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American Revolution STAAR Review

Total questions: 71

Worksheet time: 2hrs 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If you were writing a book about Patrick Henry, Paul Revere, Ethan Allen, and Samuel Adams, what would be a good title for your work?

a)

Revolutionary Heroes

b)

Civil War Leaders

c)

Moving West

d)

Early Explorers

2.

Why is 1776 so important in U.S. history?

a)

It was the year that independence from Great Britain was declared.

b)

The United States of America was established in that year.

c)

It was the year the Revolutionary War was won by Americans.

d)

It was the year the Articles of Confederation were written.

3.

What was the goal of British mercantilism policies?

a)

To control colonial trade

b)

To limit tobacco production

c)

To protect individual freedoms

d)

To censor colonial publications

4.

Which of the following was the MAIN reason the British Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763?

a)

The Proclamation of 1763 was designed to protect the colonists and prevent a bloody Indian uprising.

b)

The Proclamation of 1763 was designed to increase British control over the colonists.

c)

The Proclamation of 1763 was a pact between the French and British to control North America.

d)

The Proclamation of 1763 was the beginning of taxation without representation.

5.

Prior to the American Revolution, the British Parliament felt it was appropriate to tax the colonists to help pay the expenses they had run up while fighting a war. What war was it?

a)

French and Indian War

b)

Civil War

c)

War of 1812

d)

Revolutionary War

6.

How did American colonists view the Proclamation of 1763?

a)

They believed it was a British attempt to reinforce control over them.

b)

They saw it as an effective way to reduce tensions with American Indians.

c)

They thought that it would transform the French into military allies.

d)

They assumed that it was done to help save money for the British.

7.

What MAJOR era in United States history is described by including, Patriots v. Tories, Intolerable Acts, Treaty of Paris, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere, Thomas Paine and Samuel Adams?

a)

Revolutionary Period

b)

Exploration, Colonization, and Representative Government

c)

Sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction

d)

Westwards Expansion, Industrialization, and Reform

8.

What was the earliest form of taxation without representation that was enforced by the British Parliament in the colonies?

a)

Sugar Act

b)

Stamp Act

c)

Tea Act

d)

Quartering Act

9.

How did British mercantilist policies contribute to the outbreak of conflict in the American Revolution?

a)

Many American businesses and shipping were frustrated with government trade restrictions.

b)

American colonial leadership did not have representation in Parliament.

c)

Immigrants to the American colonies were angered over significant government restrictions to travel.

d)

Many American Indian tribes considered the British government more trustworthy than colonial governments.

10.

Which of the following is described in the table?

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Tea Act

c)

Stamp Act

d)

Navigation Acts

11.

What was the MAIN purpose of boycotts in colonial America?

a)

to protest taxation without representation

b)

to disrupt trade with foreign nations

c)

to prove the effectiveness of home rule

d)

to decrease the power of English merchants

12.

Which of the following best completes this diagram?

a)

Colonists organized boycotts of British goods.

b)

Colonists sought military support from France.

c)

Colonists signed the Declaration of Independence.

d)

Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

13.

Which of these individuals is described by the information in the list?

a)

Paul Revere

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

Alexander Hamilton

14.

Who is described in the bulleted list?

a)

Benjamin Franklin

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Samuel Adams

15.

Which of the following is the best title for the list?

a)

Foreign Fighters in the Revolutionary War

b)

Explorers of the Mississippi River

c)

Famous Settlers in Pennsylvania

d)

Early American Diplomats

16.

How did French aristocrat the Marquis de Lafayette contribute to the American Revolutionary War?

a)

He commanded troops for the colonists against British forces.

b)

He spied on British troops for the colonists.

c)

He negotiated the Treaty of Paris on behalf of the colonists.

d)

He provided funding from the French government for the colonists.

17.

James Armistead helped to contribute to the American victory at Yorktown by —

a)

passing along information he had discovered while spying

b)

leading an elite regiment of French soldiers at the battle

c)

encouraging soldiers to re-enlist after the winter at Valley Forge

d)

donating significant amounts of money to help fund the Patriots

18.

Many individuals contributed to the revolutionary cause, though the first to give his life to the cause was —

a)

Crispus Attucks

b)

James Armistead

c)

Bernardo de Galvez

d)

Haym Salomon

19.

