FCLE The Declaration of Independence — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the Declaration of Independence, from where do governments derive their just powers?
- From the wisdom of elected representatives
- From the consent of the governed (Correct answer)
- From the divine right of rulers
- From the authority of courts and laws
Correct answer: From the consent of the governed
The Declaration states: 'governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.' This reflects Enlightenment philosophy — particularly John Locke's social contract theory — that legitimate government authority comes from the people.
Question 2: The phrase 'unalienable Rights' in the Declaration of Independence refers to rights that are:
- Granted by Congress and subject to repeal
- Only available to property-owning citizens
- Inherent to all people and cannot be taken away by government (Correct answer)
- Limited to citizens of the United States
Correct answer: Inherent to all people and cannot be taken away by government
'Unalienable' (also spelled 'inalienable') means these rights cannot be surrendered, sold, or transferred. The Declaration identifies Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as examples, drawing on John Locke's concept of natural rights that preexist government.
Question 3: Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas most directly influenced the natural rights philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Thomas Hobbes
- John Locke (Correct answer)
- Montesquieu
Correct answer: John Locke
John Locke's Two Treatises of Government argued that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that government exists to protect these rights. Jefferson closely followed Locke's framework, substituting 'pursuit of happiness' for 'property.'
Question 4: The Declaration of Independence is structured into three main parts. Which of the following correctly identifies them?
- Introduction, Bill of Rights, and Conclusion
- Preamble (natural rights philosophy), list of grievances against the King, and the formal declaration of independence (Correct answer)
- Declaration of war, terms of peace, and statement of sovereignty
- Historical background, constitutional framework, and signatures
Correct answer: Preamble (natural rights philosophy), list of grievances against the King, and the formal declaration of independence
The Declaration has three core sections: (1) the Preamble, which establishes the philosophical foundation of natural rights and the right to revolution; (2) a long list of specific grievances against King George III; and (3) the formal declaration that the colonies are free and independent states.
Question 5: What right does the Declaration of Independence say the people have when a government becomes destructive of their natural rights?
- The right to petition the Supreme Court
- The right to form a third political party
- The right to alter or abolish that government and institute a new one (Correct answer)
- The right to appeal to the United Nations
Correct answer: The right to alter or abolish that government and institute a new one
The Declaration states 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.' This is the foundational justification the colonists used to break from British rule.
Question 6: Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Adams
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was selected by the Continental Congress's Committee of Five to draft the Declaration. While Franklin and Adams made minor edits, and the full Congress made further revisions, Jefferson is recognized as the principal author. It was adopted on July 4, 1776.
FCLE The Declaration of Independence
According to the Declaration of Independence, from where do governments derive their just powers?