American Revolution Quiz

What sparked the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

• Colonial minutemen attacked British troops to show that they were ready to fight.

• British troops attempted to disarm the minutemen who were storing weapons and ammunition, and also arrest colonial leaders.

• Colonial minutemen sought revenge against British troops for a previous skirmish.

• The British government punished the colonists who took part in the Boston Tea Party.

How did the Second Continental Congress respond to events at Lexington and Concord?

• It immediately declared independence from Britain.

• It established the Continental Army and chose George Washington as its commander.

• It hired German troops called Hessians to fight alongside colonial minutemen.

• It agreed to abide by the Coercive Acts in exchange for the withdrawal of British troops.

How did Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, impact colonial thinking about independence?

• It showed colonists that compromise with Britain was still possible.

• It encouraged the Patriots to take a slow and steady path toward independence.

• It led the Second Continental Congress to draft the Olive Branch petition.

• It showed colonists that support for independence from Britain was logical.

The third section of the Declaration of Independence

• lists the colonists’ complaints against Britain.

• describes the structure of the new American government.

• declares America to be an independent nation.

• explains why colonists wanted their independence.

Which advantage did the Patriots have as the American Revolution began?

• The Continental Army had a strong, courageous military leader.

• The Continental Army was large and well-trained.

• The Continental Army hired thousands of mercenaries to fight alongside them.

• The Continental Army had strong support from all colonists.

One reason that it was difficult for the Continental Congress to put together a national army was that

• few colonists believed the British could be defeated.

• Congress required soldiers to join the army for the duration of the war.

• few colonists owned their own weapons or ammunition.

• the Congress lacked the power to raise money to fund the army.

What best explains the American victory against the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas Eve?

• American troops greatly outnumbered British troops.

• American troops were better trained than British troops.

• American troops surprised British troops.

• American troops cut off supplies to British troops.

How did Spain help the Patriot cause after the Battle of Saratoga?

• Spain fought the British in Florida and other locations, keeping many British troops out of action against the Patriots.

• Spain sent a large flotilla of ships to guard the Atlantic coast of North America, preventing the British from receiving supplies.

• Spain supplied the Patriots with money, equipment, and intelligence information about the movement of British troops.

• Spain formed an alliance with the Patriots, sending up to 30,000 troops to fight alongside the Patriots.

Which of the following convinced France to support the Patriots in the Revolutionary War?

• the Treaty of Paris

• the victory at Saratoga

• the Olive Branch petition

• the Battle of Bunker Hill

During the American Revolution, some white Americans began to oppose slavery because

• African American soldiers were more disciplined and efficient than white soldiers.

• large numbers of European immigrants began to replace enslaved workers on Southern plantations.

• slavery felt incompatible with the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, such as “all men are created equal”.

• few enslaved people supported the ideals put forth by the Patriots.