CHAPTER 4
From Colonies to States
TRUE/FALSE
1. By the end of the eighteenth century, France and Great Britain were in decline, with Spain
and the Netherlands fighting over who would come out ahead.
2. Britain’s adoption of mercantilist policies set it apart from other European powers of the
seventeenth century.
3. The Glorious Revolution was an unprecedentedly bloody conflict in terms of battle deaths.
4. In the Dominion of New England, the new royal government stripped colonists of their civil
rights, strictly enforced the Navigation Acts, and punished smugglers.
5. John Locke’s writings offered a powerful justification for revolution in extreme circumstances.
6. Through the first half of the eighteenth century, the power of the colonial assemblies generally declined.
7. George Washington’s bungled expedition and surrender at Fort Necessity gave France control
of the Ohio Country but also helped trigger a world war.
8. The Albany Plan of Union called for an intercolonial assembly or Grand Council with
legislative powers.
9. Although the Seven Years’ War has often been called a world war, there was very little
international conflict.
10. George III was lazy as king and, as a result, caused England to lose much of its power in
the wake of the Seven Years’ War.
11. George Grenville continued the policy of “salutary neglect.”
12. Some colonists believed that rather than to protect them against Native Americans, British
troops were in the colonies mainly to make them more dependent on Britain.
13. One argument offered by British leaders was that the colonists enjoyed virtual
representation—the concept that they were “virtually” represented by members of
Parliament, despite lacking actual representatives.
14. The Gaspée incident involved a British warship that attacked and chased smugglers.
15. During the events of Lexington and Concord, both sides were correct in assuming that the
other would back down, as no shots were actually fired.
16. The publishing of the pamphlet Common Sense created a sense of caution among the colonists,
urging them to support the British monarchy for fear of punishment.
17. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson criticized George III for perpetuating
the African slave trade, but southern representatives insisted on removing this criticism.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The Spanish colonies in North America failed, in part, because
a.
the Spanish focused on searching for gold rather than expanding the population and economy of
their settlements.
b.
the region had a much larger native population than did the population in Central and South
America.
c.
the Spanish cared little about converting the Native Americans to Catholicism and, thus, lacked the
sort of alliances Native Americans had with the English.
d.
Spanish administrators focused too much on growing their economy and not enough on basic
survival.
e.
they were under constant attack by the French and English, the colonies of which had been
established at a far more rapid pace.
2. Why did the French colonies in North America ultimately fall to the British by 1763?
a.
The French failed to create alliances with the Native Americans, missing out on trade opportunities.
b.
The French allowed Catholics and Protestants to live in Quebec, leading to irreconcilable conflicts.
c.
The French sent so many civilians to settle in Quebec that they quickly ran out of crucial resources.
d.
The French population of North America never came close to the number of English colonists.
e.
The city of Quebec was indefensible and far too close to New York to maintain boundaries.
3. Which of the following statements about the French colonists in North America is accurate?
a.
They were very diverse in ethnicity and religion.
b.
They established large plantations wherever they settled.
c.
They established cooperative relations with the Indians.
d.
They had the first elected legislatures.
e.
They enjoyed many political rights and freedoms outside the rule of the king.
4. The French were the first to explore and build forts and outposts in the Great Lakes region.
What advantage did this give them as they vied with Britain for control of North America?
a.
It meant that the French would have control of such a large swath of land that they would not need
to regularly interact with Native Americans.
b.
It allowed them to be the first Europeans to have control over Texas, as the Mississippi River
connects to the Gulf of Mexico.
c.
It gave French explorers access to the Mississippi watershed and the vast heartland of the continent
and its fur trade.
d.
It allowed the French to mine gold in the region of modern Iowa, which allowed them to surpass
the Spanish in the trade of gold and silver.
e.
It was of little consequence because the lakes and rivers were unnavigable to boats during this
period.
5. Which of the following concepts was the basis of mercantilism?
a.
The government should attempt to maintain tight regulations and laws to create a favorable balance
of trade.
b.
A hands-off approach to colonial development would lead to economic growth favorable to Britain
as well.
c.
