American Revolution

Causes & Effects

100

Why did Britain begin taxing the colonies after the French and Indian War?

Britain had war debt and needed money

200

Explain what the stamp act is and tell why colonists thought it was unfair.

It was a tax on all paper goods. They thought it was unfair because they had to pay taxes but had no representation in government.

300

Explain two reasons why having British soldiers in the colonies caused tension.

• colonists felt controlled or watched
• colonists had to pay for the soldiers and find a place for them to stay
• soldiers competed for jobs
• colonists believed Britain did not trust them
• soldiers reminded colonists Britain had power over them 

400

Explain how the Boston Tea party lead to the intolerable acts AND list 2 punishments from the acts.

The Boston Tea Party led to the Intolerable Acts because Britain was angry that colonists destroyed expensive tea to protest taxes. Britain wanted to punish the colonies and make sure they would not challenge British authority again, so they passed harsh laws to show control.

Possible punishments from the Intolerable Acts 

-Boston Harbor was closed so goods and supplies could not enter the city

-More British soldiers were sent to the colonies

-Colonists had to house soldiers in inns or empty buildings

-Town meetings were limited or not allowed without permission

-Could not elect new leaders

500

Explain how both Saratoga AND Valley Forge helped colonists win the war.

Saratoga helped the colonists win because it convinced France to help them. Valley Forge helped because the army became stronger and better trained even though conditions were very difficult.

Protest → Punishment

100

Explain why boycotting British goods was an effective protest strategy. Then give two examples of items the colonists boycotted.

Boycotting hurt British businesses because colonists stopped buying their goods. Britain lost money, so it pressured them to change the unfair laws. They boycotted tea and paper.

200

Explain why the Boston Massacre increased anger toward Britain even though only a few colonists were killed. Then tell what the King ended up doing after.

Colonists saw British soldiers firing at colonists as unfair and violent. News spread quickly and made Britain seem dangerous and untrustworthy. The King removed all taxes except the tax on tea. 

300

Explain the Boston Tea Party. First, tell what happened. Then, tell why the Boston Tea Party was risky for the colonists. Finally, tell what their punishment for it was.

Colonists destroyed valuable tea, which broke British law. They knew Britain would likely punish them harshly. Their punishment was the intolerable acts.

400

Give three examples of how the King punished the colonists.

• Closed Boston Harbor so food and supplies could not come in (Boston Port Act)

• Made colonists pay for the destroyed tea

• Took away some self-government (town meetings were limited)

• Let the King choose leaders instead of colonists voting

• Sent more British soldiers to control the colonies

• Forced colonists to house soldiers in inns, taverns, and empty buildings (Quartering Act)

• Allowed British officials to be tried in Britain instead of the colonies

• Made Massachusetts follow stricter British control

• Punished Boston even though not all colonists took part in the Tea Party

• Tried to scare colonists into obeying British laws

500

Explain how British punishments sometimes had the opposite effect of what Britain wanted.

• The punishments made the colonists more angry, not more obedient.
• The colonies worked together more instead of staying separate.
• Colonists helped Boston instead of ignoring them.
• More colonists began to want independence.
• The punishments made colonists feel treated unfairly.
• The punishments caused more protests, not fewer.
• Colonists started meeting together to decide what to do. 

Battles & War

100

Give three facts about the Battle of Lexington.

• It was the first battle of the American Revolution.

• The British were trying to take colonial weapons.

• Paul Revere warned the colonists the British were coming.

• Minutemen were waiting on Lexington Green.

• Colonists were told not to fire unless fired upon.

• No one knows who fired first.

• The battle happened in April 1775.

• The British soldiers were called Redcoats.

• The battle started the war.

200

What happened at Bunker Hill and why was it important for colonists?

What happened? 

-Colonists defended a hill near Boston.

-British soldiers attacked.

-Colonists fought hard but ran out of ammunition.

-The British won the battle.

Why was it important?

-Colonists showed they could fight the British army.

-The British lost many soldiers.

-It gave colonists confidence to keep fighting.

300

What happened at Saratoga? Why was it the turning point of the war?

What happened?

• American soldiers defeated the British army in 1777.
• The British army was forced to surrender.

Why was it the turning point?

• It proved the Americans could win against Britain.
• France decided to help the Americans.
• France sent soldiers, ships, money, and supplies, which helped the Americans win the war.

400

Who won the Battle of Yorktown? What did they do in order to win? Why did this battle end the war?

Who won?

