Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets: E-35 of 36

Dear King George

Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: History/Social Sciences
Answer the following questions based on the
reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
In the late 1700s the American colonists were unhappy with your answers.
King George III of England. They didn’t think he was doing what a
good leader should do. He charged unfair taxes, would not allow
trade with other countries and made colonists open their homes
for soldiers to live with them. Colonists felt very far away from their 1) Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
king. Something needed to change. The colonists began to rebel.
____________________________________________
The Second Continental Congress formed in 1775 after fighting
began in the American Revolution. Made up of delegates from ____________________________________________
the 13 American colonies, the Congress met in Philadelphia to
lead the colonies toward independence. In 1776, a committee of 2) What was the Second Continental Congress?
the Congress selected Thomas Jefferson to write a letter to King
____________________________________________
George III. Jefferson had already proven himself to be an honorable
and knowledgeable man. He was also an excellent writer. ____________________________________________
The letter was a dangerous thing, because it would be
considered treason by the king. The Congress was opposing their 3) Why would sending the letter be considered treason?
lawful ruler. People who were associated with this letter could be ____________________________________________
imprisoned or killed for saying they wanted to be independent from
the king. ____________________________________________
Jefferson’s historic letter became known as the Declaration of
Independence. It listed all the reasons that the colonists thought the 4) Name one thing King George was doing that the
king was not a very good king. It said that the king and the colonists colonists considered unfair.
should break their relationship with each other, and each should go ____________________________________________
their own way.
Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July ____________________________________________
4, 1776. All the members of the Second Continental Congress
signed it at the bottom. One of the men would become famous for 5) What was John Hancock’s position in the Second
his signature. John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Continental Congress?
Congress, signed in large, bold letters. His name has become a ____________________________________________
synonym for signature.
____________________________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com

 Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets: E-35 of 36

Dear King George Key

Name: ______________________________________
Cross-Curricular Focus: History/Social Sciences
Answer the following questions based on the
reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the
passage whenever necessary to find or confirm
In the late 1700s the American colonists were unhappy with your answers.
King George III of England. They didn’t think he was doing what a
good leader should do. He charged unfair taxes, would not allow Actual wording of answers may vary.
trade with other countries and made colonists open their homes
for soldiers to live with them. Colonists felt very far away from their 1) Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
king. Something needed to change. The colonists began to rebel.
Thomas Jefferson
____________________________________________
The Second Continental Congress formed in 1775 after fighting
began in the American Revolution. Made up of delegates from ____________________________________________
the 13 American colonies, the Congress met in Philadelphia to
lead the colonies toward independence. In 1776, a committee of 2) What was the Second Continental Congress?
the Congress selected Thomas Jefferson to write a letter to King a group of delegates from the 13 colonies who
____________________________________________
George III. Jefferson had already proven himself to be an honorable
and knowledgeable man. He was also an excellent writer. met and lead the colonies to independence
____________________________________________
The letter was a dangerous thing, because it would be
considered treason by the king. The Congress was opposing their 3) Why would sending the letter be considered treason?
lawful ruler. People who were associated with this letter could be It was treason to go against the king and say
____________________________________________
imprisoned or killed for saying they wanted to be independent from
the king. they wanted to be an independent country.
____________________________________________
Jefferson’s historic letter became known as the Declaration of
Independence. It listed all the reasons that the colonists thought the 4) Name one thing King George was doing that the
king was not a very good king. It said that the king and the colonists colonists considered unfair.
should break their relationship with each other, and each should go Example of correct answer: He charged
____________________________________________
their own way.
Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July unfair taxes.
____________________________________________
4, 1776. All the members of the Second Continental Congress
signed it at the bottom. One of the men would become famous for 5) What was John Hancock’s position in the Second
his signature. John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Continental Congress?
Congress, signed in large, bold letters. His name has become a president
____________________________________________
synonym for signature.
____________________________________________

Copyright ©2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com