Encouraging colonists to trade among themselves and avoid shipping goods to Britain and Europe
would produce the best economic outcomes.
d.
Close relations between British merchants and Native Americans would avoid future conflicts and
violence.
e.
Close economic ties to Spain would weaken the French presence in North America and thereby
result in Britain’s dominance.
6. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Navigation Act of 1651?
a.
It was contrary to mercantilist principles.
b.
It required all goods imported into Britain or the colonies to be shipped in British vessels.
c.
It was mainly an attempt to wrest the colonial trade from the French.
d.
It was a free trade agreement between England and Holland.
e.
It was repealed once Oliver Cromwell came to power in England.
7. Why did Cromwell initially create the Navigation Act of 1651?
a.
to help the French preserve their empire in North America and thereby earn their support in a war
against Spain
b.
to remove the requirement that all colonial products be shipped through England and increase the
role of other countries in shipping
c.
to give the colonies greater control over their own economies and cause them to rely less on
England’s resources
d.
to hurt the Dutch economy because Dutch ships carried English goods to and from America at
much cheaper prices
e.
to penalize Dutch ships for refusing to carry English goods and thereby to open new avenues of
trade with them
8. After the Restoration, a Royalist Parliament in 1660 passed a new Navigation Act, which
a.
required that all international mail have a Royal Mail stamp.
b.
gave priority to Dutch traders in the buying and selling of goods from the colonies.
c.
made the colony of Massachusetts supply the British Royal Navy vessels with sailors.
d.
helped regain the colonists’ trust in the British government.
e.
specified that certain colonial goods could only be traded to Britain or other British colonies.
9. The establishment of the Dominion of New England was an attempt to
a.
put an end to Protestant leadership in the colonies due to the religious beliefs of the king.
b.
rescind the Navigation Acts in New England while retaining them in the South.
c.
withdraw governor Edmond Andros and extend the power of colonial legislatures.
d.
increase the authority of the British monarchy by reorganizing the New England colonies.
e.
protect and increase the civil rights of the New England colonists through new town governments.
10. As royal governor of the Dominion of New England, Sir Edmund Andros
a.
was popular in Boston.
b.
increased the authority of the Massachusetts assembly.
c.
was deposed as a result of the Glorious Revolution.
d.
initiated the prosecution of Salem’s witches.
e.
recognized the Puritan monopoly of religion.
11. William and Mary allowed the New England colonies to revert to the status they had had prior
to the Restoration except for Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth. These two colonies were
combined into the Royal Colony of Massachusetts Bay. What other major change did they
enforce on the colony?
a.
They placed the colony under jurisdiction of an absolute monarchy in England rather than a
constitutional monarchy.
b.
They put James II in charge of the colony out of fear that the bloodshed of the Glorious Revolution
would extend to the colonies.
c.
They granted Native Americans citizenship to help increase the control the colonies had over
resources.
d.
They appointed a royal governor who had veto power over the colonial assembly to crack down on
the colony’s rebelliousness.
e.
They required that voters in elections must be church members due to the royal family’s newfound
support for Catholicism.
12. John Locke’s contract theory of government argued that
a.
men have certain rights in the state of nature, including the right to life, liberty,
and property.
b.
governments were formed when strong men seized authority as kings to protect natural rights.
c.
kings have a divine right to rule their subjects as long as their subjects prosper.
d.
the only legitimate governments are ones that allow all adults, regardless of sex and race, to vote.
e.
the government’s chief duty is to wage war against other nations.
13. A “writ of assistance” was
a.
a summons that required colonial leaders to return to their former positions in England.
b.
a blanket search warrant that did not need to specify a place and aided in catching smugglers.
c.
a legal order that guaranteed trial by jury for all accused of crimes in the American colonies.
d.
an exchange-rate strategy merchants often used that strongly encouraged smuggling.
e.
official permission to unload cargo in a colonial port because of how overcrowded ports were.
