Chapter 7

Question 1

What were the two main priorities of the Second Continental Congress?

Answer 1

Assume political authority and act as a governing body
* Organize a Continental Army to defend against Britain

These priorities reflected the Congress’s need to unify the colonies and prepare for conflict.

Question 2

Who was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army?

Answer 2

George Washington

Washington’s appointment symbolized unity between northern radicals and southern moderates.

Question 3

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

Answer 3

A pledge of loyalty to the king, asking him to stop Parliament’s abuses and seeking peaceful reconciliation

It was written by John Dickinson and rejected by King George III.

Question 4

What was significant about the Battle of Bunker Hill?

Answer 4

Technically a British victory, but very costly with over 1,000 British casualties

It demonstrated that Americans would fight fiercely against British forces.

Question 5

What was the main argument of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’?

Answer 5

Monarchy is absurd; independence is logical and necessary

The pamphlet sold over 150,000 copies and shaped popular opinion.

Question 6

What did Abigail Adams urge John Adams to do?

Answer 6

Remember the ladies

This reflected how revolutionary ideals were sparking broader calls for rights.

Question 7

What philosophical influences are evident in Jefferson’s Draft of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 7

John Locke and Enlightenment philosophy

It asserted natural rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.

Question 8

What controversy arose regarding Jefferson’s slavery clause in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 8

Southern and northern delegates demanded its removal due to economic ties to slavery

This highlighted contradictions of liberty and slavery during the Revolution.

Question 9

What were the British advantages in the Revolutionary War?

Answer 9

• Professional army
• Strong navy
• Financial resources

These advantages contrasted with American disadvantages such as poorly trained militias.

Question 10

What was the American strategy during the Revolutionary War?

Answer 10

Fight a war of attrition, survive long enough to secure foreign allies, and exhaust Britain’s will to fight

This strategy was crucial for their eventual success.

Question 11

What was the turning point of the Revolutionary War?

Answer 11

The Battle of Saratoga

This victory convinced France to ally with the U.S.

Question 12

What was the significance of the Franco-American alliance in 1778?

Answer 12

Expanded the war into a global conflict

Britain had to fight on multiple fronts, including Europe and the Caribbean.

Question 13

What challenges did Loyalists face during the Revolutionary War?

Answer 13

Property confiscation, violence, and exile

Many Loyalists fled to Canada due to these challenges.

Question 14

What economic strain did the colonies face during the war?

Answer 14

Congress printed paper money, leading to inflation

Many farmers and workers suffered due to the economic instability.

Question 15

What was Benedict Arnold known for?

Answer 15

His treason and attempt to surrender West Point to the British

He became a symbol of betrayal in American history.

Question 16

What was the outcome of the Yorktown Campaign?

Answer 16

Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war

This was a coordinated siege by Washington, Rochambeau, and Lafayette.

Question 17

What did the Treaty of Paris (1783) achieve?

Answer 17

Britain recognized U.S. independence and granted territory to the Mississippi River

The treaty ignored Native Americans, accelerating their loss of land.

Question 18

What unfinished promises remained after the American Revolution?

Answer 18

• Women
• Enslaved people
• Native Americans
• Loyalists

These groups did not fully benefit from the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality.

Question 19

What is republicanism?

Answer 19

A government based on popular consent, civic virtue, and limited power

It emphasized the importance of the people’s role in governance.

Question 20

What global influence did the American Revolution have?

Answer 20

Inspired the French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Latin American independence movements

The ideals of the Revolution resonated beyond the United States.

Question 21

True or False: The Revolution was solely a radical break from monarchy.

Answer 21

False

It was also a conservative compromise that left deep inequalities unresolved.