The Declaration of Independence

What year was the Declaration of Independence written?

Answer explanation

1776

Who is the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer explanation

Thomas Jefferson

What are the 3 sections of the Declaration of Independence?

(*hint: introduction, complaints, final decision)

Answer explanation

Preamble

Grievances

Resolution of Independence

Whose ideas did the main author use to write the Declaration of Independence?

Answer explanation

John Locke

What were the two ideas the main author used to write the Declaration of Independence?

Answer explanation

Natural Rights and Social Contract

Explain John Locke's ideas of 'Natural Rights' and 'Social Contract'.

Answer explanation

Natural Rights: Everyone is born with the right Life, Liberty, and Property

Social Contract: Agreement between the people and the government. The government must protect the people's natural rights. If the government does not, the people have the right to change the government.

What does the ‘grievance’ section of the Declaration of Independence refer to?

Answer explanation

The complaints against King George III and the British government.

What does the ‘Resolution of Independence’ (conclusion) of the Declaration of Independence say?

Answer explanation

The 13 colonies make their final decision to become its own independent country. The United States of America.

We hold these truths to be ​ (a)   , that all men are created equal, that they are ​ (b)   by their Creator with certain ​ (c)   Rights, that among these are ​ (d)   , ​ (e)   and the pursuit of Happiness.

• self-evident
• endowed
• unalienable
• Life
• Liberty
• obscure
• taken
• property
• abolish
• consent

Answer explanation

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.

That to secure these rights, Governments are ​ (a)   among Men, deriving their just powers from the ​ (b)   of the ​governed , --That whenever any Form of Government becomes ​ (c)   of these ends, it is the ​ (d)   of the People to alter or to ​ (e)   it, and to institute new Government.

• instituted
• consent
• destructive
• abolish
• Right
• endowed
• unalienable
• liberty
• grievance
• natural

Answer explanation

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.