Name:______________________________________
Period:_____________________
Date:_______________________
The Declaration of Independence Reading Guide
Directions: You will find answers to the question in the Declaration of Independence.
Pages: 5-6 Introduction (Hand out from The Declaration of Independence and Other
Great Documents of American History)
1. When did the Second Continental Congress Convene in Philadelphia?
Name:______________________________________
Period:_____________________
Date:_______________________
The Declaration of Independence Reading Guide
Directions: You will find answers to the question in the Declaration of Independence.
Pages: 5-6 Introduction (Hand out from The Declaration of Independence and Other
Great Documents of American History)
1. When did the Second Continental Congress Convene in Philadelphia?
Who introduced the resolution, “That these United Colonies are, and of right
ought to be free and Independent States.”?
Which five men were assigned to the committee?
3.
Who introduced the resolution, “That these United Colonies are, and of right
ought to be free and Independent States.”?
Which five men were assigned to the committee?
3.
2.
2.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.
7.
7.
8.
Which member of this committee actually wrote the document?
8.
Which member of this committee actually wrote the document?
9.
Whose philosophy stated that governments derive their power from the consent
of the governed?
10. When was the document presented to the whole Congress?
9.
Whose philosophy stated that governments derive their power from the
consent of the governed?
10. When was the document presented to the whole Congress?
11. When did Congress adopt Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to declare
independence from Great Britain?
12. When was the Declaration of Independence formally adopted by Congress?
11. When did Congress adopt Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to declare
independence from Great Britain?
12. When was the Declaration of Independence formally adopted by Congress?
13. Who had the Declaration of Independence read to American troops?
13. Who had the Declaration of Independence read to American troops?
14. What did New Yorkers destroy on the night of July 9?
14. What did New Yorkers destroy on the night of July 9?
15. Where is the Declaration of Independence today?
15. Where is the Declaration of Independence today?
16. What was the day, month, and year of the death of Thomas Jefferson?
16. What was the day, month, and year of the death of Thomas Jefferson?
17. Who was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence?
17. Who was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence?
Pages: 35-39 The Declaration of Independence (Personal Booklet)
18. What is the date of the Declaration of Independence?
Pages: 35-39 The Declaration of Independence (Personal Booklet)
18. What is the date of the Declaration of Independence?
What are the three unalienable rights:
19.
What are the three unalienable rights:
19.
20.
20.
21.
21.
22. What is instituted among men to secure these rights?
22. What is instituted among men to secure these rights?
23. From whom does the government derive its power?
23. From whom does the government derive its power?
24. What is the ‘Right of the People’ if a government becomes destructive to these
ends?
25. What two things should the new government effect?
24. What is the ‘Right of the People’ if a government becomes destructive to
these ends?
25. What two things should the new government effect?
26. Who tends to suffer while evils are sufferable?
26. Who tends to suffer while evils are sufferable?
27. When are evils overthrown? (Opinion)
27. When are evils overthrown? (Opinion)
28. What “is their right,…their duty” when a government becomes despotic?
28. What “is their right,…their duty” when a government becomes despotic?
29. What has the King of Great Britain established over the states?
29. What has the King of Great Britain established over the states?
30. What did the king dissolve?
30. What did the king dissolve?
31. What has the king obstructed?
31. What has the king obstructed?
32. Who are the judges dependent on?
32. Who are the judges dependent on?
33. What has the king kept without the consent of the legislatures?
33. What has the king kept without the consent of the legislatures?
34. Who was quartered among the colonial people?
34. Who was quartered among the colonial people?
35. What type of trial was deprived of the colonists?
35. What type of trial was deprived of the colonists?
36. Who has “plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and
destroyed the lives of our people.”?
37. What did the British do to American citizens on the high seas?
36. Who has “plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and
destroyed the lives of our people.”?
37. What did the British do to American citizens on the high seas?
38. Who is unfit to be the ruler of a free people?
38. Who is unfit to be the ruler of a free people?
39. To whom does the General Congress appeal to?
39. To whom does the General Congress appeal to?
40. By whose authority are the United Colonies absolved from all allegiance to the
British Crown?
List three powers of the newly freed states:
41.
40. By whose authority are the United Colonies absolved from all allegiance to
the British Crown?
List three powers of the newly freed states:
41.
42.
42.
43.
43.
44. On whom do the Founding Fathers rely on for protection?
44. On whom do the Founding Fathers rely on for protection?
List three things that the Founding Fathers pledge:
45.
46.
47.
List three prominent signers of the Declaration of Independence:
48.
List three things that the Founding Fathers pledge:
45.
46.
47.
List three prominent signers of the Declaration of Independence:
48.
49.
49.
50.
50.