American Revolution — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
A) To create new tax laws
B) To declare the colonies free from British rule
C) To set up a new trade agreement
D) To elect George Washington as president
The Declaration of Independence formally declared the thirteen colonies free and independent from British rule.
2. Who was the king of Britain during the American Revolution?
A) King James II
B) King Henry VIII
C) King George III
D) King Charles I
King George III ruled Britain from 1760 to 1820, including throughout the American Revolution.
3. What role did Benjamin Franklin play during the Revolution?
A) He led the Continental Army
B) He wrote the Declaration alone
C) He helped gain support from France
D) He served as the first president
Franklin served as a diplomat in France, convincing France to formally ally with the colonies in 1778.
4. Which act taxed printed materials like newspapers and legal documents?
A) Tea Act
B) Townshend Acts
C) Intolerable Acts
D) Stamp Act
The Stamp Act (1765) required colonists to pay a tax on all printed materials, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Thomas Jefferson was from the colony of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson was born and raised in Virginia, and represented Virginia at the Continental Congress.
2. The first shots of the Revolution were fired at Lexington and Concord.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) were the opening battles of the Revolutionary War.
3. The colonists formed the Continental Congress to govern during the Revolution.
The Continental Congress served as the governing body for the colonies during the Revolutionary War.
4. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially recognized American independence.
The Treaty of Paris (1783) was signed in Paris and formally ended the Revolutionary War.
5. George Washington is called the "Father of Our Country."
Washington is honored as the 'Father of His Country' for his leadership during the Revolution and as first president.