CHAPTER 5
The American Revolution, 1776–1783
TRUE/FALSE
1. During the Revolutionary War, Iroquois Nations fought each other on opposite sides, with the
Mohawks, Seneca, Onondaga, and Cayuga siding with the British and most of the Tuscarora
and Oneida helping the Americans fight against the British.
2. General Richard Montgomery’s victory at Quebec ensured that France would join the United
States against Great Britain.
3. At the time that Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, The American Crisis, was published, the
Continental army still had a great degree of supplies and morale.
4. Desertion decreased the size of the Continental army to such a degree that George
Washington modified his conventional top-down approach to be more democratic and allow
soldiers to offer suggestions.
5. During the Revolution, few Loyalists were found in New York City.
6. Luckily for the British, beyond the French, other European powers had little interest in
assisting the American colonies.
7. Daniel Boone led settlers who fought both the British and the Indians in Kentucky.
8. Benedict Arnold, originally a British officer, switched to the American side partway through
the war.
9. The timely arrival of the French navy off the coast of Yorktown gave Washington’s forces
the reinforcement they needed to defeat Cornwallis’s British army.
10. The republican ideology that the American Revolutionaries adopted had long dominated Europe.
11. In 1776, during the war, the Continental Congress put together the national Constitution of the
United States, which required different majorities for approval of some legislative measures.
12. The Articles of Confederation left many powers to the states.
13. After the war, many Loyalists suffered for their refusal to pledge allegiance to the new nation
or fled the country.
14. Partly because Anglicans tended to be pro-British, the Anglican Church became the Episcopal
Church after the American Revolution.
15. Thomas Jefferson was the most notable Virginian to free his slaves during the Revolution.
16. Though rare, there were examples of women participating in the revolution as combatants.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What was one of the reasons why the American Revolution was significant to Europe?
a.
At the start of the war, most Europeans believed that the Americans would win and, as a result,
began to implement American ideals of democracy and representation.
b.
Prior to the war, Europeans had begun to experiment with unorthodox modes of warfare, but due to
the Americans’ successful reliance on traditional warfare, they rethought this shift.
c.
The war distracted England from maintaining its other colonies in Asia and Africa to such a degree
that during and soon after the war other European powers managed to take control of them.
d.
Most European countries such as Spain and the Netherlands sympathized greatly with England in
its fight to maintain the colonies and, as a result, consistently fought on England’s side.
e.
The war proved a world war in that the United States managed to form military alliances with
countries that wished to humble Great Britain, including France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
2. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Hessians of the Revolutionary War?
a.
Few Hessians deserted the British army to join the American cause.
b.
Hessians were German mercenaries hired by the British.
c.
Hessians were no longer deployed when the war moved south.
d.
Hessians were guerrilla warriors who helped defeat Washington’s army.
e.
Hessians were colonists who refused to support either side of the war.
3. Which of the following is true of the state militia units that made up the initial American
military force and later came to augment the Continental army?
a.
They generally refused to ambush the British or to engage in any hand–to-hand combat.
b.
They were largely civilians who often decided for themselves when to join or leave the fighting.
c.
They were the most seasoned troops of the war because of their past experience fighting Indians.
d.
They were incredibly organized units, even during the first battles, due to how high the stakes were.
e.
They frequently mutinied and switched over to the British cause due to the promise of land.
4. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Patriot militia?
a.
It favored conventional European tactics in battle.
b.
It frustrated Washington with its lack of discipline.
c.
It turned away all immigrants due to prejudice.
d.
It refused to allow poor farmers or shop owners to join.
e.
It comprised a mere fifth of the Americans who served in the war.
5. To which of the following options was the United States forced to resort in order to pay the
costs of the Revolution?
a.
the sale of land to several foreign countries
b.
requisitions from the states
c.
contributions from patriotic citizens
d.
direct taxes on the American people
e.
new issues of paper money
6. Why was the Canadian Expedition of 1775–1776 significant?
a.
It involved the outbreak of a smallpox epidemic that resulted in the deaths of a third of the
American population.
b.
It was an important American victory that set the tone for the coming campaign and exhibited the
Americans’ superior technology.
c.
It brought about the tragic death of General Benedict Arnold at Quebec and caused the mourning
Americans to prove more vulnerable.
d.
It led to the expulsion of Indian tribes in the area and thereby guaranteed that Native Americans
would refuse to join the British side.
e.
It resulted in a humiliating series of American defeats that made it apparent the war would not be a
short one.
7. Which of the following transpired when the British attacked New York in late August 1776?
a.
Washington ambushed and routed them.
b.
