Section 1
In October 1774, colonial officials, with the exception of Georgia, attended a meeting to discuss the relationship between Great Britain and the colonies in America. What was the meeting known as?
First Continental Congress
What was the name of the Patriot charged by Paul Revere with riding swiftly on one of two roads heading out of Boston to sound the alarm that the British are coming?
William Dawes
Delegates expressed their growing displeasure, so they wrote to colonial authorities, requesting new state constitutions; states organized conventions to draft them. What did the delagates authorize the Massachusetts militia to become?
Continental Army
When was 'Common Sense" distributed?
January 1776
Who did Thomas Jefferson allege had violated the colonists' rights by taxing them without their consent?
King George III
What was the name of the draft that had a list of ten resolutions to be delivered to King George III? Included was the colonists' right to "life, liberty, and property?"
Declaration of Rights
Who acquired their name from their willingness to fight at a moment's notice?
Minutemen
Who was tasked with leading the Continental Army?
George Washington
Common Sense was published anonymously, but by whom?
Thomas Paine
When did the Continental Congress approve the Declaration of Independence?
July 4, 1776
After returning from Congress, who encouraged fellow Virginians to embrace the Patriot cause, stating,
"Don't tell us, Sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with such a formidable adversary." But when will we get stronger? Gentlemen may yell "Peace, Peace," but there is no peace. I don't know what road others will choose; but as for myself, grant me liberty or death."
Patrick Henry
What was the name of the free African American who traveled north to New Hampshire and Maine to seek reinforcements?
Wentworth Cheswell
Who did Boston's leaders dispatch to head a 400-man force to New York State? He intended to attack the British at Fort Ticonderoga.
Benedict Arnold
News of "Common Sense" spread throughout the colonies. How many copies have been sold?
500,000
What did colonists who opted to affiliate with the British call themselves?
Loyalists
What did colonists who chose to struggle for independence from Great Britain call themselves?
Patriots
On April 19, at daybreak, British forces landed in Lexington, near Concord and about 15 miles from Boston, where 70 armed Minutemen were waiting. What was the name of the Patriot who told his troops, "Don't shoot unless fired upon?" A shot rang out immediately, becoming known as the "shot heard 'round the world."
John Parker
What battle was fought from Breed's Hill? While the Patriots lost, they demonstrated that they were capable of facing the Redcoats. The conflict ended in tragedy for the British. They had sacrificed roughly twice as many Patriot warriors in order to win.
Battle of Bunker Hill
When did the Second Continental Congress begin crafting a declaration of independence?
June 1776
How many Loyalists left the colonies during the Revolution?
50,000
What was the name of the Massachusetts governor who discovered a stockpile of weapons in Concord, about 20 miles from Boston, and seized it in April 1775?
Thomas Gage
What battle concluded in minutes, with only a few volleys fired, leaving 8 of the vastly outnumbered minutemen dead and 10 wounded?
The Battle at Lexington
Who was tasked with transporting the seized cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, successfully hauling the big weapons across 300 miles of tough terrain in the dead of winter?
Henry Knox
A committee produced a seal for the new country that said "out of many, one." What is it in Latin?
E pluribus unum
Although many women were Patriots, the Declaration included no mention of female rights; at least one delegate's wife tried to persuade her husband to add women's rights in the Declaration. What was her name?
Abigail Adams
What is the name of the Sons of Liberty member who enlisted the assistance of Robert Newman before going out on horseback, taking one of two separate routes out of Boston, sounding the alarm that the British were approaching?
Paul Revere
The color of the British soldiers' coats made them an obvious target. What did the colonists call them?
Redcoats
What was the name of the British General headquartered in Boston while George Washington was in route to Dorchester Heights?
William Howe
Which document announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain?
Declaration of Independence
What was made legal throughout the colonies in July 1776?
Slavery
What was the name of the individual tasked with climbing the steeple of the Old North Church and keeping an eye out for British soldiers? If they crossed land, he would show one lantern from the steeple. If they rowed across the Charles River, he would show two lanterns.
Robert Newman
King George III had refused to address the issues, and in May 1775, delegates from 12 colonies gathered in Philadelphia for what event?
Second Continental Congress
What was the title of a 47-page pamphlet distributed in Philadelphia, stating that citizens, not kings and queens, should make laws?
Common Sense
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
By the 1780s, which colony had taken steps to abolish slavery?
New England