Key Events of the American Revolution

What was the primary purpose of the 2nd Continental Congress when it first convened in 1775?

• To draft the U.S. Constitution

• To manage the colonial war effort and move towards independence

• To negotiate trade agreements with European nations

• To establish a national banking system

Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?

• John Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Which pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, argued for American independence from Britain?

• The Federalist Papers

• Common Sense

• The Rights of Man

• Poor Richard's Almanack

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

• A peace offering to Native American tribes

• A final attempt by the colonists to avoid war with Britain

• A proposal for a new colonial government

• A plan to divide the colonies into separate nations

Which group of colonists supported independence from Britain?

• Loyalists

• Patriots

• Tories

• Redcoats

Which group of colonists remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution?

• Patriots

• Loyalists

• Minutemen

• Sons of Liberty

In what year was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

• 1774

• 1775

• 1776

• 1777

Which of the following was NOT a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence?

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton

• Benjamin Franklin

What was the main argument presented in Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"?

• The colonies should seek reconciliation with Britain

• The colonies should declare independence from Britain

• The colonies should form a monarchy

• The colonies should remain neutral in European conflicts

Which document formally declared the American colonies' independence from Britain?

• The Articles of Confederation

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights