American Revolution: Declaration of Independence

Questions and Answers

Match the following historic documents with their primary purpose:

Declaration of Independence = List of grievances against British rule Common Sense = Persuading independence from Britain Articles of Confederation = First form of government for the U.S. Bill of Rights = Limitations on governmental power

Match the following events with their descriptions:

Boston Tea Party = Colonial protest against taxes on tea Sugar Act = Tax on foreign molasses Quartering Act = Housing British soldiers in colonial homes Boston Massacre = Killing of five civilians by British soldiers

Match the following key figures with their contributions:

Thomas Jefferson = Author of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine = Wrote Common Sense to advocate for independence John Locke = Influenced ideas on natural rights George Washington = Leader of the Continental Army

Match the following concepts with their definitions:

Consent of the governed = Power to govern belongs to the people Social Contract Theory = Government's purpose to secure natural rights No taxation without representation = Colonial objection to British taxes Mercantilist policies = Economic restrictions imposed by Britain Signup and view all the answers

Match the following acts with their effects on the colonies:

Stamp Act = Tax on printed materials Townshend Acts = Tax on imported goods and tea Sugar Act = Increased smuggling of goods Quartering Act = Resentment towards British troops Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their roles in the Independence Movement:

First Continental Congress = Gathering to address colonial grievances Committees of Correspondence = Organized resistance against British policies Non-importation Agreements = Colonial boycotts of British goods Revolutionary War = Conflict for American independence Signup and view all the answers

Match the following ideas with the corresponding document/source:

Natural Rights = John Locke's theory List of Grievances = Declaration of Independence Democratic Principles = Declaration of Independence Colonial Unity = Common Sense Signup and view all the answers

Match the following outcomes with their causes during the Revolutionary War:

American victory = Support from France Mississippi as western boundary = Post-war treaty agreements Colonial distrust in central government = Experiences under British rule Independence declared = Signing of the Declaration of Independence Signup and view all the answers

Match the following events with their significance or outcome:

Constitutional Convention = Call for a stronger national government Shays' Rebellion = Exposed weaknesses of Articles of Confederation Great Compromise = Bicameral legislature with population-based and equal representation Three-Fifths Compromise = Counted 3/5 of slave population for representation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Federal government = National government with limited power Decentralized system = Power divided among many groups Articles of Confederation = First governing document of the U.S. Bicameral legislature = Two houses that write and vote on laws Signup and view all the answers

Match the compromises with their related issues:

Great Compromise = Representation in Congress Three-Fifths Compromise = Determining representatives from slave states Slave Trade Compromise = Regulation of the slave trade Taxation Compromise = Tax collection powers of states Signup and view all the answers

Match the following groups with their preferences:

Small population states = Equal representation in legislature Large population states = Representation based on population Federalists = Support for a strong central government Anti-Federalists = Advocacy for state powers and liberties Signup and view all the answers

Match the following articles of government with their weaknesses:

Congress's dependency on states = Inability to maintain a standing army No enforcement power = Federal laws could not be upheld Overriding presidential vetoes = Weak executive powers State tax collection = Difficulties in national taxation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following historical figures with their contributions:

James Madison = Key architect of the Constitution George Washington = Presided over the Constitutional Convention Alexander Hamilton = Federalist advocate for strong national government Thomas Jefferson = Opposed centralized financial powers Signup and view all the answers

Match the following legislative terms with their meanings:

House of Representatives = Lower house based on population Senate = Upper house with equal representation Congress = Legislative body of the U.S. Veto = Presidential rejection of legislation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their explanations:

Federalism = Division of power between national and state governments Checks and balances = System to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful Separation of powers = Distinction between executive, legislative, and judicial branches Popular sovereignty = Government derives power from the consent of the governed Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Declaration of Independence

Articulated colonial grievances against British rule to justify separation from Great Britain.
Authored by Thomas Jefferson, heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers.
Functions as a declaration of democratic principles rather than setting a government framework.
Drew on John Locke's theory of natural rights, emphasizing that government authority derives from the consent of the governed.
Established the social contract theory, stating that government's fundamental role is to protect natural rights.
Introduced the notion that a government that denies basic rights can be overthrown.
Shares similarities with the Bill of Rights in limiting governmental power and emphasizing individual liberty.

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

Colonists argued against British taxes due to lack of representatives in British government.
Highlighted the principle that British authorities lacked consent from the governed.

Influential Figures and Events

Thomas Paine’s "Common Sense" persuaded many colonists to support independence.
Response to British mercantilist policies included Committees of Correspondence and the Boston Tea Party.
The First Continental Congress was convened to address colonial grievances.

Major Events Leading to the Revolutionary War

Sugar and Stamp Acts imposed taxes on foreign molasses and printed materials.
Quartering Act mandated housing and feeding of British soldiers by colonists.
Townshend Acts taxed imported goods and tea.
Boston Massacre resulted in the death of five colonists at the hands of British soldiers.
Revolutionary War commenced soon after the Declaration of Independence, aided by familiarity with the land and foreign support from France.
Post-war, the Mississippi River became the western boundary of the United States.

Articles of Confederation

First governing document of the U.S. following independence, serving as a plan for the union of the original 13 states.
Reflected Americans' distrust in a strong central government due to previous experiences with British rule.
Established a decentralized political system prioritizing state power over central authority.
Faced several challenges, mainly due to state dominance in power, leading to ineffective national governance.
Congress lacked enforcement power, relying on states for military support and funding.

Success and Weaknesses of the Articles

Successfully established a framework for governing Western territories and admitting new states.
Significant problems arose from the powerful state governments, resulting in an inability to address key issues.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Convened in Philadelphia primarily to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Highlighted by Shays' Rebellion, showcasing the necessity for a stronger national government.

Great Compromise

Resolved representation disputes in Congress between high and low population states.
Established a bicameral legislature: House of Representatives based on population and Senate with equal representation for each state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Addressed representation concerns related to states with large slave populations.
Determined that three-fifths of the slave population would count for representation purposes in the House of Representatives.

Other Major Compromises

Additional agreements reached on matters pertaining to the Slave Trade, Taxation, and the Election of the President.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the Declaration of Independence and the key grievances of the American colonies against British rule. Explore the influence of Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and understand the democratic principles outlined in this historic document. Ideal for students studying the American Revolutionary period.