Answer Key Chapter America's War for Independence, 1775-1783

Answer Key Chapter: America's War for Independence, 1775-1783 1. How did British General Thomas Gage attempt to deal with the uprising in Massachusetts in 1774? a. He offered the rebels land on the Maine frontier in return for loyalty to England. b. He allowed for town meetings in an attempt to appease the rebels. c. He attempted to seize arms and munitions from the colonial insurgents. d. He ordered his troops to burn Boston to the ground to show the determination of Britain. 2. Which of the following was not a result of Dunmore’s Proclamation? a. Enslaved people joined Dunmore to fight for the British. b. A majority of enslaved people in the colonies won their freedom. c. Patriot forces increased their commitment to independence. d. Both slaveholding and non-slaveholding White people feared a rebellion. 3. Which of the following is not true of a republic? a. A republic has no hereditary ruling class. b. A republic relies on the principle of popular sovereignty. c. Representatives chosen by the people lead the republic. d. A republic is governed by a monarch and the royal officials he or she appoints. 4. What are the main arguments that Thomas Paine makes in his pamphlet Common Sense? Why was this pamphlet so popular? 5. Which city served as the base for British operations for most of the war? a. Boston b. New York c. Philadelphia d. Saratoga 6. What battle turned the tide of war in favor of the Americans? a. the Battle of Saratoga b. the Battle of Brandywine Creek c. the Battle of White Plains d. the Battle of Valley Forge 7. Which term describes German soldiers hired by Great Britain to put down the American rebellion? a. Patriots b. Royalists c. Hessians d. Loyalists 8. Describe the British strategy in the early years of the war and explain whether or not it succeeded. 9. How did George Washington’s military tactics help him to achieve success? 10. Which American general is responsible for improving the American military position in the South? a. John Burgoyne b. Nathanael Greene c. Wilhelm Frederick von Steuben d. Charles Cornwallis 11. Describe the British southern strategy and its results. 12. Which of the following statements best represents the division between Patriots and Loyalists? a. Most American colonists were Patriots, with only a few traditionalists remaining loyal to the King and Empire. b. Most American colonists were Loyalists, with only a few firebrand revolutionaries leading the charge for independence. c. American colonists were divided among those who wanted independence, those who wanted to remain part of the British Empire, and those who were neutral. d. The vast majority of American colonists were neutral and didn’t take a side between Loyalists and Patriots. 13. Which of the following is not one of the tasks women performed during the Revolution? a. holding government offices b. maintaining their homesteads c. feeding, quartering, and nursing soldiers d. raising funds for the war effort Critical Thinking Questions 14. How did the colonists manage to triumph in their battle for independence despite Great Britain’s military might? If any of these factors had been different, how might it have affected the outcome of the war? 15. How did the condition of certain groups, such as women, Black people, and Native people, reveal a contradiction in the Declaration of Independence? 16. What was the effect and importance of Great Britain’s promise of freedom to enslaved people who joined the British side? 17. How did the Revolutionary War provide both new opportunities and new challenges for enslaved and free Black people in America? 18. Describe the ideology of republicanism. As a political philosophy, how did republicanism compare to the system that prevailed in Great Britain? 19. Describe the backgrounds and philosophies of Patriots and Loyalists. Why did colonists with such diverse individual interests unite in support of their respective causes? What might different groups of Patriots and Loyalists, depending upon their circumstances, have hoped to achieve by winning the war? Answer Key 1. c. He attempted to seize arms and munitions from the colonial insurgents. 2. b. A majority of enslaved people in the colonies won their freedom. 3. d. A republic is governed by a monarch and the royal officials he or she appoints. 4. Thomas Paine argues in "Common Sense" that it is common sense for the American colonies to seek independence from British rule. He criticizes the idea of monarchy, advocates for democratic governance, and argues for the inherent rights of individuals. The pamphlet was popular because it presented clear and persuasive arguments in simple language, appealing to a wide audience and galvanizing support for independence. 5. b. New York 6. a. the Battle of Saratoga 7. c. Hessians 8. The British strategy in the early years of the war focused on capturing key cities and defeating the Continental Army. While they succeeded in capturing some cities, such as New York and Philadelphia, they faced challenges in controlling the countryside and faced logistical difficulties. Ultimately, this strategy did not lead to a decisive victory for the British. 9. George Washington's military tactics emphasized flexibility, resilience, and the avoidance of decisive battles. He utilized guerrilla warfare tactics, strategic retreats, and surprise attacks to wear down British forces and maintain the morale of his troops. 10. b. Nathanael Greene 11. The British southern strategy aimed to enlist Loyalist support, secure the southern colonies, and isolate the northern colonies. While initially successful in capturing territory, this strategy ultimately backfired as it led to increased resistance, weakened British control over the countryside, and overstretched British supply lines. 12. c. American colonists were divided among those who wanted independence, those who wanted to remain part of the British Empire, and those who were neutral. 13. a. holding government offices 14. The colonists triumphed in their battle for independence despite Great Britain's military might due to factors such as strong leadership, guerrilla warfare tactics, foreign support (especially from France), British strategic errors, and the resilience and determination of the American people. If any of these factors had been different, such as lack of foreign support or weaker leadership, it might have affected the outcome of the war. 15. The condition of certain groups during the Revolution, such as women, Black people, and Native people, revealed a contradiction in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed equality and liberty for all while excluding these groups from full participation in American society. 16. Great Britain's promise of freedom to enslaved people who joined the British side had a significant effect by encouraging enslaved individuals to escape bondage and join the British forces, weakening the colonial economy and morale. It also highlighted the hypocrisy of the American Revolution's rhetoric of liberty and independence while perpetuating slavery. 17. The Revolutionary War provided both new opportunities and challenges for enslaved and free Black people in America. While some gained freedom by serving in the Continental Army or escaping to British lines, others faced continued oppression and discrimination. The war also raised questions about the contradiction between fighting for liberty while denying freedom to enslaved individuals. 18. Republicanism was an ideology that emphasized the importance of civic virtue, popular sovereignty, and the common good. As a political philosophy, republicanism contrasted with the monarchical system prevailing in Great Britain, advocating for representative government and the participation of citizens in the political process. 19. Patriots were colonists who supported independence from Great Britain, often motivated by ideals of liberty, self-governance, and resistance to perceived tyranny. Loyalists, on the other hand, were colonists who remained loyal to the British crown, often out of loyalty to the empire, fear of instability, or economic interests. Despite their diverse backgrounds and interests, different groups of Patriots and Loyalists hoped to achieve various outcomes by winning the war, including securing political autonomy, protecting economic interests, or maintaining social order.