BP-Declaration of Independence

What is the central point of the Declaration of Independence?

• That the colonies should be better represented in Parliament

• That the colonies were breaking with England to form their own country

• That the taxes on tea and stamps were too high

• That King George III was a terrible tyrant

What happened at Lexington and Concord?

• The Declaration was ratified

• The Declaration Committee met

• The Second Continental Congress met

• A battle was fought

Why did King George III agree to the colonists demands?

• He thought the members of the First Continental Congress were traitors

• He wanted to help, but his hands were tied

• He did do what they asked, but they were never satisfied

• He needed the tax money from the colonies to fight foreign wars.

Place the following events in sequence: A) The Declaration is adopted; B) The First Continental Congress meets; C) British and American Troops begin fighting

• B, C, A

• A, C, B

• C, B, A

• B, A, C

How did Thomas Paine inspire the American Colonists?

• Though a series of public speeches

• Though a widely-read pamphlet

• Through a series of newspaper articles

• By co-writing the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration says that life and liberty are inalienable rights. What is the best synonym for "inalienable?"

• acquired

• democratic

• absolute

• negotiable

What role did Thomas Jefferson play during the Second Continental Congress?

• He served as President of the Congress

• He was the first member to sign the Declaration of Independence

• He wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence

• He helped Ben Franklin edit the first draft of the Declaration of Independence

Which of the following is an example of a grievance?

• A letter to your city complaining about potholes in your street

• A newspaper editorial that endorses a particular candidate for President

• A proclamation by the government that July 4th will be celebrated as Independence Day

• A news article about the formation of a new, independent nation

Why is July 4th 1776 so important?

• It was the day the Declaration of Independence was first drafted

• It was the day the Continental Congress first met in Philadelphia

• It was the day that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence

• It was the date of the first battle in the American Revolution

Although the Declaration said that "all men are created equal," women and minorities did not originally share the same rights as white men. What can you conclude about this?

• Women and minorities did not want equal rights

• White men still have many legal rights that are denied to women and minorities

• Women and minorities didn't know enough about government to have full rights

• Americans have revised their values in the years since the Declaration was first drafted