Declaration of Independence

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

• George Washington
• John Hancock
• Thomas Jefferson
• King George

The Declaration of Independence was written in the year ____________ in the city of ___________ .

• 1774, Boston
• 1775, Philadelphia
• 1776, Boston
• 1776, Philadelphia

What is the central point of the Declaration of Independence?

• That the colonies should be better represented in Parliament
• That the colonies were breaking with England to form their own country
• That the taxes on tea and stamps were too high
• That King George III was a terrible tyrant

Why didn't King George III agree to the colonists' demands?

• He thought the members of the First Continental Congress were traitors
• He wanted to help, but his hands were tied
• He did do what they asked, but they were never satisfied
• He needed the tax money from the colonies to fight foreign war

The Declaration says that life and liberty are unalienable rights. What does "unalienable" mean?

• Acquired
• Negotiable
• not of this Earth
• can't be taken away

Which of the following is an example of a grievance?

• A letter to your city complaining about potholes in your street
• A newspaper editorial that endorses a particular candidate for President
• A proclamation by the government that July 4th will be celebrated as Independence Day
• A news article about the formation of a new, independent nation

What is the significance of July 4, 1776?

• It was the day the Declaration of Independence was first drafted
• It was the day the Continental Congress first met in Philadelphia
• It was the day that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence
• It was the date of the first battle in the American Revolution

Although the Declaration said that "all men are created equal," women and minorities did not originally share the same rights as white men. What can you conclude about this?

• The members of the Continental Congress were all sexist and racist
• White men still have many legal rights that are denied to women and minorities
• Women and minorities didn't know enough about government to have full rights
• Americans have revised their values in the years since the Declaration was first drafted

What are the "unalienable rights" mentioned by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence?

• Government gets its power from the people
• to alter or abolish a government that doesn't protect freedom
• life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• unlimited data for your smartphone

According to the Declaration of Independence, where do people get their unalienable rights from?

• Thomas Jefferson
• Constitution
• Creator
• Luke Skywalker