Cause of the American Revolution & American Revolution Unit test study guide

Song played by the British after they suffered defeat and surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown.

"The World Turned Upside Down"

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 stipulated?

1) British recognition of American independence. 2) establishment of the boundaries of the new United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River between the Great Lakes and Spanish Florida. 3) that Americans allow British collection of prewar debts from colonists.

What year did the American Revolution end?

1783

What advantages and disadvantages did the colonists have in fighting the Revolutionary War?

Advantages: Washington proved to be a very talented commander "defending one's homeland" is a powerful motivator. They didn't have to conquer Britain in order to win. They just needed to resist and hold off long enough to make Britain give up. Powerful allies eventually joined the war effort on the American side, non-traditional tactics. Disadvantages: small, untrained military force, poorly equipped forces

What advantages and disadvantages did the British have in fighting the Revolutionary War?

Advantages: world's largest militaryworld's largest naval force. Disadvantages: long supply lines / fighting a long way from homeachieving victory meant subduing all the colonies (The colonies didn't have to conquer Britain in order to win. All they had to do was wage war / resist until the British gave up and went home.)

Who won the Battle of Concord?

America

What is another name for the American Revolution?

American War of Independence

May, 1780 -- King's Mountain, South Carolina. What happened?

American victory begins to turn the tide of Britain's "southern strategy."

How did the French aid the American patriots during the Revolutionary War?

At the Battle of Yorktown, the US army, partly supplied by the French, was joined by French regiments, while a French fleet held the British fleet away from Yorktown so that the British army could be defeated.

Which battle marked the turning point of the War in the American's favor?

Battle at Saratoga

The American victory in this battle is often called the turning point of the Revolutionary War in the South.

Battle of Kings Mountain. The American patriot forces defeated a substantial force of Loyalists (Americans who remained loyal to the British king) at Kings Mountain in North Carolina. This greatly contributed to turning the tide of the war which was mostly fought in the South after 1778.

What was the first battle of the American Revolution?

Battle of Lexington and Concord

America's "First Traitor".

Benedict Arnold

Which American general turned traitor and joined the British?

Benedict Arnold

Who won the battle of Bunker Hill?

Britain

Summarize the last battle of the Revolutionary War.

British General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown. Cornwallis' forces were trapped against the sea, with Washinton's Continental Army pushing them back, and Cornwallis unable to escape by sea because the French fleet was in the harbor, blocking British ships from approaching.

What happened in 1777 at Saratoga (located in upstate New York) and why did it have far-reaching consequences?

British General John Burgoyne reached Saratoga with 5,000 troops, but found himself surrounded by American forces. Burgoyne surrendered. This American victory caused the French to join the war effort against the British. Up until Saratoga, the French had maintained a "wait and see" policy -- they did not want to join the American war effort unless they believed the U.S. was capable of winning.

What was the Quartering Act of 1765?

British troops were sent to America to protect the colonist after the French and Indian War, to pay for this deployment the colonist were required to provide shelter, food, and supplies for local troops.

Which British general surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively dashing British hopes for winning the war?

Charles Cornwallis The British surrendered at Yorktown on 19 October 1781. Although fighting continued for more than a year, the surrender effectively ended British hopes for a victory.

This system was used by the colonists to send messages to each other?

Committees of Correspondence

Sugar Act 1764

Duty (tax) placed on sugar from the West Indies to raise revenue for Britain. Colonial protests lead to lower duties (taxes).

Fact or Myth. Benedict Arnold was a traitor.

Fact. Benedict Arnold was a military commander in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, but he later switched his allegiance to Great Britain. Arnold planned to surrender West Point to the British army, but his plot was uncovered before he could execute it and he fled to England to avoid execution.

Fact or Myth. German soldiers participated during the Revolution.

Fact. German mercenaries, or Hessians, were recruited by the British army to fight the patriots during the Revolutionary War.

Fact or Myth. A majority of the African-Americans who fought during the Revolution fought for the British.

Fact. The British army recruited slaves belonging to patriots by promising them freedom. As a result, more blacks supported the British.

True or False. After independence, the United States quickly and easily persuaded Great Britain to abide by the terms of the treaty of 1783.

False

True or False. As a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, the new American nation's westward boundary was the Blue Ridge Mountains.

False

True or False. During the period under consideration in this chapter, Congress did nothing to limit the expansion of slavery.

False

True or False. Native Americans were pleased with the outcome of the Revolution because it reduced the desire of colonists for western land.

False

True or False. The British lacked the resources to conduct a war on the American continent.