14. Prime Minister Robert Walpole’s relaxed policy toward the colonies was based on his belief
that the colonies
a.
should be allowed to develop a more self-reliant and less expensive form of government on their
own.
b.
should be allowed to export needed raw materials and import finished goods from the mother
country.
c.
should increase trade with France and other European countries to help promote peace in North
America.
d.
should move closer to independence as a means of reducing British taxes spent on colonial defense.
e.
would be willing to pay even higher taxes if they were given more freedoms by Parliament.
15. Which of the following occurred during the period of salutary neglect?
a.
The British government took less of a role in governing the American colonies.
b.
New and efficient trade regulations were introduced.
c.
William and Mary ruled Britain.
d.
A new trade board, the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, was introduced.
e.
Americans developed a powerful desire for independence.
16. What was one reason why the series of four major wars, beginning with King Williams War in 1689, were
significant?
a.
They would result in far less of an emphasis on international commerce, as neglected domestic
concerns rose in importance and demanded the attention of rulers
b.
They centered on the fierce struggle for supremacy between the Spanish and British, which would
continue well into the late eighteenth century.
c.
They reshaped the relationship between America and Britain, as Britain felt new pressure to use the
colonies to help support the now-dominant British Empire.
d.
They were the first succession of wars fought on North American soil alone rather than across the
Atlantic.
e.
They reinforced the long held balance of power in Europe, making it clear Britain was far from
becoming
the dominant power.
17. The French and Indian War was triggered by
a.
conflicting French and English claims to the Ohio Valley.
b.
religious tension between French Catholics and English Protestants.
c.
the expansionist policies of Louis XIV, leading to millions of French colonists.
d.
French anger over English restrictions on trade and shipping.
e.
the desire of both sides to pull their economies out of depression.
18. At the Great Meadows, in 1754, a force of Virginia provincial soldiers faced the French and
Native Americans. The outcome was
a.
the establishment of Fort Necessity as an impenetrable British stronghold.
b.
a disaster for a young George Washington who was forced to surrender.
c.
a devastating defeat for the Native Americans who suffered massive casualties.
d.
a British victory that led to the conquest of the Ohio Country.
e.
inconclusive, as both sides withdrew from the battlefield.
19. At the Albany Congress in 1754, Benjamin Franklin and delegates from seven colonies crafted
a Plan of Union. Which of the following statements accurately describes this plan?
a.
It was quickly implemented by all eleven colonies.
b.
It led to the creation of an American Army under colonial control to fight the French.
c.
It sought to create a united colonial government.
d.
It rejected the idea of seeking Native American allies against the French.
e.
It called on the French and the English to negotiate a peace settlement.
20. The result of General Edward Braddock’s effort to capture Fort Duquesne was
a.
a devastating ambush and defeat for the British.
b.
a conventional European-style battle.
c.
a prolonged and successful siege by the British.
d.
Braddock’s promotion to governor of Virginia.
e.
French withdrawal from the Ohio Valley.
21. The war that erupted between the French and the British in North America in 1754
a.
ended inconclusively as armies rushed back to Europe to offer support at home.
b.
eventually spread across the globe to encompass battlefields on four continents.
c.
led to a British defeat and loss of large portions of the British Empire.
d.
sparked a massive peace protest in London that almost caused the British to back out.
e.
failed to earn the British the monetary support of colonial legislatures.
22. In the South, British troops and colonial militia fought the
a.
Iroquois.
d.
Hurons.
b.
Cherokees.
e.
Creeks.
c.
Shawnees.
23. As a result of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, which of the following did Britain acquire from Spain?
a.
Florida
d.
Cuba
b.
New Orleans
e.
California
c.
Mexico
24. At the end of the war, New Orleans and all of the French lands west of the Mississippi
a.
went to Spain.
b.
went to Britain.
c.
remained French.
d.
became independent.
e.
became the creole state of New France.
25. Pontiac’s Rebellion was in response to
a.
French attacks on Native American villages in the west.
b.
Spanish insistence that Native Americans only trade with them.
c.
shock that Native American lands in the west were ceded to the British.
d.
Dutch atrocities committed in New York.
e.
a flood of cheap British trade goods into Native American territory.
