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Quiz about The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence Quiz for Experts | American Revolution

The anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence is July 4. Celebrate it by taking this quiz!

A multiple-choice quiz by bullymom. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
bullymom

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
82,434

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
8860

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (8/10), Guest 172 (5/10), Guest 173 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these men was NOT among those appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence? Hint

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

John Adams

Roger Sherman

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Question 2 of 10

2. The committee presented its draft before the Congress on June 28, 1776. On July 1, a vote was taken, and all but two states approved the Declaration. Which two voted no? Hint

North Carolina and Maryland

Georgia and Connecticut

Pennsylvania and South Carolina

New Jersey and New York

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Question 3 of 10

3. Copies of the Declaration were signed by John Hancock, President of the Congress, and this man, its secretary. Hint

Charles Carroll

John Adams

Charles Thompson

Richard Henry Lee

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the first word of the Declaration? Hint

When

The

Our

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Question 5 of 10

5. Thomas Jefferson is widely regarded as the main author of the Declaration of Independence.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Of all the colonies, which state had the most signatories? Hint

Massachusetts

Virginia

Pennsylvania

New York

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Question 7 of 10

7. True or false: All of the signatories signed the Declaration at the same time.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. Where is the Declaration kept today? Hint

Library of Congress

National Archives

White House

Smithsonian

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Question 9 of 10

9. There are 24 known copies of the version of the Declaration known as the "Dunlap Broadside", named after John Dunlap. Who was he? Hint

The first Librarian of Congress

Vice-President of the Congress

A printer

An early historian

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Question 10 of 10

10. One member of Congress who did not sign the Declaration was John Dickinson. What was his reason? Hint

He was ill

He was afraid of the consequences

He disagreed with the wording

He was hoping for a reconciliation with Britain

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 15 2024 : Guest 24: 8/10
Nov 30 2024 : Guest 172: 5/10
Nov 24 2024 : Guest 173: 6/10
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 68: 10/10
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 107: 4/10
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 24: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these men was NOT among those appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence?

Answer: George Washington

The Continental Congress appointed Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston to draft the document. Most of it was written by Jefferson, with some changes being made by Adams and Franklin.

2. The committee presented its draft before the Congress on June 28, 1776. On July 1, a vote was taken, and all but two states approved the Declaration. Which two voted no?

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.

3. Copies of the Declaration were signed by John Hancock, President of the Congress, and this man, its secretary.

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.

4. What is the first word of the Declaration?

Answer: When

The first sentence in the Preamble: "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds 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."

5. Thomas Jefferson is widely regarded as the main author of the Declaration of Independence.

Answer: True

The New England colonies had already been branded as rebellious and unpopular, and it was thought that something written by a Southerner might be taken more seriously.

6. Of all the colonies, which state had the most signatories?

Answer: Pennsylvania

There were nine delegates from Pennsylvania: George Clymer, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, James Smith, George Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Ross, and James Wilson.

7. True or false: All of the signatories signed the Declaration at the same time.

Answer: False

Although most people have the image of the delegates lined up in Independence Hall to sign the Declaration on July 4, this is not how it happened. Many historians believe that only John Hancock signed the document on July 4, with no other signatures being added until August 2, when the Declaration had been placed on parchment at the order of Congress.

Other delegates did not get around to signing it until September.

8. Where is the Declaration kept today?

Answer: National Archives

The Declaration is housed in a special section of the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, DC, along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. At night, the documents are stored in an underground vault. They are closely monitored by a state-of-the-art computer system and $3 million camera.

9. There are 24 known copies of the version of the Declaration known as the "Dunlap Broadside", named after John Dunlap. Who was he?

Answer: A printer

John Dunlap was the official printer to the Congress. He produced the first copies of the Declaration, which, on July 5, were distributed by members of Congress to assemblies, conventions, and commanders of the troops (remember, this was before cable TV and fax machines).

10. One member of Congress who did not sign the Declaration was John Dickinson. What was his reason?

Answer: He was hoping for a reconciliation with Britain

The "last of the moderates", Dickinson was reluctant to cut the proverbial apron strings with Mother England. Fortunately, he was in the minority.

Source: Author bullymom

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