Declaration Main Idea and Vocab Quiz

Which of the following quotations from paragraphs 1 and 2 contains the thesis of this declaration?

• “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

• “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.”

• “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

• “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

Which of the following words is a synonym for “Despotism” as it is used in paragraph 2?

• Liberty

• Oppression

• Discretion

• Opposition

Which TWO quotations best support the meaning of “Despotism” in paragraph 2?

• "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States."

• "a long train of abuses and usurpations"

• "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes"

• mankind are more disposed to suffer

Which of the following quotations depicts the opposite concept of “Despotism” in paragraph 2?

• "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes"

• That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

• "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

• "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

All of the following statements depict concepts upon which Jefferson’s argument is based EXCEPT:

• People have the right not to be mistreated by their ruler.

• The King of Great Britain has committed crimes against the colonists.

• The point of life is to have freedom and happiness.

• Monarchies are unethical due to the inequalities built into this system of government.

• The King of Great Britain should be dethroned.

What are the TWO purposes for including this list in the “Declaration of Independence”?

• To persuade the British occupational forces that they should defect and join the United States

• To explain to the colonists the reasons for separating from Great Britain

• To convince the King of Great Britain to stop committing crimes against the colonists

• To assert to the King of Great Britain the reasons for rebellion

Throughout the “Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson uses the word “usurpations” many times. What does this word mean in this context?

• Declarations

• Revolutions

• Crimes

• Promises