Washington met them with a larger, more experienced force.
c.
Washington learned the superiority of the militia to regular troops.
d.
The American army was fortunate to make a narrow escape overnight.
e.
The Americans received French reinforcements just in time.
8. Which city did the British capture and occupy early in the American Revolution, making it the headquarters of both
the Royal Navy and the British army?
a.
Atlanta
d.
Philadelphia
b.
Boston
e.
New York City
c.
Williamsburg
9. In August 1776, General Washington had 28,000 men under his command. By December, he had
a.
45,000.
d.
25,000.
b.
35,000.
e.
3,000.
c.
28,000.
10. Which of the following statements about Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis is accurate?
a.
It stated the impossibility of beating the British.
b.
It urged Congress to make Washington a temporary dictator.
c.
It bolstered American morale.
d.
It supplied Washington with battle plans.
e.
It blamed Congress for the army’s defeats.
11. In late December 1776, George Washington was able to reverse American fortunes by
a.
recapturing New York City from the British.
b.
giving his troops permission to rest up and “hibernate” for the winter.
c.
convincing both France and Spain to enter the conflict.
d.
destroying a British force outside of Boston.
e.
winning battles at Trenton and Princeton.
12. In 1777, Washington dealt with the threat of smallpox to his army by
a.
ordering a mass inoculation.
b.
sending most of his soldiers home.
c.
placing his camp under quarantine.
d.
providing his soldiers with clean quarters and healthy food.
e.
asking for a halt in the fighting.
13. Which of the following statements describe actions taken by Benjamin Franklin’s son, William,
and what do they suggest about the war?
a.
William’s treatment of Native Americans while a prominent American general demonstrates why
almost no Native Americans joined the Patriot cause.
b.
William’s appointment of women to positions in the New Jersey state government demonstrates the
many opportunities the war created for women to enter politics.
c.
William’s loyalty to Britain demonstrates how the war was in many ways a civil war, with the need
to choose sides dividing families and friends.
d.
Williams’s refusal to commit to either the Patriot or the Loyalist cause demonstrates how the
majority of colonists did not fall into either group and sought to remain neutral.
e.
Williams’s work as a slave trader demonstrates how African Americans had little incentive to join
the Loyalist cause because slavery was worse in Britain.
14. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Tories during the war?
a.
They defined themselves by the rejection of the monarchy but the wish to preserve Parliament.
b.
They largely outnumbered the Patriots because of the widespread certainty that Britain would win.
c.
They, like the Patriots, were eager to commit acts of treason in the name of their cause.
d.
They largely had success keeping Loyalist militia united after the departure of British troops.
e.
They were found in all ranks of society and included roles as varied as governors and farmers.
15. Which of the following was a result of the Battle at Brandywine Creek?
a.
General Burgoyne was not confident enough to lead his 1777 campaign south from Canada.
b.
King George “fell into agonies on hearing” that Washington negotiated a cease-fire there.
c.
The Patriots lost Philadelphia, with the Continental Congress fleeing to avoid capture.
d.
The losing British forces soon took revenge by conquering New Jersey.
e.
Most of the members of the Continental Congress were captured and hung.
16. Americans won a tremendous victory in October 1777 with the surrender of
a.
Lord Cornwallis.
d.
Benedict Arnold.
b.
Banastre Tarleton.
e.
Lord Howe.
c.
John Burgoyne.
17. Which of the following was a result of the Battle of Saratoga?
a.
a new invasion of Canada
b.
serious peace negotiations with the British
c.
a huge increase in the size of the Continental army
d.
France’s entry on the American side
e.
the greatest loss the Americans had ever suffered
18. Conditions at Washington’s winter camp at Valley Forge were
a.
comfortable, as the local populace supplied plenty of food.
b.
bearable, as the 900 huts built for shelter proved adequate against the winter weather.
c.
spartan, as food and proper clothing was in short supply.
d.
difficult for the French soldiers unaccustomed to the winter weather.
e.
dangerous due to constant British attacks.
19. The Baron von Steuben observed at Valley Forge that
a.
Washington’s army was well equipped and would likely defeat the British.
b.
French soldiers under Washington’s command were well trained and disciplined.
c.
continental soldiers could be inattentive and required instruction on why they should follow orders.
d.
American soldiers blindly obeyed their officers, which could get them into trouble.
e.
although the Patriot troops had plenty of morale, their fighting tactics would prove their downfall.
20. The Marquis de Lafayette served the American cause during the war as
a.
commander of the French navy.
b.
Washington’s most trusted aide.
c.
