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Declaration of Independence

Total questions: 59

Worksheet time: 1hrs 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The Declaration of Independence says the government of England...
a)
sent soldiers to make the colonists follow unfair laws
b)
made the colonists pay unfair taxes
c)
would not let the colonists make decisions about how to run the government
d)
all of the above
2.
A ________ is a person who speaks for a group of people.
a)
colonist
b)
king
c)
representative
d)
soldier
3.
In 1776, the country now called the United States was made up of _____ colonies that belonged to England.
a)
5
b)
13
c)
15
d)
50
4.
The main person who wrote the Declaration of Independence. 
a)
King George III
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
a colonist
d)
King Henry IV
5.
The paper that said the colonies would become a separate country called the U.S.A.
a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Constitution
c)
Representatives
d)
American Revolution
6.
The war the colonies fought against England is called the Revolutionary War. This war is also called....
a)
The American Revolution
b)
The Iraq War
c)
World War II
d)
Declaration of Independence
7.
The representatives had a meeting to _______ (accept) the Declaration of Independence.
a)
ratify
b)
get rid of 
c)
delete
d)
keep
8.

Who is the primary author of the DOI?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

Thomas Jefferson

9.

All of the following are definitions of Unalienable Rights except.......

a)

God Given

b)

Rights you are born with

c)

Cannot be taken away

d)

Rights only given to certain individuals

10.

All of the following are unalienable rights listed in the DOI except.......

a)

Property

b)

Liberty

c)

Pursuit of Happiness

d)

Life

11.

In what year was the DOI passed?

a)

1763

b)

1777

c)

1783

d)

1776

12.

What was the purpose of the DOI?

a)

to declare war on Great Britain

b)

to declare the colonies free and independent states

c)

to convince France to become allies with the colonies

d)

to promote independence from Spain

13.

Define Grievance

a)

Argument

b)

Complaint

c)

Taxes

d)

Law

14.

According to the DOI, what is the purpose of government?

a)

Violate the rights of the people

b)

Meet the needs of the people

c)

Ignore the needs of the people

d)

Destroy the needs of the people

15.

What was the full date the DOI was passed?

a)

July 4, 1767

b)

July 4, 1777

c)

July 4, 1776

d)

July 4, 1766

16.
Which statement best describes the role of government according to the Declaration of Independence?
a)
“The main purpose of government is to expand and glorify the state”
b)
“The main purpose of government is to protect the unalienable rights of individuals”
c)
“The main purpose of government is to protect the rights and privileges of His Majesty, the King”
d)
“The main purpose of government is to promote the general welfare of the community by taking steps toward social equality”
17.

Thomas Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence, was inspired by this famous Enlightenment philosopher?

a)

William Penn

b)

Roger Sherman

c)

John Locke

d)

Robert Livingston

18.

Who gives government the ability to govern?

a)

The People

b)

Parliament

c)

The King

d)

The Sons of Liberty

19.
The Declaration of Independence states, “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” Which Enlightened idea do these words describe?
a)
need to ensure a representative government.
b)
social contract between government and the people.
c)
revolutionary intent to overthrow the current government.
d)
return to a society that has no central authority.
20.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
Rights are given by good kings
c)
Government exists to protect us from ourselves
d)
Only a democracy can protect our rights
21.

The List of Grievances.....

a)

detailed the colonists' complaints against King George.

b)

listed a man's natural rights.

c)

introduced the purpose of the Declaration.

d)

concluded the Declaration, declaring America a free country.

22.
The Preamble is...
a)
in the beginning of the Declaration...
b)
the conclusion.
c)
in the middle.
d)
not in the Declaration.
23.
The words self-evident means what?
a)
confusing
b)
obvious
c)
wrong
d)
self-aware
24.
According to the Declaration of Independence, where does government get its power?
a)
From the King
b)
From the Supreme Court
c)
From God
d)
From the people
25.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
Rights are given by good kings
c)
Government exists to protect us from ourselves
d)
Only a democracy can protect our rights
26.
Who wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense"?
a)
George Washington
b)
Thomas Paine
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Patrick Henry
27.
What is the connection between natural rights and government? 
a)
government is meant to provide services 
b)
people have the right to alter government 
c)
people have certain unalienable rights
d)
government is meant to protect rights
28.
Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
a)
To stop taxes from the British Empire.
b)
To make a United States army.
c)
To gain independence from the British Empire
d)
To install their own king in America
29.
To Great Britain, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was
a)
an act of loyalty.
b)
an act of treason.
c)
an act of bravery.
d)
an act of insanity.
30.
Why is July 4th a significant date to the Declaration of Independence?
a)
The Continental Congress approved the document
b)
It was when they started writing the document
c)
It was Jefferson's birthday
d)
It was the day they sent it to the King
31.

This writing was published during the American Revolution and paved the way for the Declaration of Independence.

a)

Rights of man

b)

The American Crisis

c)

Common Sense

32.

Thomas Paine was...

a)

A supporter of the American Revolution

b)

Against the American Revolution

c)

Wrote propaganda against the American government

d)

Wrote propaganda for the British government

33.

·Common Sense was a pamphlet Thomas Paine published to distribute in the colonies to...

a)

explain to Britain why they should end the quartering act

b)

influence more people to join the independence movement.

c)

to join the Loyalist party

d)

abide by the Intolerable acts

34.

