WorksheetsThe Declaration of Independence
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 8mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Patrick Henry gave a famous speech that ended with the words “give me liberty, or give me death!” With which group did he identify himself?
a)
Patriots
b)
Loyalists
c)
British citizens
d)
members of Parliament
2.
The Continental army was composed of
a)
troops from all the colonies.
b)
troops from throughout Great Britain.
c)
only troops from the New England colonies.
d)
only troops from Virginia and Massachusetts.
3.
Which of these describes the mood of most colonies immediately after the events at Lexington and Concord?
a)
They were reluctant to start a war.
b)
They were eager to declare war against the British.
c)
They sided with the Loyalists against the Patriots.
d)
They wanted to move to Great Britain.
4.
Which of these best describes the outcome of the Bale of Bunker Hill?
a)
The British won decisively.
b)
The militia won by a narrow margin.
c)
The militia surrendered to the British.
d)
The British won but suffered many losses.
5.
Why was George Washington chosen to be a military leader?
a)
He had experience.
b)
He wanted the role.
c)
He was very wealthy.
d)
He was highly educated.
6.
What effect did Thomas Paine's Common Sense have on the colonies?
a)
It instilled fear of war in the colonists.
b)
It convinced the colonies to remain loyal to Great Britain.
c)
It persuaded many colonists that America should be independent.
d)
It petitioned the king to end the quarrel between the colonies and Great Britain.
7.
Why did the Second Continental Congress send the Olive Branch Petition?
a)
to persuade British troops to leave Boston
b)
to encourage colonists to join the army
c)
to convince Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act
d)
to ask King George to make peace with the colonies
8.
Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
a)
to start the American Revolution
b)
to offer a peace settlement to Great Britain
c)
to instruct how a country wins its freedom
d)
to explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain
9.
How do natural rights, as described in the Declaration of Independence, differ from other rights?
a)
People are born with natural rights.
b)
People can vote to choose natural rights.
c)
Natural rights are given only to citizens.
d)
Natural rights come from the government.
10.
In a draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson charged the king with violating the “sacred rights of life and liberty . . . of a distant people [by] carrying them into slavery.” This passage was removed for all of these reasons EXCEPT
a)
it might lead to demands to free enslaved Africans.
b)
it was considered an unimportant issue in the colonies.
c)
it was unfair to blame the king for enslaving Africans.
d)
it might offend merchants who traded enslaved people.
11.
According to Thomas Jefferson, the power to rule comes from
a)
God
b)
the king
c)
Parliamnet
d)
the governed
12.
Why did Thomas Jefferson say that King George III was an unfit ruler?
a)
He was not born in Great Britain.
b)
He denied the colonists their rights.
c)
He was not elected by Parliament.
d)
He lived far away from the colonies.
13.
Look at the timeline. Which of these belongs in place of the question mark on the timeline?
a)
Common Sense published
b)
Olive Branch Petition sent
c)
American Revolution ends
d)
Declaration of Independence signed
14.
Which of these shows cooperation on the part of the colonies?
a)
They came together to form one army.
b)
The Loyalists and Patriots made peace.
c)
They all believed in the goal of independence.
d)
They all opposed the Declaration of Independence.
15.
At the Second Continental Congress, the decision was made to
a)
form an army.
b)
establish colonists' natural rights.
c)
declare war on Great Britain.
d)
demand a repeal of the Tea Act.
16.
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.
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