Thomas Paine contributed to the revolutionary cause by —

a)

writing “Common Sense” to persuade others to join the Patriots

b)

founding a navy to fight in the Revolutionary War

c)

speaking out against the Stamp Act in his “Give Me Liberty” speech

d)

recruiting Patriot fighters in New England known as the Green Mountain Boys

20.

Why would the writings of Mercy Otis Warren be informative to a historian?

a)

She authored one of the earliest accounts of the Revolutionary War.

b)

She published the first novel set in colonial America.

c)

She recorded the proceeding at the Boston Massacre trial.

d)

She contributed to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

21.

What MAJOR era in U.S. history is referred to in the graphic above?

a)

American Revolution

b)

Constitutional Government

c)

Jacksonian Era

d)

Reconstruction

22.

Which of the following completes the I. and II. in the chart above?

a)

I. Mercantile system produces large profits for Europe/ II. Revolutionary

b)

I. United States creates a bicameral legislature/ II. Constitutional

c)

I. Southern states secede to form the Confederacy/ II. Civil War

d)

I. United States suppresses Shays' Rebellion/ II. Constitutional

23.

What did the thirteen colonies in North America do in 1776?

a)

announced their independence from Britain

b)

started their revolution

c)

ratified the federal Constitution

d)

received military support from France

24.

Delegates to the Second Continental Congress voted to organize a national army and appointed as its commander-in-chief —

a)

George Washington

b)

John Adams

c)

John Hancock

d)

Thomas Jefferson

25.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

George Washington

c)

Thomas Paine

d)

John Marshall

26.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga the turning point in the Revolutionary War?

a)

Germany stopped supplying the Continental Army

b)

Americans were defeated by the British.

c)

American Indians sided with the Loyalists.

d)

Americans gained confidence that they could defeat Britain and France began to support and supply the Americans.

27.

What was the result of the Battle of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War?

a)

The conflict ended with the surrender of Cornwallis' troops.

b)

American colonists organized state militias.

c)

George Washington was named as the Commander of the Continental Army.

d)

Delegates to a Constitutional Convention wrote the Declaration of Independence.

28.

Americans had certain advantages and disadvantages during the Revolutionary War. They had a relatively________, but they knew the __________ and land and could mount attacks against the much larger British forces.


Which words complete the paragraph?

a)

untrained militia . . . geography

b)

little patriotism . . . geography

c)

few heroes . . . seas

d)

large military force . . . seas

29.

The first shots of the American Revolution were fired at —

a)

Lexington

b)

Yorktown

c)

Saratoga

d)

Trenton

30.

In the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the United States gained all of the following EXCEPT —

a)

closure of British forts in the western territories

b)

recognition of independence from Britain

c)

fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland

d)

territory as far west as the Mississippi River

31.

The MAJOR factor contributing to the British surrender at Yorktown was the

a)

presence of the French navy

b)

need for British troops elsewhere.

c)

deterioration of British fortifications.

d)

colonial success in taking New York.

32.

To which event was Emerson referring when he wrote the words above?

a)

The Battle of Lexington and Concord

b)

The Boston Massacre

c)

The Boston Tea Party

d)

The Battle of Bunker Hill

33.

Which of these examples of Colonial American writing MOST inspired people to seek freedom?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

City Upon a Hill

c)

Battle Hymn of the Republic

d)

Poor Richard's Almanac

34.

Which of the following completes the graphic organizer above?

a)

Grievances in the Declaration of Independence

b)

Reasons for creating the United States Constitution

c)

Charges against the King in the Magna Carta

d)

Purposes for writing the Mayflower Compact

35.

Which excerpt from the Declaration of Independence best explains why colonists were unhappy about their lack of representation in the British parliament?

a)

“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.”

b)

“He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people.”

c)

“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”

d)

“For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.”

36.

Which of the following Constitutional provisions addressed a complaint expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

trial by jury

b)

right to bear arms

c)

assistance of counsel

d)

right to practice religion

37.

The ends to be met are to better "secure their peace and quiet" and to see that the "lives, liberties, and fortunes" of all citizens, under stated rules (law), might be better protected.


— Summary of Locke's opinion of government


John Locke believed that the role of government was to —

a)

preserve the natural rights of the people

b)

spread the state religion

c)

control the state economy

d)

maintain the ruler's absolute power

38.

