Digital History
Quiz 1 on the American Revolution

Digital History ID 3736
1. The United States won its independence from:

A. Spain B. France C. Britain

2. The Revolutionary War lasted from:

A. 1775-1777 B. 1775-1783. C. 1776-1779

3. These famous words - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal ... " are part of:

A. The Constitution of the United States B. The Bill of Rights C. The Declaration of Independence

4. Which American Revolution figure was sentenced to death in the French Revolution?:

A. John Adams. B. Sam Adams.. C. Thomas Paine

5. The second half of the war was fought almost entirely in:

A. The South. B. The mid-Atlantic. C. New England.

6. Before being executed by the British, this 21-year-old Patriot recited a line from Joseph Addison's tragedy Cato - "I only regret I have but one life to give for my country":

A. John Paul Jones. B. Benedict Arnold. C. Nathan Hale.

7. The people who opposed the Revolution were called:

A. Loyalists. B. Whigs. C. Republicans.

8. Freedom was promised to slaves if they would fight:

A. In the British army. B. In the American army. C. Neither.

9. To win the Revolution, America needed the help of:

A. The Hessians. B. The Indians. C. The French.

10. On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of American independence:

A. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. B. The first July 4 celebration was held. C. The Washington Monument was opened.

11. A famous Revolutionary War pamphlet began:

A. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. B. These are the times that try men's souls. C. The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things.

12. How many battle deaths did the Americans suffer in the war?:

A. 4,400. B. 14,400. C. 40,400.

13. A total of 25,000 people died as a result of the Revolution. Relative to the size of the population, which would that be equal to today?

a. 50,000 b. 100,000 c. 1 million

14. What percent of colonists actively backed the Revolution?:

A. 90 percent B. 67 percent C. Less than 50 percent

15. Yankee Doodle called the feather in his cap macaroni because:

A. That was the name of a popular clothing fashion. B. He could boil and eat it if food didn't arrive. C. He was pretending he could eat it if food didn't arrive.

16. For most of the war, Washington's chief accomplishment was:

A. Keeping the army together. B. Winning many battles, major and minor. C. Killing large numbers of British soldiers.

17. The Minutemen were so called because:

A. They could be mustered in a few minutes. B. Their equipment was up to the minute. C. They often were forced to subsist on Minute Rice.

18. Only one of the following signed the Declaration of Independence. Which one?

A. Josiah Bartlett. B. Patrick Henry. C. George Washington.

19. Most Americans who fought in the Revolution:

A. Served the entire war. B. Served briefly and then went home. C. Changed sides at least once.

20. The British occupied which of the following cities at some point during the Revolution:

A. Boston. B. New York. C. Philadelphia. D. Charleston.

21. At the time of the Revolution, slave could be found in how many of the 13 colonies?

A. Five B. Seven C. Thirteen

22. According to the Declaration of Independence, "all men ... are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights ..." Among the rights specified in the Declaration are:

A. The right to privacy B. The right to trial by jury C. The right to bear arms D. The pursuit of happiness

23. The Declaration refers to the King of Britain several times, but not by name. Who was then the King of Britain?

A. James I B. John II C. George III D. Ringo

24. The oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence was 70. Who was he?

A. George Washington B. Thomas Jefferson C. Benjamin Franklin

25. Who published "Common Sense," a pamphlet that helped to stir up a feeling for independence among Americans?

A. Samuel Adams B. Patrick Henry C. Thomas Paine

26. A popular cry during the pre-Revolutionary period in America was "Taxation without representation is ..." Add the missing word.

A. Unconstitutional B. Tyranny C. Illegal

27. The ship of American naval hero John Paul Jones was battered by the British vessel Serapis and Jones was asked to surrender. What was his reply?

A. "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." B. "Don't give up the ship." C. "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead." D. "I have not yet begun to fight."

28. Benedict Arnold served the American army with distinction before he was branded as a traitor. Which of the following statements about him is TRUE?

A. He helped to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British. B. He helped win the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. C. He was court-martialed and reprimanded, probably unfairly. D. All of the above. E. None of the above.

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