Pick the modern English translation for the following excerpt: “But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families…

a)

“Some people believe that the colonies have and will always benefit from Great Britain but I couldn’t disagree more with that statement

b)

“Maybe all along the only reason Great Britain cared for us was for HER benefit!”

c)

“Don’t call Great Britain our caretaker – they’ve been abusive to us!”

d)

“There is nothing positive that will come from staying connected to Great Britain.”

35.

“I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to show a single advantage that this continent can reap, by being connected with Great Britain. I repeat the challenge; not a single advantage is derived.

a)

“There is nothing positive that will come from staying connected to Great Britain.”

b)

“Maybe all along the only reason Great Britain cared for us was for HER benefit!”

c)

“We need to be free NOW before things get any worse. If we wait, it will only be harder.”

d)

“Some people believe that the colonies have and will always benefit from Great Britain but I couldn’t disagree more with that statement.”

36.

“Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet.”

a)

“We need to be free NOW before things get any worse. If we wait, it will only be harder.”

b)

“Some people believe that the colonies have and will always benefit from Great Britain but I couldn’t disagree more with that statement.”

c)

“Maybe all along the only reason Great Britain cared for us was for HER benefit!”

d)

“How can a tiny country like Great Britain be expected to care for such a large nation like America. It just doesn’t make sense. It should be the other way around.”

37.

Why were the battles at Lexington and Concord important?

a)

They marked the end of the French and Indian War.

b)

They forced Parliament to repeal all new tax laws.

c)

They marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

d)

They were the first battles led by George Washington.

38.

What happened on July 4, 1776, that makes it such an important date in American history?

a)

The colonists won the American Revolution.

b)

The 13 colonies formed their first united government.

c)

Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence.

d)

The colonists formed the first Committee of Correspondence.

39.

Who wrote plays about British leaders?

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

Mercy Otis Warren

c)

Crispus Attucks

d)

Benjamin Franklin

e)

Sons of LIberty

40.

Who was killed at the Boston Massacre?

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

Mercy Otis Warren

c)

Crispus Attucks

d)

Benjamin Franklin

e)

Sons of LIberty

41.

What did the British government do to help pay the costs of the French and Indian War?

a)

It printed colonial currency.

b)

It forced the colonists to trade only with Britian.

c)

It passed new tax laws for the colonies.

d)

It sold western lands to settlers.

42.

Member of Boston Sons of Liberty.Participated in the Boston Tea Party.Famous for warning the colonists that "the RedCoats"prior to the start of the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord

a)

John Adams

b)

Samuel Adams

c)

Paul Revere

d)

Thomas Paine

43.

An inventor,author,and an Enlightened Thinker.Assisted the colonists in gaining France as an ally during the American Revolution.

a)

Benjamin Franklin

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

George Washignton

d)

Haym Salomon

44.

Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Famous for saying,"Give me liberty,or give me death!" in a speech urging Virginia to join the war against Great Britain.

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

John Hancock

c)

John Adams

d)

George Washington

45.

British author who immigrated to the colonies prior to the start of the war.Wrote the pamphlet,common sense,which urged the colonists to go to war with Great Britain for their Independence

a)

Thomas Paine

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

John Adams

46.

Leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty-directly responsible for the BOSTON TEA PARTY

a)

Samuel Adams

b)

John Hancock

c)

John Adams

d)

Thomas Paine

47.

Wife of John Adams who urged him to "remember the ladies"during the creation of the new colonial government during the American Revolution

a)

Abigail Adams

b)

Samuel Adams

c)

John Adams

d)

Thomas Paine

48.

A colonial(Massachusetts) author and playwright who wrote urging the colonists to resist Britain authority

a)

Mercy Otis Warren

b)

Wentworth Cheswell

c)

Haym Salomon

d)

Crispus Attucks

49.

This forbade colonists to settle beyond the Appalachian Mountains.

a)

Pontiac’s War

b)

Stamp Act

c)

writ of assistance

d)

Proclamation of 1763

50.

This taxed legal documents.

a)

Pontiac’s War

b)

Stamp Act

c)

writ of assistance

d)

Proclamation of 1763

51.

To protest by refusing to buy certain goods and services.

a)

boycott

b)

repeal

c)

Townshend Acts

d)

petition

52.

For example, when the Stamp Act was canceled.

a)

boycott

b)

repeal

c)

Townshend Acts

d)

petition

53.

This is a formal written request to someone in authority, signed by a group of people.

a)

boycott

b)

repeal

c)

Townshend Acts

d)

petition

54.

When British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists.

a)

Boston massacre

b)

Committee of Correspondence

c)

Boston Tea party

d)

Pontiac's War

55.

Young Virginia lawyer who gave fiery speeches against British policies.

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

Sam Adams

c)

James Otis

d)

Mercy Otis Warren

56.

Rallying cry for colonists protesting British policies.

a)

No taxation without representation.

b)

No tacos on Tuesdays.

c)

No taxation without information.

d)

No representation without taxation.

57.
I was a propaganda writer who supported the patriot cause during the American Revolution..
a)
Dolley Madison
b)
Mercy Otis Warren
c)
Abigail Adams
58.
I lead the Continental Army during the American Revolution and would be the first president of the U.S.
a)
Alexander Hamilton
b)
George Washington
c)
Thomas Jefferson
59.
I was a hidden voice behind my husband and told him to "remember the ladies"
a)
Abigail Adams
b)
Anne Hutchinson
c)
Dolley Madison

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