American Revolution — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
France refused to help the American colonists during the Revolution.
Corrected: France agreed to help the American colonists during the Revolution.
France did not refuse -- it actually agreed to help. After the American victory at Saratoga, France became an official ally and sent troops and supplies.
2. Fix the sentence:
The Continental Army spent the winter at Valley Forge because the weather was warm and pleasant.
Corrected: The Continental Army spent the winter at Valley Forge enduring harsh cold, hunger, and disease.
Valley Forge was the opposite of warm and pleasant. Soldiers suffered through freezing temperatures, lack of food, and widespread illness during the brutal winter of 1777-1778.
3. Fix the sentence:
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the last battle of the American Revolution.
Corrected: The Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the early battles of the American Revolution.
Bunker Hill took place in June 1775, near the very start of the war. The last major battle was at Yorktown in 1781, six years later.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Battle of Bunker Hill showed colonists could stand up to the powerful British army.
The Battle of Bunker Hill proved that untrained colonial fighters could hold their ground against the well-equipped British army, boosting American confidence.
2. The Marquis de Lafayette came from France to help the American cause.
Lafayette was a young French nobleman who believed in American liberty and crossed the Atlantic to serve as a general in Washington's army.
3. General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown in 1781.
Cornwallis surrendered because American and French forces surrounded his army on land while the French navy blocked any escape by sea.
4. After winning the war, the thirteen colonies became the United States.
Winning the Revolution turned the thirteen British colonies into a new, independent country called the United States of America.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why was the winter at Valley Forge so difficult for the Continental Army?
Sample answer: The soldiers at Valley Forge suffered from freezing cold, lack of food and clothing, and many became sick or died from disease.
Soldiers lacked warm clothing, shoes, and enough food during the freezing winter. Many fell ill with diseases like smallpox, and some died before spring arrived.
2. How did France help the American colonists win the war?
Sample answer: France sent soldiers, ships, and supplies to help the colonists fight Britain, and French troops helped win the final battle at Yorktown.
France provided soldiers, warships, and supplies that the colonists desperately needed. French naval power at Yorktown trapped the British army and helped end the war.