Declaration of Independence

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

• Benjamin Franklin
• Samuel Adams
• Thomas Jefferson
• Paul Revere

Why was this document written?

• The Native Americans wanted their land back.

• To explain why the colonists didn't want to pay taxes on tea.

• To explain why the colonists wanted to break free from British control.

• The colonists didn't want to fight with Great Britain.

Jefferson stated that people have the rights to life, ________, and the pursuit of happiness.

• love

• liberty

• learning

• longevity

Why is July 4th a significant date to the Declaration of Independence?

• The Second Continental Congress ratified the document.

• That was when they started writing the document.

• It was Jefferson's birthday.

• It was the day they sent it to the King.

Why was signing the Declaration considered dangerous?

• If they signed their name, the French would come and get them.

• If they signed their name and didn't win the war, the British could arrest them.

• If they signed their name, the Native Americans could come and get them.

• If they signed their name, they wouldn't win the war.

Why did John Handcock sign his name in the middle and in large print?

• He felt he was the most important person to sign the document.

• He was the one who wrote the document.

• He knew the king wanted him arrested and wanted him to be able to read it without his spectacles.

• Writing the Declaration of Independence had been his idea.

Who were the men that signed the Declaration?

• The members of the Second Continental Congress

• The Sons of Liberty

• The men who wanted to be president

• George Washington and Thomas Jefferson

What is the first line of the Declaration?

• When in the course of human events, it isn't important to absolve the political bands of all their nonsense which have contracted them to one another.....

• When in the course of human beings historical events, it becomes necessary to solve the political rock bands that have caused issues with your land lords over time.....

• When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to one another....

• We, the people, hold these truths to be self-evident...

According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?

• All men are created equal.

• Rights are given only by the king.

• Government exists to protect us from ourselves.

• Only a democracy can protect our lives.

According to the Declaration of Independence, where does government get its power?

• from the King

• from the Supreme Court

• from God

• from the people