Lesson 12: The Declaration of Independence

The organized military created by the Second Continental Congress was called the __________.

• militia

• Minutemen

• Continental army

• Continental coast guard

Who did the Second Continental Congress place in charge of the new Continental army?

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Paine

• George Washington

Which statement about the delegates selected by the Second Continental Congress is true?

• The delegates were all ready to declare independence.

• The delegates wanted to all remain part of Great Britain.

• The delegates were split over whether to declare independence.

• The only delegate ready to declare independence was John Adams.

The time when people in Europe were exploring new ideas about science, governments, and human rights is called the Age of __________.

What was the main idea in Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense?

• The people should rule themselves rather than be ruled by a king.

• The people should realize how good they have it and stop complaining.

• The colonies would be better off if they made peace with Great Britain.

• The colonists should make alliances with American Indians against the British.

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense impacted the nation because it

• convinced many more people to support independence.

• persuaded many colonists to stop fighting against Britain.

• had very little impact, because few people actually read it.

• encouraged many people to make peace with American Indians.

Delegates from which states were the first to propose independence?

• New York

• Virginia

• Massachusetts

• Delaware

Who wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence?

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

What did Thomas Jefferson call a “cruel war against human nature”?

• the British Monarchy

• rebellion against Britain

• the institution of slavery

• the deliberations of the Congress

What did Benjamin Franklin mean when he said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately”?

• The delegates must work together, or independence would never happen.

• The delegates must sign the Declaration neatly, so they would get credit for helping create it.

• The delegates must succeed at their task, or the people would be outraged.

• The delegates must stay united because signing the Declaration was an act of treason.