The Declaration of Independence

Congress picked a committee of five men to write the Declaration of Independence.  Who was the main author?

• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• Donald Trump
• Donald Duck

Jefferson also wrote that the colonies were no longer bound to what country?

• Canada
• Brazil
• Britain
• Australia

In the longest section of the Declaration, Jefferson listed the grievances, or complaints, against the King.  Which of these would NOT be one of the complaints?

• making the colonists pay taxes
• cutting off trade with the rest of the world
• giving them stale biscuits for breakfast
• making them quarter the soldiers

On what date did Congress approve the Declaration of Independence?

• July 4, 2017
• July 4, 1776
• July 44, 1776
• December 25

John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, signed it first.  He signed it BIG so . . .

• King George could read it without his glasses
• everyone would know he was the president
• his mom would be proud of him
• he could win a prize

The men who signed the Declaration knew that it was a dangerous thing to do.  If the war was lost they could be tried for treason.  What is treason?

• helping your country win the game
• driving on the wrong side of the road
• working against your country
• calling your grandma on Sunday

When Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration he joked, "We must all hang together or we will all ___________ separately."

• sing
• walk
• dance
• hang

Which statement best describes the role of government according to the Declaration of Independence?

• “The main purpose of government is to expand the glorify the state.”
• “The main purpose of government is to protect the unalienable rights of individuals.
• “The main purpose of government is to protect the rights and privileges of His Majesty, the King.”
• “The main purpose of government is to promote the general welfare of the community by taking steps toward social equality.”

Based on the Declaration of Independence, which is a natural right?

• The right to vote
• The right to bear arms
• The right to pursue happiness
• The right to equal protection of the laws

The January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense, _____. 

• caused Parliament to sympathize with the American colonies 
• had little effect on the attitudes of colonists 
• moved the colonies closer to declaring independence   
• occurred just after the Declaration of Independence