26. During Pontiac’s Rebellion the Native Americans
a.
failed to unify different tribes and mostly turned on one another.
b.
captured and maintained control of Philadelphia.
c.
ceded portions of Maryland to France.
d.
initially managed to conquer most of the British forts on the frontier.
e.
called on Spain to cede Texas to Britain
27. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania?
a.
They killed and threatened peaceful Indians.
b.
They employed mob violence against British officials.
c.
They used vigilante justice against local criminals.
d.
They demanded that the governor reduce taxes.
e.
They tended to support British policy.
28. Many colonists viewed the Royal Proclamation of 1763 as
a.
the cause of Pontiac’s Rebellion.
b.
a means of creating peace between England and France.
c.
an attempt by Parliament to tax the colonies.
d.
a modest attempt by Parliament to lower taxes on the colonies.
e.
a temporary barrier to American settlement west of the Appalachians.
29. Which of the following was an unexpected result of the end of the French and Indian War?
a.
American development suffered in the long run because potential new European colonists were too
afraid that another armed conflict would arise in North America to risk immigrating.
b.
Cities such as Baltimore and Charleston were largely abandoned due to the destruction of the war
and the widespread preference of the colonists to move west of the Proclamation Line.
c.
Indentured servitude in the American colonies quickly came to an end and was replaced with the
African slave trade because the majority of indentured servants had been from France.
d.
Because the French were no longer a threat, many people became more comfortable trying out
living in the wilderness; as a result, the number of European immigrants to the colonies rose.
e.
Disruptions in trade resulting from the war caused African slave traders to drastically shift their
focus to transporting enslaved peoples to Britain rather than to the American colonies.
30. One of the chief objectives of policy under George Grenville was to
a.
continue the practice of “salutary neglect” in the colonies.
b.
require jury trials for American smugglers and other forms of due process.
c.
challenge the authority of the king by more laxly enforcing laws.
d.
reduce Britain’s enormous debt after the French and Indian War.
e.
give colonial assemblies more power, especially in regard to taxes.
31. What was the purpose of the Sugar Act of 1764?
a.
It legalized trade with the French West Indies.
b.
It was intended to generate revenue from the colonies.
c.
It doubled the existing tax on molasses to benefit the colonies.
d.
It predominantly aimed to reduce rum drinking in the colonies.
e.
It taxed sugar refined in the colonies.
32. What was the purpose of the Currency Act of 1764?
a.
It prohibited the colonies from coining or printing their own money.
b.
It gave the colonies a greater say in their own economies.
c.
It was designed to ease the shortage of hard money in the colonies.
d.
It said that lenders had to accept paper money in payment of debts.
e.
It changed the name of the basic monetary unit to “dollar” from “pound.”
33. The Quartering Act required Americans to
a.
do military service.
d.
be loyal to England.
b.
surrender their weapons.
e.
house and feed British soldiers.
c.
pay higher taxes.
34. Which of the following statements about the 1765 Stamp Act is accurate?
a.
It required revenue stamps on legal and commercial documents.
b.
The colonial assemblies approved it.
c.
It directly affected only a few Americans.
d.
It soothed American fears of standing armies.
e.
Most colonies apart from Massachusetts supported it.
35. What was the significance of the Daughters of Liberty?
a.
The group consisted of many radical artists who sought to advance women’s rights through poetry
and painting, as the new nation offered the promise of political gains for women.
b.
The group was comprised of British women who, in a series of pamphlets, argued that true liberty
rested with the parliamentary monarchy of the mother country.
c.
The group is an example of how the nonimportation movement enabled colonial women to
participate in the resistance, such as by no longer buying imported British goods.
d.
The group was revolutionary in that it was a women-led militia and helped fill a gap in male
fighters during the early stages of the war before there was an organized Patriot army.
e.
The group demonstrated how, as with the Sons of Liberty, the resistance was located almost solely
within Boston and proved unable to recruit members in the other colonies.
36. What was the purpose of the Declaratory Act of 1766?
a.
It required Americans to declare loyalty to the Crown.
b.
It recognized the principle of “no taxation without representation.”
c.
It repealed all prior British taxes.
d.
It reasserted the government’s right to tax the colonists.
e.
It gave Americans some seats in Parliament.
