Declaration of Independence Trivia

1. Who was the chief author of the Declaration of Independence and, therefore, the List of Grievances?

From Quiz The Airing of Grievances

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

It was John Adams who persuaded the committee in charge of the Declaration to have Jefferson do the bulk of the writing. Jefferson based the philosophy of the Declaration on the work of John Locke, but the Grievances are a list based on actions or inactions of the British government which caused the Americans to feel a break was necessary.

From Quiz The Founding Fathers

Answer: John Hancock

One of wealthiest and most highly respected merchants in Boston in 1776 was John Hancock.

From Quiz They Signed The Declaration of Independence

Answer: John Hancock

While working for his uncle, Hancock traveled to London and witnessed the coronation of his future enemy.

From Quiz The Politicans of "All Men are Created Equal"

Answer: 56

Fifty-six people signed it from all thirteen colonies. Some are more famous than others, but all knew that they could be killed for signing it.

From Quiz The Document that Changed America

Answer: August, 1776

The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, but no one was able to sign it until August 2, 1776. Until August 2, 1776, there was only one signature on the Declaration of Independence and that was of John Hancock.

From Quiz Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Answer: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Adams replaced the popular George Washington as America's second president. Unfortunately, he inherited a political landscape intensely divided between those who wanted a powerful central government and those who sought to protect states' rights. Adams was a man who acted on principle even if it went against popular opinion. He successfully defended nine British soldiers on trial for their part in the Boston Massacre and as president he, at great political cost, averted war with France at a time when the public clamored for the conflict. Jefferson followed Adams as president. The two one-time friends, who had worked together on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, became bitter political enemies. As runner up to Adams in the 1796 election Jefferson became vice president. Both had differing philosophies on how the nation should be governed and their political differences led to personal dislike and to no communication between them until their latter years. Jefferson was somewhat more successful as President with the Louisiana Purchase being one of his great achievements. He served two terms as president but chose not to mention it on the epitaph he wrote for his tombstone. Ironically Adams and Jefferson both died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

From Quiz The Declaration of Independence

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Everyone mentioned was on the committee that wrote it, but Thomas Jefferson was the main author.

From Quiz Before the Constitution

Answer: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

That is it's official name. The longest official name in the United States. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ri_intro.htm

From Quiz Religion of the Founding Fathers

Answer: Anglican

These Founding Fathers were all raised Anglican and belonged to the Anglican (or, later in America, Episcopalian) church. Presbyterian and Congregationalist (Puritan) were the other two most common religious backgrounds of the Founding Fathers. There were also Catholics, Quakers, Lutherans, and Dutch Reformed to be found in the mix. Although not overly vocal and public about his religion, George Washington was an Anglican and regular churchgoer, and he regularly attended services held by chaplains in the Revolutionary War. When traveling, he would visit churches of other denominations as well. He served as a vestryman in Truro Parish from 1762 to 1784 and for three terms as churchwarden.

From Quiz The Airing of Grievances

Answer: 27

Jefferson referred to events within the Grievances as "a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States." He then defined the grievances themselves as "Facts" to be "submitted to a candid world."

From Quiz The Founding Fathers

Answer: Richard Henry Lee

The idea of indpendence was not supported by the majority of the colonists in January of 1776. After the publication of "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, the people began to realize that true freedom could not exist in the colonies as long as they were subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign power. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed that a Declaration of Independence be delivered to the King of England.

From Quiz They Signed The Declaration of Independence

Answer: John Witherspoon

Julia Stockton was wed to Rush by John Witherspoon, who would become the only active clergyman among the 56 signers. Clark, Hopkinson, and Hart joined Stockton and Witherspoon as the signers from New Jersey. Rush signed for Pennsylvania.

From Quiz The Document that Changed America

Answer: Free speech

Inalienable rights are rights that are given to individuals and cannot be taken away from them. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states that the inalienable rights given the Americans are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This line is considered the preamble to the Declaration of Independence.

From Quiz Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Answer: John Hancock

Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Other members of the Continental Congress signed weeks later. Hancock's signatures is by far the largest of all the signatures. He reportedly stated, after affixing his large autograph to the document, that he did it so "John Bull (England) could read it without spectacles". Today the American adage to "put your John Hancock" on a document means to knowingly sign the paper regardless of the circumstances.

From Quiz The Declaration of Independence

Answer: July 4, 1776

On July 4 1776, the Continental Congress ratified the declaration of July 2 1776 declaring that the 13 Colonies no longer regarded themselves as under British rule.