• The Americans and French won.

What did they do to win?

• American and French armies surrounded the British on land.
• The French navy blocked the bay, so the British could not escape.
• The British army was trapped.

Why did this battle end the war?

• The British surrendered.
• Britain realized the war was too hard and expensive to continue.
• Soon after, the war ended and America became independent.

500

Put the following battles on a timeline. You do not need dates, just correct order.

-Saratoga

-Lexington

-Yorktown

-Concrd

Lexington -- Concord--Saratoga -- Yorktown

Important People & Key Events

100

Explain Paul Revere’s role in the start of the war AND why his actions were important.

Paul Revere rode to warn colonists that British soldiers were coming. His warning helped militias prepare for the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

200

Explain why colonists created militias and minutemen before the war officially began. Then tell who the official army was and who led it. 

Colonists expected conflict and wanted to be prepared to defend themselves quickly. Official army was the continental army led by George Washington.

300

What was the first continental congress? List 2 ideas brought up during it.

The First Continental Congress (1774) was a meeting where colonial leaders (delegates) came together to discuss problems with British laws and punishments. 

• Boycott British goods.
• Send a letter to the King asking for fair treatment.
• Work together as one group of colonies.
• Speak out against unfair laws (like the Intolerable Acts).
• Protect their rights as colonists.
• Decide what to do about British punishments.
• Plan how to respond if Britain did not listen.
• Support Boston, which had been punished.
• Meet again later if problems continued.
• Try to solve problems peacefully first.

400

What was the Olive Branch petition? What did they ask for? How did it lead to war?

The Olive Branch Petition (1775) was a letter the colonists sent to King George III.
They were trying to avoid war and still hoped to fix the problems peacefully.

What did they ask for?

• To protect their rights as colonists.
• To stop unfair laws and punishments.
• To work things out peacefully instead of fighting.

How did it lead to war?

• King George III refused the petition.
• He said the colonies were rebelling.
• He sent more troops, and fighting continued.
• Many colonists realized peace was not likely, so the war went on.

500

What was Valley Forge? Then list 1 positive and 2 negatives of Valley Forge.

Valley Forge was the winter camp where the Continental Army stayed during the winter of 1777–1778 while fighting in the American Revolution.

Negatives (any 2)

• Soldiers were very cold because they did not have warm clothing or shoes
• There was not enough food, so many soldiers were hungry
• Many soldiers became sick with diseases
• Living conditions were very difficult and uncomfortable

Positives (any 1)

• Soldiers received training that made the army more organized
• The army became stronger and more prepared to fight
• Soldiers did not give up, showing determination
• The experience helped the army become more united

Declaration of Independence

100

What are the three rights that you are born with?

Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness

200

What are two things Thomas Jefferson wrote about in the declaration of independence??

• People have natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).
• The King treated the colonists unfairly.
• The colonists wanted to be free from British rule.
• The colonies wanted to be their own country.
• The government should protect people’s rights.
• If a government is unfair, people can change or replace it.
• The document listed complaints about the King.
• It explained why the colonies wanted independence.

300

What were three complaints brought up in the Declaration of Independence?

• The King taxed the colonists without representation.

• The King sent soldiers to control the colonies.

• Colonists were forced to house soldiers.

• The King would not listen to the colonists’ complaints.

• Colonists did not have a voice in government.

• The King made unfair laws.

• Colonists were not treated fairly.

• The King punished the colonies (like after the Boston Tea Party).

• The King took away some self-government.

• Colonists felt their rights were being ignored.

400

What does the Declaration say about rights?

When is it okay for people to replace their government?

What does the Declaration say about rights?

• All people have natural rights.
• These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• The government’s job is to protect people’s rights.

When is it okay for people to replace their government?

• If the government does not protect their rights.
• If the government is unfair or abusive.
• If the government does not listen to the people.
• The Declaration says people can change or replace a government that is not doing its job.

500

Write a 3 sentence summary of the declaration of independence.

Possible ideas students could include in a 3-sentence summary of the Declaration of Independence

• The colonies wanted to be free from British rule.
• Thomas Jefferson helped write the document.
• The Declaration says all people have natural rights.
• These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• The King treated the colonists unfairly.
• The document lists complaints about the King.
• Colonists believed the King did not protect their rights.
• The colonies wanted to be their own country.
• The government should protect people’s rights.
• People can change a government that is unfair.
• The Declaration was approved on July 4, 1776.
• It helped explain why the colonies wanted independence.