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The Declaration of Independence is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on the audience and purposes of the Declaration, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.11.3-5. It prints 5 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

The Declaration of Independence

D2.His.11.3-5

NameDate

Read the source and answer the questions, then circle the right answers.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Declaration of Independence: The Opening

The opening of the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, and drafted mainly by Thomas Jefferson. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands 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.

  1. 1. What does the opening say one people must sometimes dissolve?
  2. 2. Why does the Declaration say it should declare its causes?
  3. 3. What is the "one people" in the opening preparing to do?
  4. 4. Whose opinions does the opening say the writers respect?
2.Why did the Declaration's idea of equality matter to later reformers?
  • A.They used it to choose a king
  • B.They used it to keep things the same
  • C.They used it to argue for ending slavery and for women's rights
3.What was the main purpose of the Declaration?
  • A.To announce and explain the colonies' break from Britain
  • B.To end a war with France
  • C.To set up the three branches of government
4.Which holiday marks the adoption of the Declaration?
  • A.Memorial Day
  • B.Independence Day, July 4
  • C.Labor Day
5.Which document set up the government the United States uses today?
  • A.The Mayflower Compact
  • B.The Declaration of Independence
  • C.The Constitution

LessonPrint · D2.His.11.3-5 · Set 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — The Declaration of Independence

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The political bands which have connected them with another. 2. Because a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires it. 3. Separate from another people and take an equal station of their own. 4. The opinions of mankind, people everywhere.
  2. 2.They used it to argue for ending slavery and for women's rights
  3. 3.To announce and explain the colonies' break from Britain
  4. 4.Independence Day, July 4
  5. 5.The Constitution

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.11.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.