False

True or False. The rebelling colonies had access to sufficient local resources to fight a successful revolution.

False

True or False. The surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga had no effect on the Iroquois Confederacy, since most of the Indians supported the American cause.

False

True or False. The system for surveying and selling western lands set up under the Ordinance of 1785 favored small farmers.

False

True or False. There is no actual proof that Benedict Arnold committed treason.

False

True or False. When the fighting began, most Americans wanted the colonies to be independent from Great Britain.

False

True or False~The Americans had a lot of supplies

False

America received foreign aid from this country.

France

Which country helped America win the American Revolution?

France

What was the first foreign nation to officially recognize the United States as a separate and independent nation?

France, in 1778 -- after the Battle of Saratoga

Who was known as the "Swamp Fox"?

Francis Marion Marion led guerilla raids against British troops, primarily in South Carolina. He would then withdraw into swamp country, which was unfamiliar territory to the British.

What of the following contributed most to the American victory in the Revolution?

French military and financial assistance.

What does the phrase "crossing the Delaware" refer to?

General Washinton's Christmas Eve attack in 1776. He crossed the Delaware River, accompanied by about 2,400 troops and attacked enemy positions in New Jersey.

Who was the British King during the war?

George III

Who was the colonial general that became president after the American Revolution?

George Washington

Who did the Second Continental Congress appoint to be the commander in chief of the Continental Army?

George Washington, who would later become the first president of the United States

What were Hessians?

German soldiers hired by the British

New style of warfare used by the colonists; sneaky hit and run attacks.

Guerrilla

British General Sir William Howe achieved what key victories in the north early during the war? He placed New York City under British control.He then moved to attack Philadelphia, which was the capital of the United States at that time. He

Howe placed New York City under British control. He then moved to attack Philadelphia, which was the capital of the United States at that time. He captured Philadelphia but missed his goal of taking the Second Continental Congress captive. The congressmen fled the city before it fell to the British.

Which part (cause) of the American Revolution closed the Boston Harbor?

Intolerable Acts/ Coercive Acts

Which battles of the Revolutionary War were fought even before independence was declared, and what was the outcome?

Lexington and Concord, 1775 The British were forced to retreat from Concord. On the way, they lost 300 soldiers and only killed 100 Americans.

Where was the first battle of the American Revolution?

Lexington, Massachusetts On 19 April 1775, the "shot heard around the world" was fired by Massachusetts militiamen at Lexington.

Where were the first shots of the American Revolutionary War fired?

Lexington, Massachusetts. British troops, sent to seize military supplies gathered near Boston by anti-British Americans, were confronted at Lexington by Americans. It is not known who fired the first shot but fighting broke out and several Americans were killed. The fighting continued at various places along the British line of march resulting in many casualties for the British and Americans.

Where was "the shot heard 'round the world" fired?

Lexington, Massachusetts. The shot heard 'round the world was fired in Lexington, Massachusetts. To this day, no one knows whether the British or the Patriots fired that first shot. Click here to learn more about the Revolution at Lexington and Concord.

What are the inalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Townshend Acts 1767

Light taxation on glass, lead, paper, and tea. Colonial response: smuggling, resisting British troops resulting in the Boston Massacre, and refusing to import goods.

Who was the French military officer who served with General Washington?

Marquis de Lafayette

Besides the Continental Army, what American troops fought in the Revolutionary War?

Members of state militias. The militias were local armies, and each state maintained one. Some towns also raised militias. In Concord, members of the town militia were called "minutemen" because they were supposed to be ready to fight at a moment's notice.

A spy for the Americans, and former teacher. Executed after being found sneaking British troop movements out of camp in the soles of his shoes.

Nathan Hale

Whose last words were "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country"?

Nathan Hale Hale was caught spying on British troops. He was executed on 22 September 1776.

The French and Indian War starts this Revolution... what is the cause of it?

Native Americans are frustrated with British settlers taking their land.

Peace negotiations were held in __________ at the end of the war.

Paris

After that War, thee British passed a law called the ____________, forbidding colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Proclamation of 1763

Quartering Act 1765

Required certain colonies to provide food and housing for British soldiers. Colonial Assemblies refused to comply with the act.

Stamp Act 1765

Required the use of stamped paper articles showing that the tax had been paid. Protested taxation by Parliament without colonial representation. Stamp Act repealed.

This is where a series of battles became a turning point for the Revolutionary War.

Saratoga

Which battle was the first major American victory of the war?

Saratoga, New York The Battle of Saratoga was fought on 7 October 1777. As a result of this victory, France recognized America's independence.

In which state was the last battle between American and British forces fought?