Thomas Jefferson borrowed the idea of unalienable rights from which of the following?

a)

John Locke

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

George Washington

d)

Samuel Adams

39.

Which of these terms completes the above graphic?

a)

Unalienable Rights

b)

Political Parties

c)

Federal Judiciary

d)

Separation of Powers

40.

The Declaration of Independence names each of the following as unalienable rights EXCEPT the right to —

a)

life

b)

liberty

c)

a fair trial

d)

the pursuit of happiness

41.

"That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

—Declaration of Independence, 1776


Who wrote the above words?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Mercy Otis Warren

c)

Patrick Henry

d)

John Adams

42.

In 1770, the lawyer and future president John Adams defended British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre.


How did this action serve as a model of civic virtue?

a)

He devoted his life to public service.

b)

He worked to reform the justice system.

c)

He fought against oppressive government power.

d)

He demanded representation from a republican government.

43.

John Hancock was one of the Founding Fathers committed to liberty. How did he demonstrate this commitment?

a)

By signing the Declaration of Independence

b)

By writing the Articles of Confederation

c)

By serving as commander in chief of the Continental army

d)

By organizing Committees of Correspondence

44.

Many of the protests and demonstrations that followed the Stamp Act and Intolerable Acts were examples of which of the following?

a)

Civil disobedience

b)

Boycott

c)

Natural rights

d)

Unalienable rights

45.

The ______________ was the final attempt by the Continental Congress to avoid war with Great Britain.

a)

Olive Branch Petition

b)

Intolerable Acts

c)

Boycotting of goods

d)

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

46.

What is the official name of the army George Washington commanded during the Revolutionary War?

a)

Continental Army

b)

Patriot Army

c)

The Minutemen

d)

American Army

47.

Which best describes Thomas Paine's Common Sense?

a)

Persuaded the colonists that America should be independent

b)

Instilled fear of the war in the cities

c)

Petitioned King George to end the quarrel between the colonies and Great Britain

d)

Convinced colonies to remain loyal to Britain

48.

What does it mean when the government receives its powers from "the consent of the governed"?

a)

citizens give governments permission to govern them

b)

citizens must list their grievances with the King

c)

government has absolutely no power

d)

politicians give citizens permission vote

49.
 The Stamp Act was a tax on ________________________.
a)
Tea
b)
Documents
c)
Sugar
d)
Imported Goods
50.

Which statement best explains why this resolution was adopted?

a)

Colonists were opposed to colonial laws being created only by Parliament.

b)

Colonists were upset by the punishment imposed after the Boston Tea Party.

c)

Colonists created this in order to address the causes of the Boston Massacre.

d)

Colonists wanted to expand powers given to governors appointed by King George III.

51.

The excerpt above reflects the dissatisfaction of American colonists with the —

a)

economic policies imposed by Great Britain following the French and Indian War

b)

political debates that took place at the Albany Convention

c)

interference of Great Britain in the slave trade

d)

economic consequences of the Great Awakening

52.

-became governor of the province of Louisiana after he protected American ships in the port of New Orleans and helped transport war supplies; also took up arms and fought to protect Louisiana

a)

Bernardo de Galvez

b)

Marquis de Lafayette

c)

Wentowrth Cheswell

d)

Andrew Jackson

53.

He was an African American patriot; like Paul Revere he made an all-night ride back from Boston to warn his community of the British invasion; served in the army and fought at the Battle of Saratoga?

a)

Wentworth Cheswell

b)

James Armistead

c)

William Carney

d)

George Mason

54.

British colonists objected to the Proclamation of 1763 because they?

a)

feared it would provoke attacks from American Indians.

b)

did not want to share control of the fur trade with France.

c)

resented the limits it imposed on westward expansion.

d)

wanted to be able to trade freely with foreign nations.

55.

What was one result of the Treaty of Paris of 1783?

a)

Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent country.

b)

Competing Seminole and Spanish claims in West Florida were resolved.

c)

The British navy agreed to stop pressing American sailors into service.

d)

British territory in eastern Canada was ceded to France.

56.

Which of the following best completes this excerpt below?

a)

Saratoga

b)

Concord

c)

Trenton

d)

Yorktown

57.

