Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain ?  , that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Which of the following best completes this excerpt?

• unalienable rights
• equalities of opportunity
• duties and responsibilities
• repeated injuries and abuses

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights …. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…
The excerpt above is taken from the - 

• Magna Carta
• Bill of Rights
• Declaration of Independence
• U.S. Constution

How are natural rights different from other rights?

• People are born with natural rights.
• People can choose to vote for natural rights.
• Natural rights are given only to citizens.
• Natural rights come from the government.

What are the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

• All men are created equal, all men have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, government gets its power from the people
• The only rightful purpose of government is to protect our basic rights and having a monarchy is an unnatural way to select a leader
• It needed to be explained and justified to the world why we were declaring our independence from Great Britain.
• King George III created an absolute tyranny and the Declaration of Independence proves that

Which argument most logically follows from Jefferson's expressed ideas in the Declaration of Independence?

• The rights of men should be supported over those of women.

• Monarchy is a bad form of government because rulers ar enot elected.

• All forms of government destroy human rights and should be abandoned.

• Any form of government that suppresses people's freedoms should be overthrown.

According to the Declaration of Independence, which of the following statements are among the reasons the colonies determined to break away from British rule? Choose three options.

• The majority of Americans were not ethnically or culturally British.

• Britain was guilty of many recent abuses of its power in the colonies.

• The American and British armies had already clashed on the battlefield.

• Britain interfered with the operation of the legislatures in the various colonies.

• The British was too weak and undisciplined to effectively protect the colonies.

Which quotation from the Declaration of Independence best supports the main purpose of a nation's government.

• We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all mean are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

• ...[To] secure these rights , governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

• ...[G}overnments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath show, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable,than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

• ...[A]s free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do.

Read this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

Which of the following statements best explains what Jefferson means by "all men are created equal"?

• All people are equally provided with brains and talent.

• All people are entitled to equal treatment under the law.

• All the people are equally qualified to hold high political office.

• All people are entitled to obey only the laws they agree with.

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

• “The main purpose of government is to expand and 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”

Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence, was inspired by this famous Enlightenment philosopher?

• William Penn

• Roger Sherman

• John Locke

• Robert Livingston