The colonies needed an organized military, so the Second Continental Congress created

• the Continental army.

• the Minutemen.

• the militia.

• the Continental coast guard.

Who did the Second Continental Congress place in charge of the new Continental army?

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Paine

• George Washington

Which statement about the Second Continental Congress is true?

• All of the delegates were ready to declare independence.

• All of the delegates wanted to remain part of Great Britain.

• The delegates were split over whether to declare independence.

• John Adams was the only delegate ready to declare independence.

The time when people in Europe were exploring new ideas about science, governments, and human rights is called the Age of

• Revolutions.

• Enlightenment.

• Renaissance.

• New Thinking.

What was the main idea in Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense?

• The colonies would be better off if they made peace with Great Britain

• The colonists should make alliances with American Indians against the British.

• The people should realize how good they have it and stop complaining.

• The people should rule themselves rather than be ruled by a king.

What was the impact of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense?

• It convinced many more people to support independence.

• It persuaded many colonists to stop fighting against Britain.

• It encouraged many people to make peace with American Indians.

• It had very little impact, because few people actually read it.

Delegates from which states were the first to propose independence?

• New York

• Virginia

• Massachusetts

• Delaware

How was the Declaration of Independence written?

• Benjamin Franklin wrote the first draft, which he submitted to the entire Congress for approval.

• All of the members of the Congress worked as a committee to draft and finalize the document.

• Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, with input from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

• Thomas Jefferson and the other Virginia delegates wrote the document together.

What did Jefferson call a “cruel war against human nature”?

• the institution of slavery

• rebellion against Britain

• British rule

• the long, drawn-out deliberations of the Congress

What did Benjamin Franklin mean when he said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately”?

• The delegates must work together, or independence would never happen.

• The delegates must sign the Declaration neatly, so they would get credit for helping create it.

• The delegates must succeed at their task, or the people would be outraged.

• The delegates must stay united, because signing the Declaration was an act of treason.