Declaration of Independence

How did Common Sense influence the Declaration of Independence?

• by using most of the language and format of the Declaration

• by persuading the Continental Congress to meet and discuss independence

• by introducing many of the ideas the Declaration later expressed

• by suggesting authors who could write the Declaration

What idea from the Mayflower Compact influenced the Declaration of Independence?

• Government should be for the common good, not just for a few people.

• Government should be open to both men and women.

• Government should be elected every four years.

• Government should be run by people who are not paid.

One idea shared by the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence was that all men

• needed to pay taxes.

• were equal under the law.

• should be free to worship as they chose.

• needed to support the government.

Which statement describes the Enlightenment idea of a social contract as it influenced the Declaration of Independence?

• A social contract controls the way businesses make money.

• A social contract specifies how much people must pay in taxes.

• A social contract decides the relationship between rulers and citizens.

• A social contract determines which class of people will be powerful.

The English Bill of Rights, which influenced the Declaration of Independence, established the idea that

• the power of kings and queens was limited.

• only the chosen leader should make laws.

• a government should not hold free elections.

• people have no right to free speech.

How did the Virginia Declaration of Rights influence the Declaration of Independence?

• It was the first document that was openly critical of the king.

• It was the document Jefferson referred to when writing the Declaration of Independence.

• It suggested that the colonies should be independent from Britain.

• It was published as a pamphlet and built support for the Declaration.

Colonists felt the increased taxes in the 1760s and 1770s violated which document?

• the Virginia Declaration of Rights

• the Mayflower Compact

• the English Bill of Rights

• Common Sense

The Stamp Act of 1765 angered colonists because

• British citizens in the colonies did not have to pay the taxes.

• the tax was so high it prevented people from buying paper.

• they did not have representation in Parliament.

• tax collectors were able to take people’s property.

The Tea Act of 1773 angered colonists because it

• meant that colonists would not be able to buy tea.

• closed the port of Boston to all trade.

• forced colonial merchants to buy tea from Africa.

• favored a British company over colonial merchants.

Colonists used the phrase “No taxation without representation” to suggest that

• they were upset colonial representatives in Parliament raised taxes.

• taxes should be the same for Britain and the colonies.

• they should have a representative in Parliament.

• taxes should not represent more than the colonies owed.