France’s ambassador to Congress.
d.
leader of the attack on the British in Canada.
e.
chief fund-raiser in Europe.
21. The Iroquois and Tories led numerous raids against
a.
British forces in the Ohio Valley.
b.
Quaker settlements near Philadelphia.
c.
Patriot settlements along the New York frontier.
d.
the Cherokees on the Carolina frontier.
e.
the French in Louisiana.
22. As the main conflict between armies in the east progressed, ________ and 175 frontiersmen meanwhile journeyed to
the Ohio Valley to ________.
a.
Joseph Brant; execute British soldiers to show native tribes what was in store for them
b.
George Rogers Clark; end English-led attacks on American farm communities
c.
John Sullivan; trade with Native Americans and recruit them to the Patriot cause
d.
John Burgoyne; launch a three-pronged assault against British military camps
e.
Daniel Boone; disrupt a secret meeting of the Continental Congress
23. On the western frontier, the Mohawks, Shawnees, and Delawares convinced the Cherokees to
a.
remain neutral for the duration of the Revolutionary War.
b.
support the Americans in their fight against the British.
c.
flee further west to escape the fighting.
d.
attack frontier settlements in Virginia and the Carolinas.
e.
switch sides constantly and trick the British.
24. Why did the British shift their strategic focus to their military effort in the South?
a.
They wanted to protect their settlements in Florida and the Caribbean from the Patriots.
b.
They urgently needed to escape the frigid conditions of Canada.
c.
They sought to destroy rebel plantations that allowed enslaved African Americans to go free.
d.
They believed that Loyalists were more numerous in the South.
e.
They would never resort to harming American civilians living in the countryside and could rally
them to their side.
25. The war in the South was characterized by
a.
a “speedy and happy determination” of the war.
b.
the killing of prisoners by both sides and use of guerrilla tactics.
c.
conventional military tactics and rare pillaging.
d.
an unbroken series of British victories.
e.
the massive use of enslaved soldiers by the Americans.
26. Why was the Battle of Kings Mountain a turning point in the Revolutionary War?
a.
From that point forward, the war would mainly be fought in the North rather than the South.
b.
Most families who had been split apart by the war restored family ties in the face of this horrific
battle.
c.
The battle was the greatest defeat that the Americans had ever suffered and nearly caused
Washington to lose hope.
d.
The British soundly defeated the Americans in a head-on battle when the two sides were evenly
matched.
e.
The American militiamen decisively defeated the British and undermined their southern strategy.
27. In which of the following battles did the Americans achieve a decisive victory when the
Americans and British were, in a rare occurrence, evenly matched?
a.
Trenton
d.
Cowpens
b.
Bunker Hill
e.
Guilford Courthouse
c.
Saratoga
28. Guilford Courthouse was a hard-fought battle between American forces under General
Greene and British forces under Lord Cornwallis. Which of the following statements
describes repercussions of the battle?
a.
It resulted in a massive defeat for the Patriot forces and led to the abandonment of the South
Carolina frontier.
b.
It forced the Iroquois to abandon their ancestral homelands in western New York and caused most
native soldiers to defect from the army.
c.
It forced Greene to resign as general and the Americans to abandon any involvement with local
guerrilla bands.
d.
It resulted in a very costly British victory for Cornwallis that forced him to retreat to North Carolina
with his remaining forces.
e.
It led to the British occupation of Philadelphia, which prevented the Continental Congress from
formally meeting during the remainder of the war.
29. During 1780, the Revolutionary War had become
a.
a contest of endurance in which Americans had the advantage.
b.
what looked like an inevitable British victory.
c.
a matter of which side could employ the flashiest battle tactics.
d.
a fight in which Native Americans and African Americans played a small role.
e.
a conflict in which American victory was certain enough that the French were no longer needed.
30. Benedict Arnold became notorious late in the war by
a.
recruiting slaves to join the American army.
b.
questioning Washington’s fitness for command.
c.
defecting to the British.
d.
selling weapons to Indians.
e.
trying to become a military dictator.
31. The British army under Cornwallis at Yorktown
a.
was saved by a massive British fleet that was sent from New York and arrived there first.
b.
defeated a larger but poorly led French army that failed to coordinate with the Americans.
c.
was too small and weak to escape from a trap by combined French and American forces.
d.
could have escaped if not for Benedict Arnold returning to the American side once again.
e.
was well supplied and, due to the number of troops, held out for over a year.
32. The news of Yorktown inspired the British to
a.
recruit more soldiers.
d.
sign a peace treaty with France.
b.
end the war.
e.
replace their commanders.
c.
replace George III.
33. Who did most of the work during the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris?
a.
