Q: Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Official answers: American Indians Native Americans Why? Native Americans, also called American Indians, lived here for thousands of years before Europeans came.

Q: What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

Official answers: Africans people from Africa Why? Millions of Africans were taken by force and sold as slaves.

Q: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Official answer: (Thomas) Jefferson Why? Jefferson wrote it in 1776. He later became the third President.

Q: When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

Official answer: July 4, 1776 Why? This is why Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4.

Q: When was the Constitution written?

Official answer: 1787 Why? It was written in Philadelphia in 1787, eleven years after the Declaration of Independence.

Question 1

What is one reason colonists came to America?

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

freedom
political liberty
religious freedom
economic opportunity
practice their religion
escape persecution

Why? Colonists came for freedom, religious freedom, or a chance at a better life and work.

Question 2

Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

American Indians
Native Americans

Why? Native Americans, also called American Indians, lived here for thousands of years before Europeans came.

Question 3

What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

Africans
people from Africa

Why? Millions of Africans were taken by force and sold as slaves.

Question 4

Why did the colonists fight the British?

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
because they didn’t have self-government

Why? “No taxation without representation.” Colonists paid British taxes but had no vote in Britain.

Question 5

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

Official answer:

(Thomas) Jefferson

Why? Jefferson wrote it in 1776. He later became the third President.

Question 6

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

Accepted Answer

Official answer:

July 4, 1776

Why? This is why Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4.

Question 7

There were 13 original states. Name three.

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

In the interview, name three. For example: New York, Virginia and Georgia.

Why? The 13 colonies were on the East Coast, from New Hampshire to Georgia.

Question 8

What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

Official answers:

The Constitution was written.
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.

Why? In 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution.

Question 9

When was the Constitution written?

Accepted Answer

Official answer:

1787

Why? It was written in Philadelphia in 1787, eleven years after the Declaration of Independence.

Colonies and independence: civics questions 58⁠–⁠66 with answers

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

66. When was the Constitution written?

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