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Declaration of Independence

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

SS.7.C.1.3

Which timeline shows English policies towards the American colonists in correct chronological order?

a)

Townshend Act - Quartering of troops - Stamp Act - Tea Act

b)

Quartering of troops - Townshend Act - Intolerable Acts - Tea Act

c)

Stamp Act - Quartering of troops - Tea Act - Intolerable Acts

d)

Stamp Act - Townshend Act - Tea Act - Quartering of troops

2.

SS.7.C.1.3

What was the main purpose of the tar-and-feathering shown in this British caricature of the colonists?

a)

to protest their being taxed without their consent

b)

to protest the high cost of British manufactured goods

c)

to protest British involvement in the French and Indian war

d)

to protest the quartering of troops in colonists' own homes

3.

SS.7.C.1.3

Use the diagram above to answer Questions 3 and 4.

What was the impact of the continued fighting between British troops and the Continental Army in Massachusetts and New York in 1775 and 1776?

a)

Point 1

b)

Point 2

c)

Point 3

d)

Point 4

4.

SS.7.C.1.3

What was the impact of the passage of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament in 1765?

a)

Point 1

b)

Point 2

c)

Point 3

d)

Point 4

5.

SS.7.C.1.4

Which colonial leader introduced the ideas of John Locke's "social contract" theory into the Declaration of Independence?

a)

John Hancock

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

James Madison

d)

Thomas Jefferson

6.

SS.7.C.1.4

Which work publicized the concept of "natural rights," later found in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

the English Bill of Rights

c)

the Mayflower Compact

d)

John Locke's Two Treatises of Government

7.

SS.7.C.1.4

According to the Declaration of Independence, what was an "unalienable right" that all governments should protect?

a)

the right to social equality

b)

the right to personal liberty

c)

the right to religious equality

d)

the right to elect government officials

8.

SS.7.C.1.4

The passage below comes from the Declaration of Independence (1776)


"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies

without the Consent of our legislatures..."


Which section of the Declaration contained this passage?

a)

its list of colonial grievances

b)

its justification of the conduct of the colonists

c)

its theory of government based on a social contract

d)

its announcement of American independence from Britain

9.

SS.7.C.1.4

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."

10.

SS.7.C.1.4

The passage below comes from the Declaration of Independence.


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."


According to this passage, what is the principal role of government?

a)

To promote greater social equality

b)

To protect the natural rights of citizens

c)

To glorify the ruler in the eyes of the Creator

d)

To help individuals cooperate against the forces of nature

11.

SS.7.C.1.4

The diagram above summarizes ideas from the Declaration of Independence.

Which statement completes the diagram?

a)

Because governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, they are incapable of acting against the people.

b)

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to take peaceful measures to alter those policies.

c)

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.

d)

Because governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, it is the obligation of the people to obey their government whatever it commands.

12.

SS.7.C.1.4

Based on the Declaration of Independence, which is a natural right?

a)

the right to vote

b)

the right to bear arms

c)

the right to pursue happiness

d)

the right to equal protection of the laws

13.

SS.7.C.1.3

How did the British government respond to the colonial concerns expressed during the Boston Tea Party?

a)

It passed the Intolerable Acts, closing Boston Harbor.

b)

It recognized colonial grievances and agreed not to pass any more taxes.

c)

It ordered troops to fire on colonial demonstrators in a public square of Boston.

d)

It declared the colonists to be in a state of open rebellion and outside the King's protection.

14.

SS.7.C.1.4

According to the Declaration of Independence, when do people have the right to abolish their government and establish a new one?

a)

whenever a government passes a law that is disliked by some

b)

whenever their government becomes despotic and oppressive

c)

whenever the majority party in control of government changes

d)

whenever a king attempts to act without the approval of Parliament

15.

SS.7.C.1.4

The photograph above shows Dr. Martin Luther King after giving his "I Have a Dream" speech during the Civil Rights Movement.

Which part of the Declaration of Independence

most influenced the events shown in this

photograph?

a)

its list of colonial grievances

b)

its outrage at the British use of force

c)

its theory of government based on natural rights

d)

its claim of the right to overthrow a tyrannical government

16.

SS.7.C.1.4

Based on the introduction to the Declaration of Independence, what was the main purpose of that document?

a)

to list all the injuries that the English King had committed against them

b)

to set forth a new American theory of government to help future nations

c)

to explain how the colonists had repeatedly tried to settle their

differences peacefully

d)

to explain to the rest of the world why the colonists were ending their allegiance to Great Britain

17.

The colonists in the Declaration of Independence referred to King George III as a tyrant, and best defined as which of the selections listed below?

a)

a ruler who agrees to hear grievances from the people

b)

a ruler who exceeds moral standards for decent behavior

c)

a ruler who follows the will of the people rather than written laws

d)

a ruler who, though s/he controls the government, does not have the consent of the governed

18.

According to the Declaration of Independence, which of the selections below is the primary reason “Governments are instituted among Men”?

a)

separate church and state

b)

secure the right of taxation

c)

protect citizens' natural rights

d)

provide robust social services

19.

Why did Parliament eventually repeal the Stamp Act, which taxed goods such as newspapers and playing cards?

a)

The colonists established a blockade against British goods.

b)

The colonists were able to produce their own goods.

c)

The colonists started destroying British goods.

d)

The colonists began boycotting British goods.

20.

The fact that British officials during the period of 1763-1776 would not respond to American colonists’ complaints about onerous tax laws was one of the leading causes of the writing of which of the following selections?

a)

The Magna Carta

b)

The English Bill of Rights

c)

The United States Constitution

d)

The Declaration of Independence

21.

The passage was written by Thomas Paine in his 1776 book, Common Sense.

Based on this passage, with which complaint against the king from the Declaration of Independence would Thomas Paine agree?

a)

persecuting immigrant groups

b)

taking away religious rights

c)

taking away political rights

d)

persecuting racial groups

22.

The passage is from a historical document.

Which document contains this passage?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

U.S. Constitution

23.

The diagram describes a cause that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Which action completes the diagram?

a)

Colonial agriculture trade increases.

b)

Colonial religious devotion increases.

c)

Colonial demand for political change increases.

d)

Colonial demand for military assistance increases.