Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--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, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…

The history of the present King of Britain is a history of repeated injuries…all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.


Using Source 2, which of the following is a main idea expressed in the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence?

A.People can rebel against their government anytime they want.

B.Government gets its authority from the consent of the governed.

C.Government should not increase taxes on the colonists.

D.Government should not interfere in economic activities.