Declaration of Independence Study Guide

The Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal." What did that mean to the colonists?

• a) All men should have the same level of wealth.

• b) The people are as important as the king.

• c) All people deserve to own property.

• d) Colonists did not have to obey laws.

Why did the colonists need to write a Declaration of Independence?

• to ask King George III for permission to become independent

• to officially announce their separation from Great Britain

• to encourage Great Britain to repeal the Intolerable Acts

• to show King George III that colonists could make their own cloth

Why did the Declaration of Independence include a list of grievances?

• to show King George was tyrant who had denied colonists their rights

• to prove the colonists had not disobeyed King George III

• to encourage foreign countries to trade with the colonies

• to show that the 13 colonies were united against Great Britain

Four other people helped edit the Declaration of Independence, including _________.

• a) George Washington and Thomas Gage

• b) Paul Revere and William Dawes

• c) Samuel Adams and John Hancock

• d) Benjamin Franklin and John Adams

People are born with "certain unalienable Rights." These rights are not given by any government,

and cannot be taken away. These rights are called ______________.

• a) natural rights

• b) first rights

• c) liberty bonds

• d) freedom gifts

The men who wrote the ____________ believed that people should rule themselves.

• Black Lagoon Series

• Magic Treehouse

• Declaration of Independence

• Story of John Henry

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

• 2022

• 1776

• 1809

• 1980

What was the primary purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

• To declare war on Britain

• To establish a new government

• To announce the colonies' separation from Britain

• To create a new constitution

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

Which philosophical idea is central to the Declaration of Independence?

• Divine right of kings

• Social contract

• Feudalism

• Monarchy