Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that
best completes the statement or answers the question.
|
|
|
1.
|
According to the Declaration, what gave Americans the right to start their own
government?
a. | The laws of nature and natures God | c. | The laws of nature and the
Bible. | b. | English Bill of Rights | d. | The Constitution |
|
|
|
2.
|
The words of the Declaration clearly show that the main desire of the colonists
was to get _____ .
a. | respect and freedom. | c. | more money for their exports. | b. | fewer taxes so the
colonists could protect their wealth | d. | better trade with England and other countries of the
world |
|
|
|
3.
|
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the
Civil power” Why was this offensive to Americans?
a. | We believe that the military should be mannerly and show respect for civilians
| c. | We
believe the civilians should always be superior to the military. | b. | The military should
be superior to civilians but not the civil government | d. | We believe the civilians should be superior to
the military except in time of war |
|
|
|
4.
|
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
a. | John Adams | c. | Samuel Adams | b. | Thomas Paine | d. | Thomas
Jefferson |
|
|
|
5.
|
To whom was the Declaration addressed?
a. | King Henry of England | c. | General Cornwallis | b. | The Parliament | d. | King George of
England |
|
|
|
6.
|
According to the Declaration, what is the purpose of government?
a. | To provide laws that apply equally to everyone. | c. | That point is not discussed in the
Declaration. | b. | Provide services and a good life for the citizens. | d. | Protect unalienable rights of
citizens |
|
|
|
7.
|
“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for
the public good” What does this mean?
a. | The king has refused to write new laws necessary for the public good. | c. | The king has
refused to discuss laws, necessary for ht colonies. | b. | The king has refused to allow parliament to
write necessary laws. | d. | The
king has refused to agree to necessary laws |
|
|
|
8.
|
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us” What does
this mean?
a. | The king sent large armies into New York | c. | Civilians were forced to take
soldiers into their homes. | b. | The colonists had to pay for one quarter of the
cost of British armies. | d. | The
king sent large armies into Canada |
|
|
|
9.
|
The Declaration refers often to “legislatures” in the colonies. What
are legislatures?
a. | Another name for the court system | c. | The part of government used by the
king to enforce the laws. | b. | Places where laws are
enforced | d. | Places where laws
are written |
|
|
|
10.
|
What does, “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude
of our intentions,” mean?
a. | We appeal to the United Nations to prove what we are doing is legal | c. | we appeal to god to
punish us if what we are doing is not legal | b. | we appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S. that
what we are doing is legal. | d. | we appeal to god to prove what we are doing is moral. |
|
|
|
11.
|
What are unalienable Rights?
a. | Rights that cannot be taken away. | c. | Rights for
aliens | b. | Rights provided in the Constitution | d. | Rights provided by the Declaration of
Independence |
|
|
|
12.
|
”For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders
which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States” What is a mock trial?
a. | A trial in which the outcome is decided before the trial begins. | c. | A trial that
“mocks” the British | b. | A trial that makes fun of the
colonists | d. | A trial that is
not serious |
|
|
|
13.
|
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our
sacred Honor” What is divine providence?
a. | God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny | c. | As long as the
colonists pledge their lives and honor, god will protect them | b. | The army of
Washington, camped at Providence, RI will protect the colonists. | d. | The king is at odds with god in this
matter. |
|
|
|
14.
|
What political philosophy inspired the writing of the Declaration of
Independence?
a. | Plato’s Republic | c. | The Enlightenment | b. | Aristilian Logic | d. | Rationalism |
|
|
|
15.
|
Students are protesting the war in Iraq. The government tells them that they
cannot protest. The students feel their rights are being violated so they call for the overthrow of
the government and the installation of a Communist government in its place. What does the Declaration
say about this.
a. | The students have a right to protest but they do not have a right to overthrow the
government. | c. | The students have a right to overthrow the government if it is destructive to their
freedom. | b. | The students have a right to overthrow the government but not install a Communist
government because Communists are dictators. | d. | The students have to follow the procedures
outlined in the Declaration to prove the government is oppressing
them |
|
|
|
16.
|
The Declaration of Independence was signed on
a. | August 8, 1781 | c. | July 4, 1776 | b. | July 7, 1776 | d. | July 4, 1781 |
|
|
|
17.
|
As discussed in class, the Declaration is three things. Which item below is
not one of those things.
a. | A statement of philosophy | c. | A list of
grievances | b. | An plan for a new American Government | d. | A declaration of
war |
|
|
|
18.
|
The Declaration of Independence was written in
a. | Boston | c. | Washington D.C. | b. | New York | d. | Philadelphia |
|
|
|
19.
|
At what meeting was the Declaration of Independence written.
a. | First Continental Congress | c. | Constitution
Convention | b. | Second Continental Congress | d. | Declaration Convention |
|
|
|
20.
|
What does the Declaration say about human nature?
a. | People who are being oppressed are quick to demand changes | c. | People are more
likely to suffer under an oppressive government than change it | b. | People are never
satisfied | d. | People often do
not know when they are being oppressed. |
|
|
|
21.
|
According to the Declaration, where does government get it’s power?
a. | The consent of the governed | c. | The Bill of
Rights | b. | The Constitution | d. | The consent of the government |
|
|
|
22.
|
Before writing the Declaration, the colonists made one last attempt to make
peace with the king. What was that attempt called?
a. | The Olive Branch Demands | c. | The Declaration of
Peace | b. | The Olive Branch Petition | d. | The Declaration of Loyalty |
|
True/False
Indicate whether the
statement is true or false.
|
|
|
23.
|
At the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, only Virginia,
Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania had their own governor, legislature and court
systems.
|
|
|
24.
|
Most dictators fear the words and ideas of the Declaration of
Independence
Most ordinary, common people of the world are inspired by it’s ideas and
words.
Most Americans take it for granted.
|
|
|
25.
|
The person who wrote the Declaration of Independence was chosen to write the
document because he, himself, did not own any slaves.
|
|
|
26.
|
Though slavery existed at the time of the writing of the Declaration of
Independence, the words inspired African Americans to seek equality and were often quoted by Martin
Luther King.
|
|
|
27.
|
The term, “all men are created equal,” is a generic term that
referred to all mankind.
|
|
|
28.
|
Dr. Martin Luther King quotes the Declaration of Independence in his famous,
“I Have a Dream,” speech.
|
|
|
29.
|
The political ideas of John Locke inspired the writing of the Declaration of
Independence
|
|
|
30.
|
The Declaration of Independence was the first set of laws established for the
new United States of America?
|