Declaration Of Independence Quiz
In honor of Independence Day, the editors at The Dallas Morning News put together a quiz on the Declaration of Independence. Take the quiz and test your knowledge of our country's founding document. (SOURCES: About. Com, FunTrivia. Com, ConstitutionFacts. Com, QuizMoz. Com, Dallas Morning News research)
- 1.What is the first word of the declaration?
- A.
We
- B.
When
- C.
The
- D.
Our
- 2.Why did Congressman John Dickinson not sign the declaration?
- A.
He was afraid of the consequences
- B.
He was ill
- C.
He was hoping for a reconciliation with Britain
- D.
He disagreed with the wording
- 3.Copies of the declaration known as the “Dunlap Broadside” were named after John Dunlap. Who was he?
- A.
Vice president of Congress
- B.
First Librarian of Congress
- C.
An early historian
- D.
A printer
- 4.Where is the declaration kept today?
- A.
Library of Congress
- B.
Smithsonian
- C.
White House
- D.
National Archives
- 5.Of all the colonies, which state had the most signatories?
- A.
Virginia
- B.
Pennsylvania
- C.
New York
- D.
Massachusetts
- 6.Which of these men was not among those appointed to draft the declaration?
- A.
Roger Sherman
- B.
John Adams
- C.
George Washington
- D.
Benjamin Franklin
- 7.Who was the primary author of the declaration?
- A.
John Adams
- B.
Benjamin Franklin
- C.
Thomas Jefferson
- D.
James Madison
- 8.How many delegates signed the declaration?
- A.
13
- B.
29
- C.
38
- D.
56
- 9.Who said, “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately”?
- A.
John Adams
- B.
Thomas Jefferson
- C.
John Hancock
- D.
Benjamin Franklin
- 10.Most of the signers actually signed the declaration on what date?
- A.
July 2
- B.
July 4
- C.
Aug. 2
- D.
Aug. 6
- 11.What did Congress cut out of Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the declaration?
- A.
All references to slavery
- B.
Some references to women
- C.
A paragraph written in Latin
- D.
All references to religion
- 12.Who was king of Great Britain at the time the colonies adopted the declaration?
- A.
George III
- B.
Elizabeth II
- C.
James I
- D.
Queen Victoria
- 13.Which member of the committee that wrote the declaration refused to sign it?
- A.
Thomas Jefferson
- B.
John Adams
- C.
Robert Livingston
- D.
Roger Sherman
- 14.According to the declaration, where does government get its power?
- A.
From its constitution
- B.
From its military
- C.
From the elected representatives
- D.
From the consent of the governed
- 15.Which signers of the declaration would later be elected president?
- A.
John Adams and John Hancock
- B.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
- C.
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson
- D.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
- 16.How many grievances were listed in the declaration?
- A.
21
- B.
27
- C.
32
- D.
34
- 17.Of the first 13 states, which was the first to sign the bill?
- A.
Maine
- B.
Rhode Island
- C.
Delaware
- D.
South Carolina
- 18.Who was the oldest signer of the declaration at age 70?
- A.
Edward Rutledge
- B.
John Hancock
- C.
George Washington
- D.
Benjamin Franklin
- 19.Which part of the declaration are American schoolchildren required to memorize?
- A.
The Introduction
- B.
The Preamble
- C.
The Indictment
- D.
The Denunciation
- 20.Who was the first to sign the declaration?
- A.
Thomas Jefferson
- B.
Edward Rutledge
- C.
John Adams
- D.
John Hancock
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 537 | Last updated: Mar 12, 2016
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Sample QuestionHow many grievances were listed in the Declaration of Independence?
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 536 | Last updated: Jan 3, 2020
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Sample QuestionWho was not part of thecommittee,appointed by the Second Continental Congress,to draftthe Declaration of Independence?
Questions: 5 | Attempts: 517 | Last updated: Feb 19, 2013
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Sample QuestionThe Declaration was adopted by the colonies on July 4, 1776, but on what date did most of the Declaration signers sign it?
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