To which of the following is Abigail Adams referring in this excerpt below?

a)

The American victory at the Battle of Yorktown.

b)

The negotiation of the Treaty of Paris by American diplomats.

c)

The bravery of American soldiers at Valley Forge.

d)

The arrival of French aid after the Battle of Saratoga.

58.

In this excerpt below, the authors of the Virginia Declaration of Rights are describing rights they consider?

a)

granted to citizens by their government.

b)

natural and possessed at birth.

c)

protected under religious doctrine.

d)

defined by the courts.

59.

In 1787, Congress awarded John Paul Jones the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his “valor and brilliant services” during the Revolutionary War. Which accomplishment was Congress recognizing?

a)

Leading the evacuation of Washington, D.C., during the British invasion.

b)

Preparing the strategy for the American victory at Yorktown.

c)

Persuading France to provide military assistance to the Continental army.

d)

Commanding a victory at sea against the British navy.

60.

How did mercantilism policies create tension Great Britain and the American colonies?

a)

By introducing indentures servitude to the middle colonies.

b)

Br requiring colonists to enlist in the military.

c)

By limiting the amount of farmland each colonist could have.

d)

By preventing colonists from trading with most other foreign countries.

61.

Why is the Battle of Saratoga considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War?

a)

The British victory extended the fighting for another year.

b)

The American defeat led many soldiers to desert the Continental Army.

c)

The British defeat marked the beginning of a steady decline in British military superiority.

d)

The American victory convinced France to ally with the United States.

62.

The Stamp Act (1765) placed a tax on every newspaper, book, and legal document in the British colonies. Which description of the Stamp Act is written from the point of view of a member of the British Parliament?

a)

Britain has the right to tax the colonists to repay debts made in their defense

b)

The Stamp Act is unfair since it was enacted without the consent of the colonists

c)

The Stamp Act is likely to provoke a war between Britain and its colonies

d)

The colonists should not be forced to pay a tax that they strongly oppose

63.

British colonists objected to the Proclamation of 1763 because they-

a)

resented the limits it imposed on westward expansion

b)

feared it would provoke attacks from American Indians

c)

did not want to share control of the fur trade with France

d)

wanted to be able to trade freely with foreign nations

64.

Which event led to the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

a)

The arrest of colonial protestors

b)

The meeting of the Second Continental Congress

c)

The creation of the Declaration of Independence

d)

The appointment of George Washington as a commander in chief

65.

According to the Declaration of Independence, the American colonists had the right to break away from England because the British government had-

a)

violated the natural rights of the colonists

b)

limited religious freedom in the colonies

c)

established the policy of mercantilism

d)

imposed taxes unequally among the colonies

66.

The first gunshot fired at the battle between British troops and colonial Minute Men at Lexington is often referred to as the "shot heard 'round the world" because it-

a)

marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War

b)

caused the first death in the Revolutionary War

c)

encouraged other colonists to enter the battle

d)

drew the support of British citizens

67.

Compared to the British army during the Revolutionary War, the colonial militia lacked-

a)

proper military training

b)

an effective leader

c)

a meaningful cause

d)

support from their country

68.

Washington and his troops suffered while spending the winter at Valley Forge (1777-1778) due to the-

a)

lack of adequate food and clothing

b)

desertion of many American troops

c)

constant attacks by the British army

d)

presence of British and Hessian spies

69.

As the Revolutionary War approached, the Daughters of Liberty held open-air spinning bees to spin wool into yarn. The wool was then woven into homespun cloth. The primary goal of the spinning bees was to support-

a)

the boycott of English goods

b)

a tax on textiles

c)

women's labor rights

d)

the right of political assembly

70.

In what way did Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson best promote the principle of civic virtue?

a)

They made decisions that worked for the common good rather than individual gain

b)

They served in government positions until the country's safety was ensured

c)

They built a government that favored citizens living in the most populated regions of the country

d)

They focused on creating a strong government that could keep a large population under control

71.

One of the earliest acts of civil disobedience in America was the Boston Tea Party (1773). What was the primary purpose of the Boston Tea Party?

a)

To protest a law disliked by colonists

b)

To overthrow the King of England

c)

To end British control of the colonies

d)

To encourage uprisings in other colonies