Independence
Who did the American colonies battle in the Revolutionary War?
Great Britain
How old was Thomas Jefferson at the time of writing the Declaration of Independence?
33 years old
How many original colonies were in America?
13
What year did the American Revolutionary War begin?
1775
Did most Americans consider independence as first resort or last resort?
Last resort
What war was fought during the passing of the Declaration of Independence?
The American Revolution
July 4, 1776
Who was a radical revolutionary that held the belief that American independence was necessary, long before most other people held that belief?
Samuel Adams
What does the Declaration of Independence explain?
Why the Thirteen Colonies decided to separate from Great Britain
How many members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence?
56
Who were the 5 men appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence?
1. Benjamin Franklin
2. Robert R. Livingston
3. John Adams
4. Roger Sherman
5. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia
Who is the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What is now the name of the Philadelphia home that Thomas Jefferson was renting when he wrote the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration House
What document was released by King George III that dispelled any notions that he supported the American colonists?
The Proclamation of Rebellion
What popular pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine that made the prospect of independence more appealing to the general public?
Common Sense
Why was the Declaration not considered a significant document until more than 50 years after its signing?
It was initially seen as a routine formality to accompany Congress' vote for independence
What are the 3 most important Revolutionary era documents in US history?
Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, US Constitution
Who is one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers that heavily influenced the assertions made in the Declaration of Independence?
John Locke
What implicit agreement between Great Britain and America did Thomas Jefferson claim the king violated?
The social contract
What were the two main acts of violence/disobedience that was a result of the Townshend Acts?
The Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre
What was the first colonial legislative assembly, created by the American colonists, in an attempt to exercise their own 'rights of Englishmen'?
Virginia's House of Burgesses
"All men are created equal" and are endowed with the "certain unalienable rights" to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
What were the main 3 documents that the American colonists believe they were entitled to the rights of, as descendants of Englishmen and subjects of the British King?
The Magna Carta (1215), the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, and the Bill of Rights of 1689
What was the name of the provisional government where the delegates from the 13 colonies met to adopt the Declaration of Independence?
Second Continental Congress
What were the four laws passed by the British Parliament that make up the Intolerable Acts of 1774?
1. Britain announced that American dissidents would now be tried by Vice Admiralty courts or shipped to England for trial
2. British soldiers could be quartered in American-owned buildings
3. Massachusetts' representative government was to be suspended as punishment for the Boston Tea Party
4. Restriction of the westward expansion of Americans