Declaration Of Independence Worksheet Awesome Decoding the ... - Free Printable

Looking at the worksheet, I need to answer 5 questions based on the text provided about the Declaration of Independence.

Let me go through each question one by one and find the answers in the text.

Question 1: Why do you think it took so long for Jefferson's committee to draft the Declaration of Independence?

From the text: "The Congress then asked a group of five men to draft a resolution. These men worked for 17 days and then sent a final draft to the Congress. The Congress debated the resolution for two days and then passed it on July 4, 1776."

The text says they worked for 17 days to draft it, and then Congress debated it for 2 more days. This was because they were creating an official document that would declare independence from England - a very serious and important decision that required careful thought and discussion.

Question 2: What information does the Declaration of Independence include?

From the text: "The first part of the Declaration of Independence explains the colonies' reasons for separating from England. It also outlines people's natural rights. The second part puts complaints against King George III."

So it includes:
- Reasons for separating from England
- People's natural rights
- Complaints against King George III

Question 3: Why are the signers' names grouped as they are at the bottom of the document?

From the text: "The signers' names are grouped by geographic location, which was a common practice at that time."

They were grouped by where they lived (geographic location).

Question 4: Why was the Declaration of Independence not signed until August 2, 1776?

From the text: "The next step was to get all 13 colonies to approve the resolution. This took five days. The Congress then wanted an official copy of the document to be made. Almost a month after being approved, the Declaration of Independence was finally signed on August 2."

It wasn't signed until August 2 because:
- First they needed all 13 colonies to approve it (took 5 days)
- Then they needed to make an official copy
- This whole process took almost a month after approval

Question 5: Why was John Hancock the first signer of the Declaration of Independence?

From the text: "John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress, was the declaration's first signer."

He was first because he was the president of the Second Continental Congress.

Now I'll provide the final answers clearly and simply.

Final Answer:
1. It took 17 days to draft because they were creating a very important document that declared independence from England, requiring careful thought and discussion.

2. The Declaration includes: reasons for separating from England, people's natural rights, and complaints against King George III.

3. The names are grouped by geographic location (where the signers lived), which was common practice at that time.

4. It wasn't signed until August 2 because first all 13 colonies had to approve it (took 5 days), then an official copy had to be made, which took almost a month total.

5. John Hancock was first because he was the president of the Second Continental Congress.