Revolutionary War Questions

What is a "committee of correspondence", and what did it do?

A group of protestors who were opposed to British rule and met together to spread ideas for action against the British.

How many Americans remained loyal to Britain throughout the Revolutionary War?

Between 1/3 and 1/5 of the American population

What was the result of the colonists boycotting British goods?

British merchants lost a large amount of money when the colonists quit buying their goods. Parliament agreed to the demands of British merchants and repealed the Stamp Act. Parliament passed the Declaratory Act, saying they could tax the colonists and make decisions for them.

What was the result of the Boston Massacre?

Colonists called for stronger boycotts of British goods but then resumed trading when Britain lifted all taxes except on tea.

How did the colonists use the Boston Massacre to their advantage?

Colonists used the

What was the Patriots' greatest advantage in the American Revolution, and why?

George Washington as their leader because of his great courage and determination

How did smuggling affect Great Britain?

Smuggling caused revenue to drop in Britain

Why did some colonists support Britain in the Revolutionary War?

Some colonists depended on Britain for their jobs. Some colonists were afraid the Revolution would throw America into chaos. Some colonists didn't think colonial complaints were worth fighting over.

Why did some colonists stay loyal to Britain instead of joining in the fight for independence?

Some colonists were royal officers who felt responsible to uphold British rule in the colonies. Some colonists hadn't suffered from British policies, so they didn't see a reason to break their relationship with Britain. Some colonists believed that Britain would win the war, and they didn't want to be on the losing side when the war was over.

How did Americans who were fighting for their independence treat those who remained loyal to the British?

Some of them fought on the side of the British and spied on the Patriots They were often rejected and shunned by their neighbors. Some of them were victims of violence and were even arrested and sometimes executed if they actively helped the British.

Why did the Americans seem to be a weak military opponent for the British?

The Americans didn't have a regular army or a strong navy. The American soldiers didn't have any military experience or weapons for fighting a war. All of the American soldiers were volunteer militia groups who fought for short periods of time and then went home.

What made the British seem to have the biggest advantage at the beginning of the war?

The British had a well-trained army and the strongest navy in the world. The British military had the financial support of the wealth of the whole British empire. The British population was much larger than the American population.

What kind of help did America receive in their fight for independence?

The French sent soldiers and ships Spain helped by attacking the British Men like Lafayette and Baron von Steuben came to help.

What advantages did the Patriots have over the British?

The Patriots were fighting on their own ground, so they knew it better than the British did. The Patriots had a greater motivation and sense of purpose. The Patriots fought for freedom for their own land, while the German soldiers hired by the British fought for money.

Why was it hard for Congress to raise an army?

The key part of the Patriot army was would be made up of militia, and these troops were limited. Many members of the militia were farmers who didn't want to be away from their fields. Many men believed

What happened when Congress and the states continued to print more paper money when there wasn't enough gold and silver to support it?

The money quickly lost its value because there were more bills than gold and silver. The country experienced inflation because it took more money to buy the same amount of goods. People stopped using paper money because they didn't think it was worth anything, and so Congress stopped printing it.

When it came to fighting battles in the war against

They fought on their own land that they knew very well. They knew where to plan ambushes and were experts at fighting in the wilderness. Their soldiers and supplies were near where they were fighting, but the British had to bring soldiers and supplies across the ocean.

Why were some Americans against having a stronger national government?

They placed great value on their liberty and personal freedom, and they didn't want to give power to their government.

What was

They planned to crush the colonists by force.

Why were some Americans in favor of a stronger national government?

They wanted a strong national government to bind the colonies together, and they thought it was necessary in order to win the war.

Colonists who took the side of the British in !merica's fight for independence were called __.

Loyalists

What complaints did the colonists have about how the British dealt with the issue of smuggling?

Parliament allowed customs officers to search anywhere for smuggled goods without having to get permission.

Colonists who joined the fight for independence from Britain were called __.

Patriots