American Revolution — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Why was the Battle of Saratoga considered a turning point in the war?
A) It was the first battle of the Revolution
B) The British captured George Washington
C) The American victory convinced France to become an ally
D) It ended the war and brought peace
Saratoga was a turning point because the surprising American victory proved to France that the colonists had a real chance of winning, so France decided to enter the war as an ally.
2. What was George Washington's strategy when he crossed the Delaware River?
A) To retreat to safety in Pennsylvania
B) To launch a surprise attack on Hessian troops at Trenton
C) To meet with French generals for planning
D) To deliver supplies to Valley Forge
Washington crossed the icy river on Christmas night 1776 specifically to catch the Hessian soldiers off guard at Trenton, knowing they would not expect an attack during the holiday.
3. Who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge to fight more effectively?
A) Marquis de Lafayette
B) Benjamin Franklin
C) Baron von Steuben
D) John Adams
Baron von Steuben was a Prussian military officer who taught the Continental soldiers proper drilling, marching, and battle techniques during the harsh winter at Valley Forge.
4. How did the French navy help at the Battle of Yorktown?
A) They attacked British forts along the coast
B) They blocked British ships from bringing reinforcements
C) They transported American troops across the Atlantic
D) They provided cannons for the Continental Army
French warships formed a blockade in the Chesapeake Bay, preventing British ships from delivering troops or supplies to Cornwallis, which left him trapped and forced to surrender.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Washington's surprise attack at Trenton on December 26, 1776, boosted American spirits.
After crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, Washington's troops attacked Trenton the next morning and captured nearly 1,000 Hessian soldiers, giving Americans renewed hope.
2. The Marquis de Lafayette was a young French officer who fought alongside Washington.
Lafayette was only 19 years old when he left France to join the American cause. He became one of Washington's most trusted officers and friends.
3. Hessian soldiers were German troops hired by Britain to fight in America.
Britain paid German princes to send trained soldiers called Hessians to fight in America because the British army needed more troops for the war.
4. The American victory at Saratoga took place in the colony of New York.
The two battles of Saratoga were fought in upstate New York in the fall of 1777, and the American victory there became the war's turning point.
5. After Yorktown, Britain agreed to peace through the Treaty of Paris.
The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, officially ended the war and recognized the United States as an independent nation free from British control.