John Adams and George Washington
b.
Charles Cornwallis and François-Joseph-Paul de Grasse
c.
Guy Carlson and Thomas Jefferson
d.
Peter Salem and Lemuel Haynes
e.
John Jay and Benjamin Franklin
34. The treaty ending the American Revolution lacked a provision that
a.
Florida would be given to Spain.
b.
the thirteen colonies would be considered independent.
c.
the Mississippi River would be recognized as the western boundary of the United States.
d.
Native Americans would be protected by and have a voice in the new nation.
e.
the territory of the new nation would be doubled after the war.
35. The treaty with Britain that ended the Revolutionary War
a.
protected the rights of Loyalists but prevented them from fleeing after the war.
b.
gave Florida to the United States and was remarkably clear in settling northern borders.
c.
recognized American independence and sought to establish the boundaries of the United States.
d.
gave America a claim to Newfoundland and created new military alliances with the Dutch.
e.
imposed war damages on the British but maintained that the United States was now technically a
territory.
36. Whereas a(n) ________ would have meant that citizens voted on all major decisions
affecting them, the new United States after the Revolutionary War was technically a
________, in which property-holding white men elected representatives, or legislators, to
make key decisions on their behalf.
a.
representative democracy; direct democracy
b.
direct democracy; representative democracy
c.
aristocracy; theocracy
d.
theocracy; constitutional monarchy
e.
constitutional monarchy; direct democracy
37. Most of the state constitutions adopted during the Revolution
a.
gave governors extensive powers.
b.
granted universal manhood suffrage.
c.
contained bills of rights that protected rights like freedom of speech.
d.
gave the legislatures very little power.
e.
were rejected by Congress in favor of a national constitution.
38. The Articles of Confederation were fully ratified and became effective
a.
to essentially legalize the way things had been operating since independence had been declared.
b.
at the same time as the Patriot colonists declared independence from Britain.
c.
only after the war was officially over and the Treaty of Paris had been signed.
d.
because most people wanted a strong central government to be in place after the war.
e.
to ensure that Americans would no longer need to pay taxes.
39. Which of the following was true of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
a.
Congress had less power than the colonists had once accepted in British Parliament.
b.
Congress shared power with a supreme court.
c.
Congress was superior to the various state governments.
d.
Congress was largely a debating society with no clear areas of authority.
e.
Congress would elect the president.
40. The Articles of Confederation failed to give the federal government
a.
full authority over foreign affairs.
b.
the right to levy taxes on trade and commerce without unanimous approval from the states.
c.
control of government in the western territories.
d.
authority to coin money, run a postal service, and direct Indian affairs.
e.
authority to settle disputes between states.
41. How did the creation of state governments in the wake of the American Revolution affect political participation?
a.
In general, still a smaller percentage of American males could vote than their counterparts in
Britain.
b.
It continued to be unheard of that farmers and tradesmen could be elected to state legislatures.
c.
Opportunities to acquire land in the West remained highly limited.
d.
Property requirements for voting generally increased.
e.
In some states, any male taxpayer could vote, no matter how much property he owned.
42. Because of associations with the British, the Revolution was especially detrimental to the
status of the
a.
Quakers.
d.
Presbyterians.
b.
Baptists.
e.
Anglicans.
c.
Methodists.
43. The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom was written by
a.
John Adams.
d.
Thomas Paine.
b.
Alexander Hamilton.
e.
Thomas Jefferson.
c.
Patrick Henry.
44. The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom marked the general trend away from
a.
belief in God.
d.
revivalism.
b.
religious diversity.
e.
state-supported churches.
c.
public prayer.
45. Elite Virginians despised Lord Dunmore because of his
a.
harsh treatment of captured rebels.
b.
offer of freedom to slaves who would join the British.
c.
abolition of the slave trade.
d.
belief in true racial equality.
e.
arrogant British manners.
46. Which of the following was the sharpest irony of the American Revolution?
a.
Although fighting a war against one another, the Revolutionaries and Great Britain had almost
identical laws and views on issues such as slavery.
b.
Great Britain offered enslaved blacks more opportunities for freedom than the United States, a
nation built on the ideas of freedom.
c.
The vast majority of African Americans cared far more about the specific side for which they were
fighting than their own personal freedom.
d.
The decision by the British army to arm enslaved blacks did little to deter southerners from joining
its cause, as the issue of slavery had been set aside during the Revolution.
e.
The Patriot army failed to enlist free blacks as soldiers at any point during the war, whereas
Loyalists did from the beginning.