South Carolina The battle was fought on 27 August 1782 along the Combahee River. The skirmish occurred ten months after the British surrendered at Yorktown.

France assisted the United States war effort secretly at first, and after Saratoga, openly. What other European nation helped the U.S. achieve independence?

Spain

The first tax passed by the British:

Sugar and Molasses Act

The Colonists' biggest problem with these British taxes was:

Taxation without representation.

December, 1778 -- Savannah, Georgia. What happened?

The British captured the city and also took control of the rural lands around it -- the backcountry.

The most famous Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War was

The Marquis de Lafayette. To this day, many towns in the eastern U.S. are named Lafayette or Fayetteville in his honor. Lafayette served with Washington and held the rank of major general.

The last battle of the war, Yorktown, was fought in 1781. When was the peace treaty formally ending the war finalized?

The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. This treaty officially ended the war.

The Revolutionary War was also a naval war. The British had the world's largest navy. What did the Americans have?

The United States did not have anything approaching a true naval force. To fight at sea anyway, Congress issued "letters of marque and reprisal." These are licenses that create privateers. A privateer is the same as a pirate, but operating with government approval. Privateers harrassed British shipping, attacked merchant ships, and fought battles with British ships.

The British officially recognized the U.S. in the Treaty of Paris, which also established new borders for the country. Describe these borders.

The United States now stretched as far as the Mississippi River. This effectively doubled the land area available for settlement.

Who was involved in the American Revolution?

The war was between the 13 British colonies (in North America) with Great Britain.

After Saratoga, the British dramatically changed their war strategy. How did they change it, and why?

They began attacking the South instead of the North.They expected that more Loyalists (people remaining loyal to Britain) lived in the South.

Why did the Native American join the war?

They wanted land back

Why did the slaves join the British?

They were promised freedom

After that War, the British were left with this problem:

They're broke from years and years of fighting

Which general led the British forces that sparked Paul Revere's midnight ride?

Thomas Gage. Paul Revere warned the provincial Congress about the approach of British troops led by Thomas Gage. The British forces met the minutemen, and the American Revolution began.

Who wrote Common Sense?

Thomas Paine

Two different treaties that ended the French and Indian, Revolutionary Wars, but shared the same name!

Treaty of Paris

True or False. At least one-fifth, and maybe as many as one-third, of the American colonists were loyal to Britain during the Revolution.

True

True or False. At the outset of the war, American leaders hoped that Canada would become the fourteenth state.

True

True or False. In the newly created states, the privileges that churches enjoyed in the colonial era were largely stripped away.

True

True or False. The Northwest Ordinance laid out the requirements for western territories to become states.

True

True or False. The first state constitutions written during the American Revolution generally reduced the power of the executive.

True

True or False. German mercenaries fighting for the British were called Hessians.

True The Prince of Hesse, a region of Germany, was paid for supplying troops to the British. More than 20000 Hessians fought for the British during the war.

True or False. The final battle of the war was fought in November of 1782.

True. The battle was fought on 10 November 1782 by American forces against Loyalist and Indian forces. It was a raid on a Shawnee Indian village in the Ohio Territory, 13 months after the British surrender at Yorktown.

True or False. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting actually occurred on Breed's Hill.

True. The battle was fought on 17 June 1775. The saying "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was spoken at this battle.

Where did Washington and the Continental Army camp for the winter of 1776-1777?

Valley Forge

Which fort did the traitor Benedict Arnold intend to turn over to the British?

West Point, New York Arnold's plan to turn West Point over to the British was discovered in time. He managed to escape, and led British forces for the remainder of the war. West Point is now the United States Military Academy.

What are Patriots otherwise known as?

Whigs

May, 1780 -- Charleston, South Carolina. What happened?

Worst American defeat of the entire war. British General Charles Cornwallis forces more than 5,000 American troops to surrender.

What was the last major military action of the American Revolution?

Yorktown

Where did the last battle of the American Revolution take place?

Yorktown

What American victory convinced the British to accept the independence of their former colonies?

at Yorktown. The complete loss of a British army, led by General Cornwallis, at Yorktown after seven years of warfare led the British to believe that putting down the revolt of their former colonies would be too costly to be worthwhile if indeed it could be done at all.

Why is July 4th, 1776 considered the birthday of the United States?

because the signing of the Declaration of Independence began on that day. Not all representatives to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776 but the first signatures were put on the document on that date. It is generally agreed that on that day the thirteen colonies became the United States.

John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga

convinced the French that they should help the Americans.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense is an important work because it

persuaded Americans that no reconciliation with Britain was possible.