Study Guide for Test on the Declaration of Independence

According to Jefferson, what is a people's duty when their government is abusive?

" . . . it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."

Why does Jefferson begin with points about human rights before discussing the colonists' specific grievances [complaints]?

"Jefferson is preparing to contrast the rights that the colonists claim with the king's behavior."

What does Jefferson mean by saying that people do not change governments for "light reasons"?

"People do not decide to change governments because of minor irritations."

Why might people be more inclined to put up with a government that is less than satisfactory rather than change it?

"People may be unwilling to face upheaval and bloodshed at the change in government."

Why is the king's attitude an important factor in the decision to declare independence?

"Since the king has ignored the colonists' efforts to make their own laws, they were tempted to declare independence."

What does Jefferson suggest is the main purpose of a nation's government?

"That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" (the government officials should be elected in order to represent the citizens who vote for them).

According to Jefferson, what has been the king's attitude toward the laws of the colonies?

"The king has been contemptuous [showing disapproval] of the colonists' efforts to establish their own laws."

The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew that their announcement could mean war with powerful, well-equipped Britain. In your opinion, why isn't that idea more prominent in the document?

"The purpose of the document is to explain why the colonies feel that they have been left with no other choice but to declare their independence."

What new relationship between Great Britain and the United States is announced in this document?

"We, therefore . . . solemnly publish and declare . . . that [colonists] are absolved [made free] from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved [officially ended]; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy [carry on] war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do."

What does Jefferson state directly as the reason this declaration had to be written?

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . . they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

What do the capitalized parts of the following passage mean? "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."

"self-evident"-- so apparently true that no reasonable person could deny it truth "all men are created equal"--everyone deserves the same protection and rights under the law

unalienable

(adj.) impossible to take away or give up

assent

(n) approval or agreement

rectitude

(n) morally correct behavior or thinking; uprightness

tyranny

(n) oppressive power (often associated with a dictator)

acquiesce

(v) accept something reluctantly but without protest

constrain

(v) require or force

What are three reasons Jefferson provides to support his assertion that the colonies need to break away from British rule?

1.) "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository [place where something is put for safe keeping] of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures." 2.) "He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures." 3.) "For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury."

What do the words necessary and impel in the following passage suggest about Jefferson's argument? "When in the course of human events, it becomes NECESSARY for one people to dissolve [officially end] the political bands [something that ties together] which have connected them with another, . . . a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which IMPEL [to cause a strong need or desire] them to the separation."

He is making the case that the British have left the colonists no other choice but to fight for their independence.

What does Jefferson mean in the following passage? "He has refused his assent [give approval] to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

The King of England is not approving laws that would benefit the colonists.

What does the following quote show about Jefferson's central idea in the Declaration of Independence? "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces [shows] a design to reduce them under absolute despotism [total control in an unfair and cruel way], it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."

The colonists are justified in rebelling against Britain and wanting to establish their independence.

What is Jefferson's purpose in using the words in the following passages? "absolute despotism" "abuses and usurpations" "repeated injuries and usurpations"

The words despotism, abuses, usurpations, and injuries appeal to the audience's emotions because these words have powerful connotations that make them realize how oppressed they are by the British.

Based on context clues and your knowledge of the prefixes in- (meaning not or opposite) and sur- (meaning above, on top of), determine the meaning of the word insurrection in the following passage. "He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."

a usually violent attempt to take control of a government

persuasive technique #3: appeal to authority (ethos)

an attempt to make someone accept something as right by emphasizing how the speaker or writer has special knowledge about or experience with the subject and is therefore credible (believable)

persuasive technique #2: appeal to logic (logos)

an attempt to make someone accept something as right by saying things that are directed at a person's sense of logic and reason; usually involves facts that can be proven (e.g., a car commercial might point out safety equipment that other brands don't have)

Which type of appeal does Jefferson use in the following passage from the Declaration of Independence? "In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury."

appeal to authority (ethos)

Which type of appeal does Jefferson use in the following passage from the Declaration of Independence? "He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."

appeal to emotion (pathos)

Which type of appeal does Jefferson use in the following passage from the Declaration of Independence? "To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world."

appeal to logic (logos)

How might the capitalized phrase CONTRACT ALLIANCES be said in modern, simple language? ". . . as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do."

establish peaceful and friendly relationships with other countries

Jefferson accuses the King of England of "quartering large bodies of armed troops among us." What is the meaning of quartering in this context?

housing British officials in colonists' houses (dwellings)

persuasive technique #1: appeals to emotion (pathos)

ideas or language that attempts to influence readers' feelings in order to persuade them to accept a point of view or argument (e.g., Sarah McLaughlin's animal abuse commercial)

Which persuasive technique does Jefferson use in the following passage? "He is at this time transporting large armies . . . to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny . . ."

pathos (appeal to emotions)

Latin root -rect-

right or straight

rectify

to correct (something that is wrong) relating to chemistry: to purify (as alcohol) especially by repeated or fractional distillation relating to electronics: to make (an alternating current) unidirectional