Declaration Basics
This document declared that the 13 American colonies were independent from Great Britain
What is the Declaration of Independence?
He was the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
The Declaration was divided into this many main parts.
What are three parts?
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?
What is the Declaration of Independence?
What is July 4, 1776?
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?
What is the Second Continental Congress?
What is July 4, 1776?
Name two members of the five-person committee besides Thomas Jefferson.
Who are John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman?
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?
This part of the Declaration officially stated that the colonies were independent from England.
What is the formal statement of independence?
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?
If you were organizing the three parts in order, what would come first, second, and third?
What are Natural Rights → Grievances/Complaints → Formal Statement of Independence?
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?