37. In 1766, in response to American protests, Parliament
a.
gave Americans representation in the House of Commons.
b.
removed British troops from the colonies.
c.
blamed George III for its mistaken policies.
d.
issued an official apology.
e.
repealed the Stamp Act.
38. What was the purpose behind the Townshend duties?
a.
to convince the colonists to help the British fight the French during the French
and Indian War
b.
to raise revenue to send gifts to the Native Americans to keep the peace
c.
to subsidize the colonial shipbuilding trade and thereby bring more resources to England
d.
to pay the royal governors’ salaries and make them independent of colonial legislatures
e.
to increase the meager pay of colonial legislators and encourage their loyalty to the monarchy
39. ________ was among the most radical of the American rebels and organized the Committee of Correspondence.
a.
James Otis
d.
John Adams
b.
Samuel Adams
e.
Paul Revere
c.
John Dickinson
40. Which of the following was a result of the Boston Massacre?
a.
The Revolutionary War officially began in response the day after the massacre.
b.
The colonists ignored the prospect of a trial because the massacre had been kept secret.
c.
Samuel Adams defended the British soldiers and sought to create order.
d.
The colonists experienced shock waves, and firebrands called for justice.
e.
Americans thereafter quietly paid their taxes to avoid violence.
41. What was the significance of the Gaspée incident?
a.
It drove deep divisions between the French and British, leading the British to build their navy in
anticipation of the French and Indian War.
b.
Its global scale led the French to form an alliance with the British early on in the American
Revolutionary War.
c.
Its tragic nature led Samuel Adams to retire the Committee of Correspondence temporarily and give
the British another chance.
d.
It served as the means by which the British retaliated against the colonists who had participated in
the Boston Tea Party.
e.
It represented the evolution and intensity of anti–British feelings in the American colonies as
colonists engaged in violent protest.
42. The major objective of the Tea Act of 1773 was to
a.
enrich Lord North and his cronies.
d.
punish American tea importers.
b.
bail out the East India Company.
e.
reduce tea prices for Americans.
c.
stimulate England’s home economy.
43. Which of the following statements about the Boston Tea Party is accurate?
a.
Native Americans led the charge against the British because they were most affected by taxes
imposed on the colonies.
b.
British governors held a luxurious gathering to flaunt that they had greater access to tea than the
Americans and to tempt them to rebel.
c.
Americans destroyed a large amount of valuable tea that belonged to the British to protest taxation
without consent.
d.
The episode was such a spectacle that it successfully forced the British to repeal the tea tax and
ensured peace for another five years.
e.
American revolutionaries failed to find enough supporters and participants in New England for the
British to openly react to the gathering.
44. The purpose of the Coercive Acts was to
a.
punish Boston for the Tea Party.
b.
arrest the leaders of the Sons of Liberty.
c.
abolish the colonial assemblies.
d.
outlaw any public criticism of British policy.
e.
make Americans drink more tea.
45. In April 1775, the British marched to Concord, Massachusetts, in an effort to
a.
shut down a rebellious newspaper.
d.
seize the resistance’s gunpowder.
b.
collect taxes.
e.
arrest Paul Revere.
c.
prevent a town meeting.
46. Which of the following occurred at the Battle of Bunker Hill?
a.
The British suffered major casualties.
b.
George Washington won his first victory.
c.
The colonial militia repulsed every British assault.
d.
Americans learned they could easily beat the British.
e.
Americans refused to take prisoners.
47. Three weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress sent George III
a.
the War Act declaring open rebellion.
b.
a peace offering accepting Parliament’s right to tax the colonies.
c.
the Olive Branch Petition, urging the King to negotiate.
d.
the Declaration of Independence, creating the “United States of America.”
e.
a Writ of Renunciation, declaring slavery an evil imposed on the colonies by the Crown.
48. Which of the following was true at the very start of the Revolution?
a.
Many Patriots wanted to join the French Empire.
b.
The Patriots petitioned the Spanish to help them negotiate with George III.
c.
The Patriots fielded a much better trained army than Britain.
d.
Few Patriots were ready to call for independence.
e.
Most colonists opposed the idea of colonial parliamentary representation.
