Study Guide for American Revolution (Part 2) –
TEST ON TENTATIVELY ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
The test is made up mostly of multiple choice questions, fill in the blank questions,
and a few short answer questions.
1. Vocabulary: a. delegates: people selected to represent others
b. petition: a formal written request signed by several people
2. Patrick Henry (1775) famous words “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
3. General Thomas Gage
A. learned about the hidden supplies in Concord
B. heard that two Sons of Liberty, John Hancock and Sam Adams, were hiding in Lexington
C. he thought he would kill two birds with one stone, meaning troops would capture Adams and
Hancock in Lexington and then move on to seize supplies in Concord
4. Sons of Liberty found out about Gage’s plan.
A. Paul Revere and Billy Dawes rode ahead of the British soldiers to alert citizens. Dawes rode the
longer all land route to Lexington. Revere arranged for a signal in case the Redcoats
took the water-first route.
B. “one if by land, two if by sea” was the signal that Paul Revere arranged, meaning one lantern
would be lit if the British were traveling the all land route and two lanterns would be lit if the
British were traveling the water-first route.
C. Samuel Prescott finished the ride to Concord because Paul Revere and Billy Dawes got caught.
5. Second Continental Congress in 1775) decided to stop all trade with Great Britain (British) and
asked King George III to change the bad policies and restore their rights.
6. British Army advantages over the Continental Army
A. Loyalists -- colonists who were loyal to King George III
B. professional soldiers --from Britain and other countries were well trained and signed up for a
certain number of years
C. wealthiest nation in the world-- supply the army with anything
D. greatest navy in the world--100 times as many warships
7. Continental Army advantages over the British
A. fighting on their own land
B. fighting for their families, homes, and freedom
C. America’s huge size
8. Women cooked in the camps, nursed the wounded, made gun- powder, sent messages, spied.
When her husband’s cannon crew was killed, Molly Pitcher loaded and fired the cannon until help came.
Deborah Sampson dressed as a man to join the army.
9. Blacks (African Americans) were divided during the revolution. About 5,000 blacks fought on
American side, but Great Britain offered freedom to slaves who fought on Britain’s side.
Great Britain took escaped slaves to Canada also
10. Nathan Hale was a spy for Americans. He was hanged by the British and had famous last words:
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
Memorize the order of these four battles: Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga, Yorktown.
11. Trenton, N.J.
A. Washington and Continental Army crossed Delaware River
B. surprise attack on Hessian (a state in Germany) mercenaries
C. Cont. Army captured soldiers, weapons, supplies
12. Princeton, N.J.: 8 days later -- surprise attack gave Cont. Army another victory
13. Saratoga
A. British plan was to lead the British army south, from Canada, the British army in New
York would move north to meet Burgoyne’s army, and a third British force in the west
would move east. All three forces would meet near Albany, NY to defeat the Continentals
B. Problem: General Howe (from the NY force) wanted to capture
Philadelphia. Then there was no time to meet the other troops.
C. The army from the west never made it.
D. Resulted in disaster for the British when in October 1777 British and America fought at
Saratoga; Americans won; 6000 British soldiers surrendered.
14. France, Spain, and the Netherlands as allies of the Americans.
15. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (winter 1777 - 1778): Continental Army camped for the freezing
winter with few blankets, little food, no boots, smoky cold huts, many sick. 2,500 soldiers died of
disease or exposure and another about 500 soldiers deserted.
16. John Paul Jones commander of American warship Bonhomme Richard was battling British
warship Serapis. When told to surrender because his ship was burning and sinking, John Paul Jones said, “I have not yet begun to fight” and took over Serapis.
17. Benedict Arnold (1780) was one of Washington’s bravest, finest generals. He became known as a
traitor for aiding the British and agreeing to turn West Point over to British for money.
18. British General Charles Cornwallis chose Yorktown, Virginia (along the York River) for a base so the British navy could easily supply soldiers and supplies. Washington ordered American and French fleets block the river and the troops surround Yorktown and close in on Cornwallis, thus trapping Cornwallis. In October 1781 – Cornwallis surrendered.
19. Benjamin Franklin created this sketch. The meaning is that like the snake will die if its parts are not joined together, the colonists will fail (die) if they do not unite (join) against Great Britain.
20. The American Revolution was won by the Continental
Army, the Patriots, the colonists!