English Flashcards
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on:
July 4, 1776
What did the Declaration of Independence announce?
That the thirteen colonies were free from Britain
Who was the king of Britain at the time?
King George III
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence ?
Thomas Jefferson
Who made minor changes to the Declaration of Independence?
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams
How many delegates signed the Declaration of Independence?
56 delegates
What is the preamble of the Declaration of Independence Summarize ?
It summarizes a philosophy of government that supported the revolution
What does the preamble of the Declaration of Independence state?
It states that all men are created equal and that they have undeniable rights which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What are unalienable rights?
Rights that are natural
What are individual rights?
Rights that people are born with
What are the four important ideas in the Declaration of Independence ?
- Natural rights
- The power of the government comes from the people.
- People can change the government and it changes their rights
- All people are created equal
What are natural rights?
Rights that are God given and cannot be taken away. The rights are not given by man and are not subject to man made law
What was Paine’s career?
He was a journalist
What pamphlet did Paine publish where he argues that Americans must fight for independence ?
“Common Sense”
What did Washington order Paine to do?
Read his essay to Washington’s troops before they crossed the Delaware river to defeat the hessians at the battle of Trenton.
After the American revolution, what did Paine become involved with?
He became involved with the French Revolution
What book turned the American public against Paine and why?
The age of reason; because it was an attack on organized religion
What are the main ideas in “An American Crisis”, an essay by Paine?
The main idea is to inspire and encourage the continental army and to try and get more people to join the cause and fight against Britain to gain freedom
Where is the quote “these are the times that try men’s souls” from? What does it mean?
It is the first sentence in “The American Crisis” by Thomas Paine. It means that they are living in tough times.
What does Paine say is not easily conquered ?
He says that “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.”
In “The American crisis”, what does Paine day America does not want?
Force
What does “bind me in all cases whatsoever” mean when Paine said it?
He was referencing when Britain declared that they could pass a law saying anything that they wanted, and had the right to bind America in all cases whatsoever.
What was the story of the ax? And what did it mean?
The story of the ax comes from The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin. It is a story about a man who couldn’t wait long for his whole ax to be made, so he said he liked a speckled ax. It means that people give up on the struggle to maintain good habits and say that they’re fine with what they have.
How many virtues did Benjamin Franklin come up with?
13
What are the thirteen virtues that Benjamin Franklin came up with IN ORDER?
- Temperance
- Silence
- Order
- Resolution
- Frugality
- Industry
- Sincerity
- Justice
- Cleanliness
- Tranquility
- Chastity
- Humility
How did Benjamin Franklin keep up with his virtues?
He always carried a little book where he would keep track of them. He made a chart with the name of the virtue he was trying to get right at the top, and then do days of the week horizontally and the virtues diagonally. Whenever he messed up on one, he would do a dot on it to keep track.
What was the first city in the colonies to have street lights?
Philadelphia
What was franklins alias?
Silence Dogood
What did Benjamin Franklin work as until his retirement at the age of 42?
A printer
What are aphorisms?
Short sayings
Did Benjamin Franklin ever reach perfection?
He became better at all his virtues, but to himself, he never became perfect.