49. Which of the following statements accurately describes Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the
Declaration of Independence?
a.
It recognized Indian land claims and promised women a role in the new government.
b.
It went on to receive only a few signatures, even in its final version.
c.
It lacked any mention of the African slave trade and went unedited before being sent to London.
d.
It listed objections to British actions and expressed the self-evidence of certain truths.
e.
It lacked any reference to the creation of a new nation and was meant to serve as a warning.
50. Few Americans during the time of the Revolutionary War
a.
joined forces with colonists of diverse backgrounds, such as Scots, Irish, Germans, and Jews, to
resist British rule.
b.
confronted the contradiction that they would fail to apply the freedoms they were vying for to the
system of slavery.
c.
shared the belief that governmental authority had to be based on the consent of the governed.
d.
wanted to trade freely with the world and expand westward across the Appalachian Mountains.
e.
knew Loyalists who continued to live in the colonies because nearly all had opted to move back to
Europe.
51. Which of the following statements accurately describes a reason some Americans revolted?
a.
Americans resented the fact that the percentage of free property owners was higher in Britain than
in the colonies.
b.
Most Patriots strongly disagreed with the English constitutional tradition and had long wished to
break free from it.
c.
Some prosperous southern planters were afraid that the British might abolish slavery, which would
negatively impact their economy.
d.
Americans were upset that due to lack of aid from the British, they generally had a shorter average
life span and
a worse diet than Europeans did.
e.
Patriot merchants were angry because the British were in mounting debt due to economic collapse
in England and
owed them a great deal of money.
ESSAY
1. Describe the transition of power during the Glorious Revolution. What were its various effects in America?
2. What is mercantilism? Discuss how this concept impacted exploration, colony building, and governance in the
seventeenth century.
3. Describe the background, major events, and results of the French and Indian War. In what
ways did it pave the way for the Revolution?
4. Discuss the concept of “salutary neglect.” Why did Britain follow this policy, and how did it
both work in their favor and come back to haunt them?
5. Did the development of a set of intellectual assumptions in the American colonies regarding
liberty, equality, and so forth complement changes in British imperial policy? Discuss why or
why not, and give specific examples.
6. Summarize the argument for independence presented in the Declaration of Independence.
How did this compare with earlier colonial arguments concerning the relationship between
Britain and the colonies?
7. Describe the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the impact it had on the relationship between
Britain and the American colonies.
8. Discuss the background, details, and results of the Boston Massacre. How did this conflict
influence the impending Revolution?
9. Describe the ideological responses to George Grenville’s colonial policies. What impact did
these responses have on the relationship between Parliament and the colonial assemblies?
10. Discuss the arguments for American independence presented by Thomas Paine in Common
Sense. In what way did its publication mark a shift in how Patriots presented their grievances?
11. Evaluate the role of slavery leading into the American Revolution and how the institution fit
into the Continental Congress’s understanding of freedom.
MATCHING
Match each description with the item below.
a.
was a stubborn British general in the French and Indian War who viewed Native Americans with
contempt
b.
was a Virginia planter chosen to lead the Continental army due to his service in the French and
Indian War
c.
was a radical journalist in Philadelphia who wrote a pamphlet directly attacking the king rather than
simply directing grievances at Parliament
d.
was a lawyer and one of the few Whigs who demanded freedom for African Americans and women
e.
was the Patriot who warned rebel leaders of a British military advance near Lexington
f.
was an English philosopher whose Two Treatises on Government had a large impact on political
thought in the colonies
g.
was a British prime minister during the French and Indian War who adopted the military policy of
treating the colonies as allies
h.
was a Patriot radical who organized the Sons of Liberty as well as the Committee of
Correspondence
i.
was the British prime minister who grappled with the expenses of maintaining troops in America
and proposed the Stamp Act
j.
was America’s first African American poet and wrote of the “oppressive power” of white colonists
1. Phillis Wheatley
2. Edward Braddock
3. Samuel Adams
4. George Grenville
5. James Otis
6. Paul Revere
7. Thomas Paine
8. John Locke
9. William Pitt
10. George Washington