Declaration Basics
Why did the colonists write the Declaration of Independence?
To explain why the colonies were separating from Britain
He was the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
in the Declaration, what does independence mean?
Freedom to govern the colonies without British rule
These are rights that all people have at birth.
What are natural rights?
The colonists wanted freedom from these financial demands placed on them by Great Britain.
What are taxes?
Which sentence best describes the purpose of government in the Declaration?
Government should protect people's rights.
This group of five men was chosen by the Continental Congress to create the Declaration.
What is the committee of five?
The first part explained why change was needed and the colonies' desire for this.
What is their own government?
This natural right means being free to live and make your own choices.
What is liberty?
The colonists wanted to make their own decisions and establish this type of government that represented them.
What is their own representative government?
A classmate says, “The Declaration only announced independence. It did not explain why.” Which evidence best corrects the classmate?
The Declaration included a list of the king's abuses
Which leaders helped review and make changes to Jefferson's draft?
John Adams and Benjamin Franklin
The second part listed the colonists' complaints about this British leader and his government.
Who is King George III?
Name the three natural rights highlighted in the Declaration.
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
The Declaration included a list of these to explain why the colonists believed separation from Britain was necessary.
What are grievances or complaints?
In the Declaration, this word means being free to govern without British rule.
What is independence?
He handwrote the original copy of the Declaration on parchment.
Who is Timothy Matlack?
In the Declaration, what does independence mean?
Freedom to govern the colonies without British rule
According to the Declaration, governments are created to protect these.
What are people's rights?
If a ruler takes away people's rights and refuses to listen to their complaints, the Declaration describes this as an abuse of this.
What is power?
The Declaration was written in this Pennsylvania city.
What is Philadelphia?
Put these events in the correct order: Congress adopted the Declaration, Jefferson wrote the draft, leaders reviewed and revised it.
What is Jefferson wrote the draft → leaders reviewed/revised it → Congress adopted it?
Why did the colonists say separation from Britain was necessary?
They believed the king had repeatedly abused his power
If a government repeatedly takes away people's rights instead of protecting them, the Declaration suggests the people have a reason to do this.
What is form their own government/separate from that government?
Why did the list of King George III's unfair actions help support the colonies' decision to become independent?
What is it gave examples of how the king had used his power unfairly and showed reasons for separating from Britain?