Comprehension Give Me Liberty

Where did Jefferson get his ideas for the Declaration of Independence?

• He borrowed ideas from other writers.

• He invented all the ideas himself.

• He asked Benjamin Franklin to write the first draft.

• He used books American soldiers brought from Canada.

Which sentence from the selection best supports where Jefferson got his ideas for the Declaration of Independence?

• Finally he showed his work to John Adams and Ben Franklin, who suggested additional changes before the draft was submitted to Congress on June 28.

• It seems that Jefferson tried to get out of the assignment.

• There were plenty of ideas in the air for Jefferson to draw on.

• Some five thousand American troops had been killed or wounded during the disastrous ten-month Canadian campaign.

Which of these is an opinion?

• At first, Pennsylvania was opposed to Independence.

• King George III caused the Revolutionary War.

• John Adams spoke out against slavery.

Why did John Dickinson's voice tremble?

• He wasn't sure independence was a good idea.

• He was angry at the British ships attacking Charleston

• He was afraid because there was a great storm.

• He was sick form smallpox he caught in Canada.

How was Washington different from the other people mentioned in the selection?

• He did not want to vote in either way.

• He was still supporting the British.

• He did not want to leave his farm.

• He was fighting against the British.

Why did the New York delegates abstain from the vote?

• The British were surrounding the troops in New York City.

• They did not know how they were supposed to vote.

• A crowd pulled down a statue and did not let them go to vote.

• Jefferson had not given them a copy of the Declaration.

Which of these events happened first?

• First vote for Independence take place.

• Horseflies invade the assembly room.

• Jefferson starts writing the Declaration of Independence.

• British warships bombarded Charleston, South Carolina.

Why are there so few drafts of the Declaration of Independence?

• They got it right the first time and only wrote it once.

• Jefferson tore up and threw away the earlier drafts.

• They did not want the Declaration so they stopped writing it.

• The Declaration of Independence does not exist

What were the TWO most likely outcomes for those who signed the Declaration of Independence?

• They would be sent back to England.

• They would be remembered as founders of a nation

• They would be sent to prison.

• They would be hanged for treason.

According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the purpose of government?

• To make the citizens' lives miserable with all these rules.

• To secure the rights of people, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

• To have complete control of the citizens.

• To make sure the United States is better than everyone else.