolve political ties) from the king and England.
When do citizens have the right to abolish or alter their government?
Citizens have the right to abolish or alter their government *when the government fails to protect their rights.*
Criminals were sent to ___.
Criminals were sent to *England*.
What does the Declaration say about slavery and why?
It says* nothing so that the Southern colonies would sign.*
What does the first paragraph, the introduction, of the Declaration do?
It states the necessity for writing a Declaration: to explain the reasons for being impelled (forced) to declare independence.
The English Parliament levied ___ on the colonies without their representation in Parliament.
The English Parliament levied *taxes* on the colonies without their representation in Parliament.
Which three things did the colonists try before resorting to declaring war?
The colonists tried sending *petitions to the king, reminding the British people and Parliament of their common ties, and warning them in letters*.
From whom does the government get its power?
The government get its power *from the people it governs.*
The king abolished colonial ___.
The king abolished *colonial legislatures*.
The king denied the colonists trial by ____.
The king denied the colonists trial by *jury*.
The king failed to protect the colonists from the ___.
The king failed to protect the colonists from the *Native Americans (Savages)*.
The king has prevented the colonists from ___ with other countries.
The king has prevented the colonists from *trading* with other countries.
The king hired ___ to support his army.
The king hired *mercenaries* to support his army.
The king impressed colonists into the Royal ___.
The king impressed colonists into the Royal *navy*.
The king insisted colonists quarter (house) ___ in their homes.
The king insisted colonists quarter (house) *soldiers* in their homes.
The king maintained a standing ____ to maintain order.
The king maintained a standing *army* to maintain order.
The king refused to agree to ___ ____ by the colonists.
The king refused to agree to *laws passed by the colonists.*
The king sent many new agents and officials to ___.
The king sent many new agents and officials to *administer the colonies*.
The king controlled the ____ jobs and salaries.
he king controlled the *judges'* jobs and salaries.