THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
1. Whose actions does Jefferson criticize most
harshly in the document?
A.
B.
C.
D.
British brethren
colonial Governors
the King of Great Britain
the British Parliament and Prime Minister
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
2. Jefferson believed that
governments derive their powers from
A. the course of human events.
B. the consent of the governed.
C. their Creator.
D. the laws of nature.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
3. What was Jefferson’s opinion about
changing long-established governments?
A. People should first encourage government
leaders to resign from office.
B. Governments should change whenever people
disagree with a policy.
C. Governments should continue unless they cause
insufferable problems.
D. Long-established governments must always
change short-term policies.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
4. What rhetorical feature does Jefferson
employ when he begins several consecutive
sentences with the words “He has”?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Parallelism
Rhythm
structuralism
activism
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
5. A primary assertion of the document states
that:
A. people have a right to overthrow governments
that deny their basic rights.
B. any king who addresses important issues and
grievances is a tyrant.
C. it is necessary to list all reasons for dissolving
political connections.
D. Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally
abolished.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
6. The Declaration’s list of grievances states
that the king has
A. denied the colonists permission to build and
maintain their own navy.
B. dissolved the standing army necessary for the
colonists’ protection.
C. refused to pass laws that are for the good of the
people.
D. raised the prices of services necessary for the
colonies’ well-being.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
7. According to Jefferson, what has been the
king’s reaction to the colonists’ petitions?
A.
B.
C.
D.
refusing to listen to their pleas
sending representatives to resolve the issues
promising changes but failing to act
inflicting further harm on them
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
8. Jefferson’s “reliance on the protection of
Divine Providence” indicates a belief that:
A.
B.
C.
D.
their course of action is morally correct.
they will easily defeat the British forces.
God will punish the king for his unjust actions.
God has bestowed “sacred honor” upon the
Declaration’s signers.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
9. What does abdicate mean?
A.
B.
C.
D.
give up responsibility for
provide order for
support the importance of
accept the demands of
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
10. The word affected means
A. convulsed.
B. absolved.
C. unwarranted.
D. influenced.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
11. What is Jefferson’s complaint about taxes?
• Jefferson complains that taxes have been
imposed on the colonists without the people’s
consent (line 74). They result from “pretended
legislation” enacted by “a jurisdiction foreign
to” the colonial constitutions (lines 67–69).
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
12. What concerns have the colonists expressed to
their “British brethren”?
• According to lines 107–118, they warned the
British to avoid attempting to extend
“unwarrantable jurisdiction” over the colonies and
reminded them of the reasons for the colonists’
emigration and settlement in the colonies. They
also appealed to the British people’s sense of justice
and generosity in asking them to “disavow” their
government’s tyrannical acts.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
13. In an argument, a claim is an author’s
position on an issue. What claim does Jefferson
make in the 1st paragraph, and how does he say
he will support that claim?
• Jefferson claims that sometimes rejecting a
government is justified. He supports his claim in
the specific context of the American colonies by
showing that Great Britain’s government in the
colonies is bad.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
14. Infer: What overall reason for the colonies to
separate from Britain does Jefferson outline in
the second paragraph (lines 8-31)
• He reasons that governments that do not honor
citizens’ rights should be overthrown; the King’s
actions and decisions yielded such a
government.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
15. Cite Evidence: How do the syntax and
rhetorical features that Jefferson uses in the 1st
sentence of the 2nd paragraph (lines 8-10)
contribute to the persuasiveness of the document?
• Tone is elevated in the opening words—the
organization of the words“ We hold these truths to
be self-evident” sounds nobler than saying “We
believe this.” The parallelism of stating each right
in a dependent clause beginning with “that” adds
power and rhythm to the ideas.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
16. Draw Conclusions: What theme about
government does Jefferson communicate in the
2nd paragraph?
• Established governments should not be changed
impulsively; however, getting rid of a bad
government is not only justified, it is a duty.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
17. Identify the most striking words that
Jefferson chooses to describe the king’s actions
in lines 22-31. How does this language support
his claim?
• “abuses,” “usurpations,” and “despotism” stress
the King’s unjust government
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
18. How do the rhetorical features in the conclusion
(lines 119-133) contribute to the power and
persuasiveness of the document?
• The repetition of the word “all” emphasizes that the break
with Britain will be complete and absolute. The
parallelism of dependent clauses beginning with “that”
connects this section to the inspirational section about
rights in lines 8–13, which also begins a series of clauses
with “that” and punctuates each declaration. The
inspirational connection and rhythm enhance the
persuasiveness and power of the conclusion. The
parallelism in the final line: “our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honor” brings the pledge, and the document, to
a powerful, poetic, and memorable close.