Comparison: The Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, The Bill of Rights

Whose actions does Jefferson criticize most harshly in the Declaration of Independence?

• British brethren 
• the King of England 
• colonial governors 
• the British Parliament 

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Jefferson believed that governments derive their powers from 

• the course of human events 
• their God 
• the consent of the governed 
• the laws of nature 

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What was Jefferson's opinion about changing long-standing governments?

• People should first encourage government leaders to resign from office.
• Governments should change whenever people disagree with a policy.
• Governments should continue unless they cause insufferable problems.
• Long-established governments must always change short-term policies.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

What rhetorical feature does Jefferson employ when he begins several consecutive sentences with the words “He has”? 

• anaphora and parallelism 
• rhythm 
• structuralism 
• activism 

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

A primary assertion of the Declaration of Independence states that

• any king who addresses important issues and grievances is a tyrant.
• it is necessary to list all reasons for dissolving political connections.
• Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally abolished.
• people have a right to overthrow governments that deny their basic rights.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

The Declaration's list of grievances states that the king has

• denied the colonists permission to build and maintain their own navy.
• dissolved the standing army necessary for the colonists' protection.
• refused to pass laws that are for the good of the people.
• raised the prices of services necessary for the colonies' well-being.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

According to Jefferson, what has been the king's reaction to the colonists' petitions?

• refusing to listen to their pleas
• sending representatives to resolve the issues
• promising changes but failing to act
• inflicting further harm on them

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Jefferson's “reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” indicates a belief that

• their course of action is morally correct.
• they will easily defeat the British forces.
• God will punish the king for his unjust actions.
• God has bestowed “sacred honor” upon the Declaration's signers.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

The phrase “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” implies that the framers of the Constitution

• included members of the clergy.
• intended this plan for government to be permanent.
• elt that government was at odds with the concept of liberty
• were most concerned about previous generations.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

The Preamble to the Bill of Rights says that government is more effective when

• people's rights are protected
• it's by the people
• it's for the people 
• people have confidence in it 

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CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7