The American Revolution and Confederation, 1774-1787, Chapter 5 AMSCO

"The authors and promoters of this desperate conspiracy have ... meant only to amuse, by vague expressions of attachment to the parent state, and the strongest protestations of loyalty to me, whilst they were preparing for a general revolt. ... The resolutions of Parliament breathed a spirit of moderation and forbearance; conciliatory propositions accompanied the measures taken to enforce authority .... I have acted with the same temper, anxious to prevent, if it had been possible ... the calamities which are inseparable from a state of war; still hoping that my people in America would have discerned the traitorous views of their leaders, and have been convinced, that to be a subject of Great Britain, with all its consequences, is to be the freest member of any civil society in the known world." -King George III, Speech to Parliament, October 27, 1775

King George's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition demonstrates that he believed that most colonists

• Were personally loyal to him.

• Blamed Parliament for their problems.

• Had always planned to revolt.

• Failed to understand his policies.

Which of the following documents most forcefully disagreed with the views King George expressed in this excerpt?

• Galloway's plan for a union of colonies.

• Declaration and Resolves.

• Olive Branch Petition.

• Common Sense by Thomas Paine.

Which of the following groups or individuals would have been most likely to agree with King George?

• Continentals

• Loyalists

• John Dickenson

• Thomas Paine

"A Declaration of Rights made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia ...

Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights ....

Section 2. That all power is vested in and consequently derived from, the people ....

Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate ... privileges from the community ....

Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary .... Section 6. That elections of members ... as representatives of the people, in assembly, ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with and attachment to the community, have the right of suffrage ....

Section 12. That freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty ....

Section 16. All men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion." -Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776

In the context of the various disputes between the colonists and Britain, which of the following would be the most important right cited?

• Section 1: all people are by nature free.

• Section 2: all power comes from the people.

• Section 4: no person has special privileges.

• Section 16: people should be able to worship freely.

Which of the rights in the excerpt is expressed in a way that would today be considered a limitation of individual rights?

• Section 5: separation of government powers.

• Section 2: origins of governmental power.

• Section 6: right to vote.

• Section 12: freedom of the press.

The group most likely to oppose the ideas expressed in this excerpt would have been

• Minutemen of Lexington.

• Advocates of a unicameral legislature.

• Tories such as William Franklin.

• Supporters of Shays's Rebellion.

"I have not the least doubt that the Negroes will make very excellent soldiers, with proper management. ... "I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught to entertain for the black makes us fancy many things that are founded neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with property of so valuable a kind will furnish a thousand arguments to show the impracticability or pernicious tendency of a scheme which requires such a sacrifice. But it should be considered that if we do not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will .... An essential part of the plan is to give them their freedom with their muskets." -Alexander Hamilton, "A Proposal to Arm and Then Free the Negroes," 1779

For some the Revolutionary War was also a civil war because of the role played in the war by the

• American Indians

• African Americans

• Quakers

• Tories

Which of the following was the primary reason for Hamilton's call for African American soldiers?

• The New York militia was short of troops.

• The British were recruiting African Americans.

• The Declaration of Independence called for equal rights.

• General Washington trusted that blacks would make good soldiers.