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Declaration of Independence

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 2hrs 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The January 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense, _____.

a)

had little effect on the attitudes of colonists

b)

occurred just after the Declaration of Independence

c)

moved the colonists closer to declaring independence

d)

caused Parliament to sympathize with the American colonies

2.

What action completes the chart for events that led to the approval of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Colonial agriculture trade increases.

b)

Colonial religious devotion increases.

c)

Colonial demand for political change increases.

d)

Colonial demand for military assistance increases.

3.

How did the 2nd Continental Congress respond to the unfairness of British policies?

a)

They started the French and Indian War.

b)

They hired Thomas Paine to write Common Sense.

c)

They passed the Tea Act, allowing a British company to import tea to the colonies without paying taxes.

d)

They chose a committee to write the Declaration of Independence explaining why the colonies should be free.

4.

The first shots of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775 are known as "____."

a)

the beginning of the United States of America

b)

the shot heard 'round the world

c)

the beginning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

d)

a big mistake for the American colonists

5.

Who was President of the Congress of the 2nd Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was written and adopted?

a)

John Locke

b)

John Hancock

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

George Washington

6.

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

John Locke

b)

John Hancock

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

George Washington

7.

Who helped Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence?

a)

the Committee of Five

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

no one

d)

John Hancock

8.

Which movement had a great influence on the ideas written in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Magna Carta

c)

Enlightenment

d)

Dark Ages

9.

What is the significance of July 4, 1776?

a)

It was the date of the first battle of the American Revolution

b)

It was the day the Declaration of Independence was first drafted.

c)

It was the day the Continental Congress first met in Philadelphia.

d)

It was the day that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

10.

Which document contains this passage?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

English Bill of Rights

c)

United States Constitution

d)

Declaration of Independence

11.

The reference to the natural rights of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence was clearly inspired by the ideas of ______.

a)

John Locke

b)

John Hancock

c)

Richard Henry Lee

d)

Baron de Montesquieu

12.

What is the order of the 4 parts of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Natural Rights, Preamble, Grievances, Resolution

b)

Preamble, Natural Rights, Grievances, Resolution

c)

Grievances, Preamble, Natural Rights, Resolution

d)

Resolution, Natural Rights, Preamble, Grievances

13.

From whom did the signers of the Declaration of Independence receive their authority to declare independence?

a)

They needed no authority.

b)

From the king of England

c)

From the other European countries

d)

From the people of the American colonies

14.

What was the main goal of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

to end British taxes on the colonies

b)

to overturn George III’s rule in England

c)

to explain to the world why they were leaving the British Empire

d)

to persuade other countries to adopt similar democratic governments

15.

The Declaration of Independence is highly critical of what king?

a)

King George I

b)

King George II

c)

King George III

d)

King George IV

16.

Which point did the Declaration of Independence NOT list?

a)

The basic rights of people.

b)

The ways that the king could work things out and avoid war.

c)

The things the British king had violated in the people’s rights

d)

The colonies stated that they were now independent from Britain.

17.

The Declaration of Independence was unanimously adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress. What does that mean?

a)

The vote was a secret vote.

b)

All 13 states voted for it.

c)

Not everyone understood what it meant.

d)

Only half of the states agreed to it.

18.

Why could the signers of the Declaration of Independence have been put to death by King George III?

a)

They were committing treason by trying to overthrown the British government.

b)

The King could not have put them to death.

c)

There were too many American colonists.

d)

They made the King angry.

19.

The reproduction of the approved text of the Declaration of Independence is known as _____.

a)

copies of the DOI

b)

Dunlop Broadsides

c)

Independence Broadsides

d)

Declaration Broadsides

20.

What event leading to the American Revolution resulted in the Founding Fathers putting the 3rd Amendment of "no housing of soldiers" in the Bill of Rights?

a)

new taxes imposed by the Stamp Act

b)

restrictions on printed materials and pamphlets

c)

lodging of British troops inside colonists’ homes

d)

special taxes on tea that resulted in the Boston Tea Party

21.

How could the British have possibly prevented the American Revolution?

a)

By increasing taxes on the colonists

b)

By forcing King George III to give up the throne

c)

By overruling the decisions of the colonial legislatures

d)

By allowing colonists to elect representatives to Parliament

22.

The American Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord _____.

a)

never happened

b)

before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence

c)

began after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence

d)

was lost by the American colonists