Toplines: Declaration of Independence

Survey of 1,000 Adults

July 2, 2008

1* I am going to read you a short list of statements… For each, please let me know if you agree or disagree.. First, The Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal…

85% Agree

12% Disagree

2% Not sure

2* The Declaration also says that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…

91% Agree

4% Disagree

5% Not sure

3* Next…governments derive their only just powers from the consent of the governed…

56% Agree

26% Disagree

18% Not sure

4* Great…which of the following men was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence… John Hancock, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin or Edward Rutledge?

40% John Hancock

7% George Washington

20% Thomas Jefferson

8% Benjamin Franklin

7% Edward Rutledge

18% Not sure

5* The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress… who was President of the Continental Congress… John Hancock, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin or Edward Rutledge?

16% John Hancock

23% George Washington

19% Thomas Jefferson

8% Benjamin Franklin

7% Edward Rutledge

26% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence