Declaration of Independence and American Revolution

Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

• to start the American Revolution

• to offer a peace settlement to Great Britain

• to instruct how a country wins its freedom

• to explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain

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 might lead to demands to free slaves.

• it was an unimportant issue in the colonies.

• 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

• God.

• the king.

• Parliament.

• the governed.

Why did Thomas Jefferson say that King George III was an unfit ruler?

• He was not born in Great Britain.

• He denied the colonists their rights.

• He was not elected by Parliament.

• He lived far away from the colonies.

What decision was made at the Second Continental Congress?

• to form an army

• to make a gesture of peace

• to declare war on Great Britain

• to demand a repeal of the Tea Act

To Great Britain, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was

• an act of loyalty.

• an act of treason.

• an act of bravery.

• an act of insanity

Which of these was a weakness of the Continental army at the start of the war?

• supply shortages

• weak commander

• unfamiliar territory

• long travel distances

At the start of the war, what was a weakness of the British troops?

• poor leadership

• understaffed army

• insufficient supplies

• poorly trained soldiers

Why did many of the British people not support the war?

• The king was unpopular.

• They planned to move to America.

• The cost to taxpayers was too high.

• They wanted the Americans to have their independence.