From Quiz Before the Constitution

Answer: Henry Laurens

It was after his Presidency. He was on a diplomatic mission to Holland when a British frigate intercepted him. After finding a secret agreement between the Americans and the Netherlands on his person, the British arrested him and charged him with treason. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/7/22/1437/96690

From Quiz Faiths of the Founding Fathers

Answer: John Witherspoon

Edwards was not a founding father but was a very important part of America's Great Awakening. Witherspoon made a point of ecumenicalism, saying, "I do not wish you to oppose anybody's religion, but everybody's wickedness. Perhaps there are fewer sure marks of the reality of religion than when a man feels more joined in spirit to a true holy person of a different denomination than to an irregular liver of his own."

From Quiz The Declaration of Independence

Answer: Pennsylvania and South Carolina

New York abstained. South Carolina and Pennsylvania changed their minds for the next vote, taken on July 2. Several days later New York changed its abstention to approval, making the vote unanimous.

From Quiz Religion of the Founding Fathers

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was raised a Puritan, but his beliefs continually evolved over his lifetime, and he was a strong proponent of religion in general. He discussed his deism in his 1771 autobiography, though in later life he placed more emphasis on organized religion. In that same autobiography, he lists the 13 virtues by which he strove to live his life: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.

From Quiz The Airing of Grievances

Answer: King George III

Jefferson identified the King as the malefactor when he wrote, "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries..." Thus Jefferson used George as a convenient scapegoat when, in fact, most of the laws cited in the Grievances were passed by Parliament. But it is more effective to focus blame on a single individual than on a legislative body made up of two houses and over 800 members.

From Quiz The Founding Fathers

Answer: Thomas Paine

The man that sparked the Revolutionary War was Thomas Paine. His pamphlet entitled "Common Sense" caused the American people to realize that without independence they would be subjects of the king.

From Quiz They Signed The Declaration of Independence

Answer: William Paca

The girl's name was Hester. Carroll, Chase, and Stone joined Paca to form the delegation from Maryland.

From Quiz The Politicans of "All Men are Created Equal"

Answer: Benjamin Franklin & Franklin & Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a famous signer. He made many improvements to the draft of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin went to the French Court and got aid to help the war and held many other important positions. He was a scientist, writer, diplomat and an advocate against slavery.

From Quiz Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Answer: Richard Henry Lee

Lee was a member of a wealthy and influential Virginia family. He was one of the Colonies' most vocal advocates of American independence. As a member of the 2nd Continental Congress he openly sought a declaration of independence from the colonies. Finally in May of 1776 Lee was authorized by Virginia to return to Philadelphia to propose a measure seeking America's separation from England. On June 2nd, 1776 Lee proposed "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Lee was initially appointed chairman of the committee to help create a final draft of his resolution so the delegates could vote on it, but his wife's illness compelled him to return home and Thomas Jefferson took his place.

From Quiz The Declaration of Independence

Answer: Richard Henry Lee

John Adams tried to resolve independence, but no one would listen to him because he was disliked. He got Richard Henry Lee to propose it for him.

From Quiz Before the Constitution

Answer: General Cornwallis

He was a prisoner of war after Yorktown. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/7/22/1437/96690

From Quiz The Declaration of Independence

Answer: Charles Thompson

The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. Its President was Peyton Randolph, a Virginia lawyer and member of the House of Burgesses.

From Quiz Religion of the Founding Fathers

Answer: Charles Carroll

Maryland planter Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. He personally supported the American Revolution with his own funds and served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, though he had no part in authoring the Constitution. Although initially barred from serving in public office in Maryland due to his religion, after the Revolution he served in the Maryland State Senate. Daniel Carroll of Maryland and Thomas Fitzsimmons of Pennsylvania were two other Catholic Founding Fathers, though they did not sign the Declaration of Independence.

From Quiz The Airing of Grievances

Answer: Quartering Act

There were actually two Quartering Acts, both of which were amendments to the Mutiny Act of 1689. The two Quartering Acts were passed in 1765 and in 1774. Provisions of these acts included requiring American colonists to provide supplies and housing for British troops.

From Quiz They Signed The Declaration of Independence

Answer: George Wythe

Wythe's great nephew was aquitted of the crime because the only witnesses against him were black and so, by law, their testimony was inadmisable. Harrison, Nelson and Braxton were cousins and, like Wythe, signers from Virginia.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:51 AM

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