Social Studies Test 2

American History

What did the Proclamation of 1763 tell the colonists?

It told the colonists not to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Who fought in the French and Indian War, and what were they fighting over?

The French and the British, along with their American Indian allies, fought over control of the Ohio River Valley.

Which American Indian groups allied with the French and British during the French and Indian War?

The French allied with the Huron, and the British allied with the Iroquois.

What treaty ended the French and Indian War, and what did France give up?

The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War, and France gave up nearly all its land claims in North America.

How far did British land in North America extend after the French and Indian War?

British land extended to the Mississippi River.

What did George Washington and his men build south of Fort Duquesne, and why?

They built Fort Necessity to attack the French.

What did the Sugar Act tax?

It placed a duty on molasses.

What did the Stamp Act tax?

It taxed nearly all paper products.

What was the Declaratory Act, and when was it passed?

It was passed when the Stamp Act was repealed and declared that Britain could make laws and impose taxes on the colonies.

What goods were taxed by the Townshend Acts?

Glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

Who founded the Sons of Liberty, and why?

Samuel Adams founded the Sons of Liberty to organize colonists against British policies.

How did Paul Revere use the Boston Massacre to influence public opinion?

Paul Revere made a printing of the Boston Massacre that was used as propaganda and spread across the colonies.

What privilege did Parliament give the British East India Company regarding tea?

Parliament gave the company a monopoly on selling tea to the colonies.

What happened during the Boston Tea Party?

Colonists dressed as American Indians and dumped 342 chests of tea into the ocean.

What were the Coercive Acts, and why did Britain pass them?

Britain passed the Coercive Acts to punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party. The colonists called them the Intolerable Acts.

What did the Intolerable Acts do to Boston Harbor?

They shut down Boston Harbor.

How did the Intolerable Acts change town meetings in Boston?

They outlawed town meetings in Boston.

How did the Intolerable Acts change the government of Massachusetts?

They placed the royal governor in charge of Massachusetts.

How did the Intolerable Acts change the Quartering Act?

They made the Quartering Act stricter.

What did the Intolerable Acts allow British officers accused of murder to do?

They allowed the officers to have their trials outside of Boston.

Who was the president of the Continental Congress, and how did he sign the Declaration of Independence?

John Hancock was president of the Continental Congress and signed his name in very large letters.

What famous explanation is attributed to John Hancock for signing his name so large?

He supposedly said he wanted King George to be able to read it without his glasses.

Who wrote Common Sense, and what was its purpose?

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense to convince Americans that it was time to break away from Britain.

What were three things Benjamin Franklin was known for?

He ran a printing press in Philadelphia, wrote Poor Richard’s Almanack, and drew the “Join, or Die” cartoon.

What was Patrick Henry’s famous statement?

“Give me liberty or give me death!”

Where did the British learn that the colonists were storing weapons?

In Concord, outside Boston.

Why did the British send troops toward Concord?

They wanted to seize the colonists’ weapons.

Where were British troops confronted by colonial minutemen on their way to Concord?

Lexington.

What was “the shot heard round the world,” and where was it fired?

It was the first shot of the fighting at Lexington, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution. The identity of the person who fired first is unknown.

Did the British find the weapons they were searching for at Concord?

No, the British did not find the weapons.

What happened to the British troops as they retreated from Concord to Boston?

Colonial militia troops pushed them back and fired at them from behind houses, walls, and trees along the way.

What was the first major battle of the American Revolution?

The Battle of Bunker Hill.

Where did most of the fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill actually take place?

Breed’s Hill, where the colonists had built their fortifications.

How many times did the British attempt to take the hill before succeeding?

3 times. They were repulsed twice before overcoming the colonists on the third attempt.

Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?

The British won the battle, forcing the colonists to retreat.

Why was the Battle of Bunker Hill important to the colonists even though the British won?

It showed the colonists that they could stand up to the powerful British army.

When did Washington and his men cross the Delaware River?

On Christmas night.

Why did Washington cross the Delaware River, and where did he attack?

He crossed the river to surprise and attack German Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey, the next day.

What was the result of Washington’s attack at Trenton?

Washington’s men captured a large number of Hessian soldiers.

Why was the victory at Trenton important to the Patriots?

It was a much-needed victory that encouraged Patriot troops to reenlist.

How did Washington trick the British before moving to Princeton?

He kept campfires burning to make it appear that his army was still in camp while he and 4,500 men secretly moved away.

What happened when the British pursued Washington’s army to Princeton?

The British lost the Battle of Princeton to the Continental Army.

What was the British plan for attacking Albany, New York?

They planned a three-pronged attack, but two of the armies never reached Albany.

Why was General Burgoyne forced to surrender at Saratoga?

He did not receive the reinforcements he needed, and the Patriots surrounded his army.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga a key Patriot victory?

It convinced France to join the Patriots’ side and provide military assistance.

Which European countries besides France provided aid to the Patriots?

Spain and the Dutch Republic also provided aid.

Where did Washington’s army spend a difficult winter during the American Revolution?

At Valley Forge, outside Philadelphia.

What was the British army doing while Washington’s troops stayed at Valley Forge?

A large British army led by General Howe stayed in Philadelphia.

What happened to thousands of Washington’s troops during the winter at Valley Forge?

Thousands died or deserted because of the terrible conditions.

Who was Baron Friedrich von Steuben, and what did he do at Valley Forge?

He was a Prussian military officer who drilled and trained the troops who remained at Valley Forge.

Who was the Marquis de Lafayette?

He was a French nobleman who brought supplies and troops to help the Patriots, stayed at Valley Forge, became a trusted adviser to Washington, and led Patriot troops in battle.

What was the last major battle of the American Revolution?

The Battle of Yorktown.

Who was Benedict Arnold, and why was he considered a traitor?

He was a Patriot officer who betrayed the Patriot cause by switching sides to the British.

What role did French General Rochambeau play in the victory at Yorktown?

He convinced Washington to surround the British force at Yorktown.

How did the Patriots force the British to surrender at Yorktown?

With help from a French fleet, the Patriots laid siege to the city and forced the British troops to surrender.

How many British troops surrendered at Yorktown, and who commanded them?

Approximately 8,000 troops under British General Cornwallis surrendered to the Patriots.

Why was the Patriot victory at Yorktown important?

It showed the British that continuing to pay for the war was no longer worthwhile.

What song did the British band play as the British surrendered at Yorktown?

“Yankee Doodle.”

What song did the French band play in response to the British surrender at Yorktown?

“The World Turned Upside Down,” a British song that the Americans adopted as their own.

What treaty officially ended the American Revolution?

The Treaty of Paris of 1783.

What did Britain agree to do under the Treaty of Paris of 1783?

Britain recognized American independence, agreed to remove its troops from America, and recognized the American border as extending to the Mississippi River.

What did America agree to do regarding debts owed to Loyalists under the Treaty of Paris?

America agreed to pay back debts owed to Loyalists from before the war.