The Declaration of Independence 1. The Declaration of Independence was written by ….. 2. The Declaration of Independence was accepted in the city of ….. 3. The Declaration of Independence was accepted on….. 4. The “birthday” of the USA is….. 5. The first part of the Declaration of Independence is called the….. 6. A preamble is ….. 7. The preamble states that….. 8. Some of the rights of citizens include….. 9. Inalienable rights are….. ANSWER BANK A. prevented Americans from trading freely with the rest of the world B. Interfered with the right of Americans to rule themselves C. required the Americans to house & feed British soldiers D. it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow the government E. hired Hessian (German) soldiers to kill Americans and destroy their property F. forced taxation without representation on the Americans G. lists the American’s complaints about King George III & Parliament H. God-given rights that cannot be taken away I. it is only fair to explain why the Americans are separating from the British 10. Governments get their power … If a government does not defend the rights of the people… The third part of the Declaration of Independence… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament… King George III and Parliament….. J. life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness K. July 4, 1776 L. Preamble M. from the approval of the people N. took away the right to trial by jury O. Philadelphia P. an introduction Q. July 4, 1776 R. Thomas Jefferson S. confiscated American ships at sea

Why is the 4 th of July a holiday ? The Declaration of Independence was approved in Philadelphia by the Continental Congress on July 4, Why is the basketball team in Philadelphia called the 76ers ?

Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the Declaration of Independence.

The first part of the Declaration of Independence is called the preamble: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. “ The preamble means: “if a colony breaks its connection with the country that rules it, the reasons for this should be explained”.

The second part of the Declaration of Independence lists the rights of citizens: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. This means that it is obvious that everyone is created equal. God gives people rights that cannot ever be taken away. Some of these rights are life, freedom, and doing whatever you want to do to make you happy. Governments get their power from the approval of the people. If a government does not defend the rights of the people, it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow the government.

The third part of the Declaration of Independence lists the American’s complaints about the British government: King George III and Parliament are guilty of 27 specific abuses: * interference with the colonists' right to rule themselves *making laws that affected the colonies without their approval. (taxation without representation) * requiring Americans to house & feed British soldiers * removing the right to trial by jury * preventing Americans from trading freely *the destruction of American life and property: refusing to protect the colonies' borders, confiscating American ships at sea, and hiring Hessian (German) soldiers to fight against the colonists