US Government (part 1) - Declaration of Independence

What idea in the Declaration of Independence reflects the influence of John Locke?

• A state should be represented in proportion to its population.

• Power comes from the consent of the governed.

• Independence is only legitimate if a war is fought for it.

• Governments are a source of evil rather than good.

Which Enlightenment principle is most clearly reflected in this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.

• The Social Contract

• Equality under the law

• Separation of powers

• The pursuit of happiness

Which Enlightenment principle is most clearly reflected in this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

• The natural goodness of man

• Popular sovereignty

• Separation of powers

• Natural rights

Which Enlightenment principle is most clearly reflected in this phrase from the Declaration of Independence?

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

• Popular sovereignty

• Natural rights

• Social contract

• Separation of powers

Which action caused many American colonists to support independence from the British Empire?

• Great Britain (England) increased taxes on the many items in the colonies.

• Great Britain forced the colonies to follow the rule of law.

• Great Britain separated the colonies' governments into three branches.

• Great Britain abolished its constitution and became a monarchy.

Which statement best describes the ideas of Natural rights, Social contract, and Popular sovereignty relate to the Declaration of Independence?

• They served as the inspiration for the beliefs promoted in the declaration.

• They caused King George III to commit many acts of oppression criticized in the declaration.

• They promoted the traditional European philosophies of government that were rejected in the declaration.

• They represented the main arguments British scholars used when speaking out against the declaration.

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

• John Hancock

• Alexander Hamilton

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

"The Committee of Five" was chosen to write a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Its members included Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Name the other two members.

• Paul Revere

• John Adams

• George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin

• James Madison

On what day did the Continental Congress declare independence from Great Britain?

• July 2, 1776

• July 4, 1776

• August 2, 1776

• January 4, 1974

What was one of the main purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

• To divide up the work of the Continental Congress fairly

• To lay the groundwork for ending slavery in the colonies

• To create a national holiday with bonfires and illuminations

• To explain why the colonies had the right to form their own government