FOUNDING FATHERS
Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What does "unalienable rights" mean"?
Rights that cannot be taken away or violated.
Which complaint in the Declaration of Independence specifically addresses the issue of taxation without representation?
“Relinquishing the right of representation in the legislature”.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
56 delegates to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.
Which Founding Father was responsible for convincing others to sign the document?
Thomas Paine through his essay "Common Sense".
What is the purpose of government according to the Declaration of Independence?
To ensure that the Peoples' rights are guaranteed and protected.
Which complaint accuses the British of cutting off trade and imposing unfair regulations?
"For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:"
Which other important founding document draws heavily from the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
The United States Constitution
True or False: All 13 Colonies were represented among the signers.
The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the 13 colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The New York delegation abstained because they had not yet received instructions from Albany to vote for independence.
Which Founding Father famously said "Give me liberty or give me death"?
Patrick Henry
What is the significance of the phrase "all men are created equal"?
That everyone is equal to rights and the protection of those rights.
What are some of the complaints against King George III mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?
British soldiers in colonies without permission. Quartering British troops in the colonies. Not punishing these troops when they harm colonists. Cutting off the colonists' trade with the rest of the world. Taxing the colonists without their permission.
How did the Declaration of Independence inspire other nations seeking independence?
It served as the model for some 193 other nations including Haiti in 1804, New Zealand in 1835, Vietnam in 1945, Israel in 1948 and, more recently, Kosovo in 2008. The message in the Declaration of Independence speaks to men and women seeking freedom from oppressive governments.
Name one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who would later become the President of the United States.
John Adams OR Thomas Jefferson
Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence?
Benjamin Franklin (70 years old)
What are the three natural rights listed in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the purpose of government and what happens when it fails to fulfill its purpose?
"It is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..."
What is the lasting impact of the Declaration of Independence on the United States?
It established for the first time in world history a new nation based on the First Principles of the rule of law, unalienable rights, limited government, the Social Compact, equality, and the right to alter or abolish oppressive government.
Name one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who was a foreign-born immigrant.
George Taylor was a foreign-born patriot who began his adult life as an indentured servant, but rose to be one of the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Which Founding Father eventually became the third President of the United States?
Thomas Jefferson
What is the "social contract" theory and how does it relate to the Declaration of Independence?
Its idea is that people give up some of their rights to allow government to do its job; therefore, it legitimized the government's authority to demand that subjects obey laws.
How does the Declaration of Independence justify the colonists' rights to alter or abolish their government?
The whole purpose of government is to secure the people's rights and that government gets its power from "the consent of the governed." If that consent is betrayed, then "it is the right of the people to alter or abolish" their government.
Which famous phrase from the Declaration of Independence has had a significant impact on American society and politics?
“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.”
Who was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and later became President of the United States?
John Adams