American Revolution Quiz

Organized committees of correspondence created by Samuel Adams in 1772 to coordinate resistance against British policies.

The 1773 Tea Act lowered the price of tea for the East India Company, making it cheaper than smuggled tea and creating resentment among colonists who saw it as an attempt to force them to buy from the company.

The Boston Tea Party, which occurred on December 16, 1773, was a protest by American colonists against the Tea Act, in which they dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

The Intolerable Acts were a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish the colonists in Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and to reassert British authority over the American colonies.

John Locke's Second Treatise of Government, published in 1689, argued for natural rights, consent of the governed, and limited government, all of which influenced the American Revolution.

The British government's policy of allowing the American colonies to largely govern themselves with little interference.

A period of unrest and conflict between British colonists and Native American tribes following the French and Indian War.

A royal proclamation issued by King George III that prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, in order to prevent conflict with Native Americans.

The idea that British colonists should not be taxed without having representatives in the British Parliament.

A series of acts passed by the British Parliament to raise revenue from the American colonies.

A group of colonial patriots who organized protests and boycotts against British policies.

A violent confrontation between British soldiers and a group of colonists in Boston, which became a symbol of colonial resentment toward British military presence.

A period marked by growing tensions between British authorities and American colonists, ultimately leading to the American Revolution.

The idea that the United States was destined to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean, driven by a belief in American exceptionalism and a sense of national superiority.

A war between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, sparked by territorial disputes over Texas and fueled by American expansionist desires.

A key event in the Texas Revolution (1836), where Texan defenders at the Alamo fought bravely but were ultimately defeated by Mexican forces led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. This event became a rallying cry for Texan independence.

The treaty signed in 1848, ending the Mexican-American War. It ceded a vast amount of territory from Mexico to the United States, including California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.

The major territorial acquisition from Mexico, which included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, and New Mexico. It was a significant territorial expansion for the United States.

A proposed amendment that aimed to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. Although it failed to pass, it became a significant point of contention in the debate over slavery's expansion.

A series of compromises passed in 1850, aiming to resolve tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery. It included the Fugitive Slave Act, which strengthened the legal obligation to return runaway slaves to their owners.

A part of the Compromise of 1850, this law made it more difficult for runaway slaves to escape to freedom in the North. It intensified the debate over slavery and fueled abolitionist movements.

The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1777, was the first constitution of the United States. It established a weak central government with limited powers, leaving most authority to the states. This led to significant challenges, including economic instability, disputes between states, and the inability to effectively address national concerns.

The Federalists were a group advocating for a strong central government in the newly formed United States. Led by prominent figures like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, they believed a powerful federal government was necessary to ensure unity, economic stability, and national defense.

The Antifederalists opposed the proposed Constitution until the addition of a Bill of Rights. Leading figures included Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and others who feared a strong central government might become tyrannical. They advocated for a more decentralized system with more power retained by the states, emphasizing individual liberties and protections against government overreach.

The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to persuade the American public to ratify the Constitution. These essays addressed the structure of government, the separation of powers, and other key principles, advocating for a stronger central authority.

The Anti-Federalist Papers were essays written in response to the Federalist Papers. Opponents of the Constitution, leading figures including Thomas Jefferson, argued against the proposed framework, raising concerns about the potential for tyranny and the need for stronger protections for individual liberties.

The ratification of the Constitution was a crucial process that involved debates and compromises. The process was eventually successful due to the persuasive arguments of the Federalists who ultimately convinced the states. The Constitution stands now as the foundational document of the US government.

Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, key figure in the Federalist movement, and the first Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated for a strong central government, promoted economic development, and played a significant role in shaping the early years of the United States.

James Madison, a Founding Father and key Federalist, played a central role in drafting the Constitution and is known as the

A political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights and freedoms, particularly "life, liberty, and property." Popular during the Enlightenment, it influenced the American Revolution, emphasizing the right to self-governance and resisting oppressive rule.

An English immigrant and radical writer who advocated for American independence from Britain. His influential pamphlet 'Common Sense' argued against monarchy and the absurdity of colonial dependence on England.

The first meeting of colonial delegates in 1774, convened to address growing tensions with Britain. It focused on boycotts and resisting British control over the colonies, but did NOT initially seek full independence.

A pivotal battle of the American Revolution fought in June 1775, demonstrating Minutemen's resilience despite British victory. This fight provided a crucial opportunity for guerilla tactics and showed the Continental Army's potential.

A watershed event in the American Revolution that began on April 16, 1775. British troops clashed with American Minutemen at Lexington and Concord, sparking open warfare and laying the foundation for independence.

The second meeting of colonial delegates in 1775, formed the Continental Army under George Washington, adopted the Olive Branch Petition (a last attempt at reconciliation with King George III), and ultimately, paved the way for independence.

Signed on July 4th, 1776, this document declared the thirteen American colonies' independence from Great Britain, citing numerous grievances against the British monarchy. It was written by a committee of five men, including Thomas Jefferson.

A significant victory for the Continental Army in December 1776, where General Washington surprised and defeated Hessian troops. This victory bolstered American morale and shifted the tide of the war.

A major turning point in the American Revolution in September and October 1777. After a fierce battle against the British, the Continental Army led by General Horatio Gates emerged victorious. This victory proved a significant military achievement and secured a crucial alliance with France.

A harsh winter encampment experienced by the Continental Army near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, from December 1777 to June 1778. Despite the harsh conditions and lack of supplies, the army's resilience and determination ultimately led to the end of the war.

The Dred Scott decision, issued by the Supreme Court in 1857, declared that enslaved people were not US citizens and had no right to sue for their freedom. It also ruled that the Missouri Compromise, which prohibited slavery in certain territories, was unconstitutional.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, allowed for the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. It ignited violent conflict in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," and fueled the sectional tensions leading to the Civil War.

During the 1856 Senate election in Massachusetts, Charles Sumner, a Republican senator who advocated for abolition, was brutally beaten with a cane by Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery Democrat from South Carolina. This event, known as the "Caning of Charles Sumner," further inflamed tensions between the North and South.

The raid on Harpers Ferry was a failed attempt by John Brown, a fervent abolitionist, to seize a federal arsenal in Virginia in 1859. Although unsuccessful, the raid escalated tensions and fueled Southern fears of a potential slave uprising.

The Lincoln-Douglas debates, held in 1858, were a series of seven public debates between Abraham Lincoln, a Republican against the expansion of slavery, and Stephen Douglas, a Democrat who supported popular sovereignty. The debates highlighted the deep divisions over slavery and helped catapult Lincoln to national prominence.

The 1860 presidential election saw the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who pledged to prevent the expansion of slavery. The Southern states, fearing the end of slavery, began to secede from the Union, triggering the Civil War.

A fierce debate over slavery raged in the Northern states, culminating in a movement to abolish slavery altogether. This movement, driven by moral, religious, and social concerns, played a significant role in shaping the political landscape and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

The publication of Darwin's"On the Origin of Species", which presented a scientific theory of evolution by natural selection, had a profound impact on the understanding of humanity's place in the natural world. It also sparked debate about the implications of this theory for social order and human progress.

The price of slaves continued to escalate, indicating a growing demand for enslaved labor and a flourishing slave economy in the South. This underscores the economic importance of slavery and its central role in Southern society.

The African Labor Supply Association, established in 1859, sought to recruit and transport enslaved Africans to the American South. This highlights the ongoing demand for slave labor and the interconnectedness between slavery, colonialism, and the transatlantic slave trade.