Target 3 Declaration of Independence Quiz

Why did the Second Continental Congress decide to issue a formal Declaration of Independence in 1776?

• To gain support from the French government

• To explain to the world why the colonies were seeking independence from Britain

• To avoid fighting a war with Great Britain

• To request assistance from the Native American tribes

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

• Benjamin Franklin

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

What was the role of the Second Continental Congress in the creation of the Declaration of Independence?

• They voted to send the document directly to King George III

• They appointed a committee to draft the document

• They ordered the colonies to write their own declarations

• They decided to form a new government before issuing the declaration

Which of the following grievances was listed in the Declaration of Independence as one of the reasons for the colonies' decision to break away from Britain?

• The lack of protection from Native American attacks

• The refusal of British troops to fight in the colonies

• The imposition of taxes without colonial representation

• The British government's failure to send enough soldiers to fight the French

Which of the following is a major idea expressed in the Declaration of Independence regarding the role of government?

• Government should only be ruled by a king or monarch

• Governments should have the power to dissolve civil liberties without explanation

• Governments should exist to protect natural rights and liberties of the people

• Government should strictly regulate trade to promote national wealth

The Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal," but how did this contradict the practice of slavery in the American colonies?

• Slavery was considered a form of economic equality

• Slaves were denied the natural rights of liberty and equality

• Slaves were granted the right to vote

• Slavery was seen as a means to protect natural rights

How did the Declaration of Independence’s emphasis on "unalienable rights" contradict the institution of slavery?

• Slaves were granted the right to liberty but not property

• Slaves were denied the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• Slavery was a means to ensure the protection of liberty

2. Which Enlightenment thinker had a significant influence on the ideas found in the Declaration of Independence, particularly the concept of natural rights? 

• John Locke

• Voltaire

• Montesquieu

• Rousseau