47. During the period of the Revolution, a slave might gain his freedom by
a.
claiming amnesty as a political prisoner.
d.
learning a trade in the South.
b.
appealing to George Washington.
e.
joining the British army.
c.
suing for freedom in local courts.
48. In the era of the Revolution, why were most of the northern states willing and able to take steps to abolish slavery?
a.
Founding fathers, such as Jefferson, had long intended to create a nation free of the brutalities of
slavery.
b.
The North had already elected a number of free blacks to political office and established a
precedent for more diverse roles.
c.
The total lack of free blacks who were allowed to join the American army helped the North to view
free blacks as everyday people.
d.
The North had far fewer slaves than the South and was moved by the American ideals of liberty and
freedom.
e.
The North embraced an abolitionist identity in large part because the South had considered the
North more likely to abolish slavery than Great Britain.
49. Which of the following was true of women during the Revolutionary War?
a.
Married women still were viewed as the property of their husbands, but the war offered many
opportunities to broaden their social roles by supporting the armies in various ways.
b.
Many took over political positions while their husbands were away in battle, since so few men
remained in the towns to carry on day-to-day governance.
c.
All women were forbidden from following the army camps because it was too dangerous and
continued to remain strictly within the sphere of the household.
d.
Many women had access to formal education involving both reading and writing and used this as a
way to offset other forms of discrimination still prevalent in society.
e.
Once married, women were allowed to buy, sell, and manage property and owned any wages that
they earned in jobs that were open to women.
50. Abigail Adams’s appeal to her husband, John, to “remember the Ladies”
a.
resulted in more rights for women in the new American government.
b.
proved her subordinate nature and preference for traditional systems.
c.
helped him realize the need for Native American rights as well.
d.
was basically rejected, including by John.
e.
was supported by Thomas Jefferson and a few other founding fathers.
51. Immediately after the end of the Revolution, the most popular public ritual in the United States became
a.
Washington’s birthday.
b.
the anniversary of Lexington and Concord.
c.
Independence Day.
d.
Christmas.
e.
Thanksgiving.
52. With the end of the war, many Americans viewed the United States as a
a.
nation with a special destiny.
b.
future imperial power.
c.
temporary expedient until it could reunite with Britain.
d.
North American extension of Europe.
e.
leader in science and technological innovation.
ESSAY
1. Describe the problems in America of finance, supplies, and troops during the Revolution.
How did Americans attempt to solve these problems? How successful were they?
2. In what ways were the campaigns in the North different from those in the South?
3. To what extend did the United States owe its success to the participation of the French?
Could the United States have won without French aid?
4. Discuss the social effects of the Revolution. In what areas was the Revolutionary promise
or spirit most fulfilled? In what areas was it least fulfilled?
5. Indian participation in European conflicts in North America was not new at the time of the
American Revolution. Examine the roles of native tribes and discuss what they hoped to
receive from their activity.
6. Describe the basic military strategy (or strategies) of the two sides during the Revolution.
How might the British have been more successful?
7. What kinds of factors did the colonists have to consider when deciding which side of the
Revolution to support?
8. Describe the preparations, strength, and experience of the American and British armies during
the American Revolution.
9. George Washington’s winter at Valley Forge was a special moment in American history.
Examine that winter and discuss the important developments that helped transform the
Continental army.
10. Explain why 1777 has been referred to as the “year of setbacks” for the British.
11. Who were the big winners and losers of the Treaty of Paris of 1783? What did the treaty definitively settle and what
provisions left remaining questions?
12. How did Lord Dunmore’s proclamation affect the course of the war and actions of the colonists?
13. What kind of government did the Articles of Confederation create? Why did the United States
go this route, and how effective was it?
14. How did the American Revolution impact religion in the United States?
15. How did the Revolutionary War affect the concepts of nationalism and exceptionalism in the
United States?
MATCHING
Match each description with the item below.
a.
was the author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
b.
disguised herself as a man to fight in the Patriot army
c.
experienced the obstruction of his escape route at Yorktown, followed by his army’s surrender
d.
was the American commander in the South known as the “fighting Quaker”
e.
was a brutal British leader in the South
f.
was a major American peace negotiator
g.
requested that the laws for the new nation give protections to women
h.
promised American slaves their freedom if they would join the British war effort
i.
fought against Native Americans in Kentucky
j.
revealed Benedict Arnold’s plot and was hanged as a spy
1. Daniel Boone
2. Abigail Adams
3. Benjamin Franklin
4. Lord Dunmore
5. Thomas Jefferson
6. Lord Charles Cornwallis
7. Ann Bailey
8. Nathanael Greene
9. Banastre Tarleton
10. John André