American Revolution — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The phrase "Give me liberty or give me death" was said by Patrick Henry.
Patrick Henry delivered this famous speech in 1775 to inspire colonists to fight for independence.
2. The Sons of Liberty were a group that organized colonial protests.
The Sons of Liberty, led by figures like Samuel Adams, organized protests against British taxation.
3. The Boston Massacre of 1770 increased anger toward British soldiers.
The Boston Massacre (1770) saw British soldiers fire on a crowd of colonists, killing five.
4. Britain passed the Intolerable Acts to punish Massachusetts after the Tea Party.
The Intolerable Acts (1774) closed Boston Harbor and restricted colonial self-government as punishment.
5. The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army.
The Second Continental Congress (1775) established the Continental Army and appointed Washington as commander.
6. Minutemen were colonists ready to fight at a minute's notice.
Minutemen were militia volunteers who pledged to be ready to fight with very short notice.
7. The British taxed tea, glass, and paper under the Townshend Acts.
The Townshend Acts (1767) taxed tea, glass, paper, and paint, further angering the colonists.
8. George Washington became the first president of the United States.
Washington was unanimously elected the first President of the United States in 1789.
9. The colonies sent a petition to King George asking him to repeal unfair taxes.
Colonial leaders sent petitions to the king requesting he remove unjust taxes, but were largely ignored.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
George Washington
→ Commander of the Continental Army
Diplomat who gained French support
Thomas Jefferson
→ Main author of the Declaration
Commander of the Continental Army
Benjamin Franklin
→ Diplomat who gained French support
British monarch during the war
King George III
→ British monarch during the war
Main author of the Declaration
Washington = Continental Army commander; Jefferson = main Declaration author; Franklin = diplomat in France; King George III = British monarch.