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Questions and Answers
Who appointed the committee of men to write the Declaration of Independence?
Who appointed the committee of men to write the Declaration of Independence?
Second Continental Congress
Name the five men who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Name the five men who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman
Who wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence?
Who wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
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Which state chose not to vote on accepting the Declaration of Independence?
Which state chose not to vote on accepting the Declaration of Independence?
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How many parts does the Declaration of Independence have?
How many parts does the Declaration of Independence have?
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What is the term for the first part of the Declaration of Independence?
What is the term for the first part of the Declaration of Independence?
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What does the second part of the Declaration of Independence list?
What does the second part of the Declaration of Independence list?
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What does the preamble tell?
What does the preamble tell?
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Name the three rights that all people should have.
Name the three rights that all people should have.
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Against whom was the third and longest part of the Declaration of Independence complaining?
Against whom was the third and longest part of the Declaration of Independence complaining?
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What do the fourth part of the Declaration state about the 13 colonies?
What do the fourth part of the Declaration state about the 13 colonies?
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These two signers of the Declaration of Independence later became president.
These two signers of the Declaration of Independence later became president.
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How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
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Study Notes
Key Figures
- The Second Continental Congress was responsible for appointing the committee that authored the Declaration of Independence.
- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were the five key figures involved in writing the document.
Drafting the Declaration
- Thomas Jefferson was the principal author, responsible for the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Purpose of the Document
- The main purpose was to articulate to foreign nations the reasons behind the colonies' decision to separate from Great Britain.
Voting and Acceptance
- New York abstained from voting on the acceptance of the Declaration of Independence.
Structure of the Document
- The Declaration consists of four distinct parts.
Parts Breakdown
- The preamble serves as the introductory section.
- The second part enumerates the rights of all individuals.
- The third part details grievances against the king and Parliament, making it the longest section.
- The fourth part declares the thirteen colonies as free and independent states.
Fundamental Rights
- The Declaration famously identifies "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" as the essential rights that all individuals should possess.
Signatories
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, signers of the Declaration, both later held the office of President of the United States.
- A total of fifty-six individuals signed the Declaration of Independence.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Declaration of Independence with these flashcards. Learn about key figures, events, and contributions related to this historic document. Perfect for students and history enthusiasts alike.