Declaration of Independence Quiz Practice

The Continental army was composed of _____________.

• troops from all the colonies.
• troops from throughout Great Britain
• only troops from the New England colonies.
• only troops from Virginia and Massachusetts.

Which of these describes the mood of most colonies immediately following the events of Lexington and Concord?

• They were reluctant to start a war.
• They were eager to declare war against the British.
• They sided with the Loyalists against the Patriots.
• They wanted to move to Great Britain.

Which of these best describes the outcome of the Battle of Bunker Hill?

• The British won, but suffered many losses.
• The militia won by a narrow margin.
• The British won decisively.
• The militia surrendered to the British.

Why was George Washington chosen to be a military leader?

• He had experience.
• He wanted the role.
• He was very wealthy.
• He was highly educated.

What effect did Common Sense have in the colonies?

• It persuaded many colonists that America should be independent.
• It instilled fear of war in the colonies.
• It convinced the colonies to remain loyal to Great Britain.
• It petitioned the king to end the quarrel between the colonies and Great Britain.

What was the purpose of the Olive Branch Petition?

• to ask King George to make peace with the colonies.
• to persuade British troops to leave Boston.
• to encourage colonists to join the army.
• to convince Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.

Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

• to explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain
• the start the American Revolution
• to offer a peace settlement to Great Britain.
• to instruct how a county wins its freedom.

How do natural rights, as described in the Declaration of Independence, differ from other rights?

• People are born with natural rights.
• People can vote to choose natural rights
• Natural rights are given only to citizens.
• Natural rights come from the government.

In a draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson charged the king with violating the "sacred rights of life and liberty.... of a distant people by carrying them into slavery." This passage was removed for all of these reasons except...

• it was an unimportant issue in the colonies
• it might lead to demand to free slaves.
• it was unfair to blame the king for enslaving Africans.
• it might offend merchants who profited from the slave trade.

According to Thomas Jefferson, the power to rule comes from____________.

• the governed.
• God
• Parliament.
• the king.