The Declaration of Independence / Instruction / Assignment

Which of these ideas from the Declaration of Independence explains the proper purpose of government? "We hold these truths to be self-evident." "All men are created equal." "To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men." "It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands."

"To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men."

According to the Declaration, in which ways did the king deny the colonists "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"? Write two to three sentences to explain your answer.

According to the Declaration, ways in which the King denied the colonists "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is that he did not allow them to make their own laws, he did not allow the colonists to trade with other parts of the world and he kept standing armies among them in times of peace without their consent.

And is there any inhabitant in America so ignorant, as not to know . . . that this continent can make no laws but what the king gives it leave to; and is there any man so unwise, as not to see, that . . . he will suffer no law to be made here, but such as suit his purpose. -Thomas Paine,Common Sense,1776 Which statement best explains what Paine says about the king? He puts the interests of the colonists before his own when approving laws. He allows the colonies to make their own laws. He will only approve laws that are in his and Great Britain's best interest. He allows new laws to be made in the colonies.

He will only approve laws that are in his and Great Britain's best interest.

What does the preamble say about the power of government? Select all that apply. If the government abuses its power, people's natural rights are taken away. Great Britain has always upheld the natural rights of the colonists. The government has a responsibility to protect people's rights, not to control their lives. Government's power comes from the Creator. A government is empowered by the consent of the governed.

If the government abuses its power, people's natural rights are taken away. The government has a responsibility to protect people's rights, not to control their lives. A government is empowered by the consent of the governed.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . . a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. What does this quotation from the introduction of the Declaration of Independence do? It explains what the rest of the document will do. It acknowledges the authority of the monarchy. It lists the rights that nature gives all men. It states the colonists' lack of respect for Great Britain.

It explains what the rest of the document will do.

Match the words of the preamble with the basic principle they best represent. use each answer only once.

The "right of the people to alter or to abolish" government means that: the government exists to serve the people. The words "governments are instituted among men" describe: the idea of a social contract. "Unalienable right" are: the natural rights to which all people are entitled.

These United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States . . . they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown . . . 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. What is the meaning of this passage? Check all that apply. The Colonies remain a servant to Great Britain. The Colonies have all the power of any other independent nation. The Colonies are not free or independent. The Colonies would like to be allies with the British in the future. The Colonies are declaring independence.

The Colonies have all the power of any other independent nation. The Colonies are declaring independence.

Match each word with the phrase that best describes its meaning.

Unalienable: something that cannot be taken away Self-government: the right to govern oneself Declaration: a forceful statement Authority: power to enforce laws

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. According to this text from the preamble to the Declaration, who gives men their unalienable rights? their Creator the British government the Continental Congress people who supported the king

their Creator