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Quizzes > History > Wars & Historic Events

American Revolution Quiz: Test Your Knowledge Now

Challenge yourself with questions for the American Revolution and ace the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of colonial soldier quill parchment and quiz icons on dark blue background

Use this American Revolution quiz to check what you remember from Lexington to Yorktown and spot any gaps before the exam. After you finish, try our bonus Revolutionary War questions and explore fun facts about the Revolution to lock in key names, dates, and turning points.

What year was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
1776
1774
1775
1777
The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, marking the formal assertion of the colonies' separation from Britain. It was drafted in June of that year and debated before the final vote. This date is celebrated annually as Independence Day.
Who is credited with drafting the Declaration of Independence?
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence as a member of the five-person committee. His draft was then edited and revised by the Continental Congress before adoption. Jefferson's authorship is widely recognized by historians.
The first military engagements of the American Revolution occurred at which battles?
Yorktown
Saratoga
Lexington and Concord
Bunker Hill
The battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, were the opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Militiamen faced British regulars, marking the start of armed conflict. These battles are famously known for the 'shot heard 'round the world.'
Which act imposed a direct tax on the American colonies and required revenue stamps on printed materials?
Stamp Act
Sugar Act
Townshend Acts
Tea Act
The Stamp Act of 1765 required colonists to purchase and use specially stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials. It was the first direct internal tax levied by Britain on the colonies, provoking widespread protest. 'No taxation without representation' became the rallying cry against it.
Who was the king of Great Britain during the American Revolution?
King George III
King Henry VIII
King George II
King William IV
King George III reigned from 1760 to 1820 and was the monarch throughout the American Revolution. His policies and taxes on the colonies fueled resistance and ultimately independence. He remains a central figure in the war's historical narrative.
Who was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army?
Horatio Gates
Benedict Arnold
Nathaniel Greene
George Washington
The Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as Commander-in-Chief in June 1775. His leadership helped unify the colonial forces and maintain morale through difficult campaigns. Washington's military strategy and perseverance were key to ultimate victory.
What was the name of the political body that governed the colonies during the war?
Continental Association
Second Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
Articles of Confederation
The Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775 and acted as the de facto national government, managing the war effort and diplomatic relations. It issued the Declaration of Independence and directed the Continental Army. Its leadership was crucial until the Articles of Confederation were ratified.
Which treaty officially ended the American Revolutionary War?
Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, formally ending the war. It recognized American independence and set boundaries for the new nation. Other treaties like Versailles involved different conflicts.
Where did George Washington's army endure a harsh winter in 1777 - 78?
Princeton
Valley Forge
Yorktown
Trenton
From December 1777 to June 1778, Washington's army wintered at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, facing severe shortages of food, clothing, and supplies. Prussian officer Baron von Steuben arrived to train the troops, improving discipline. The experience forged a more effective fighting force.
The Boston Massacre occurred in what year?
1773
1775
1768
1770
On March 5, 1770, tensions in Boston boiled over when British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing five colonists. The event was quickly labeled the Boston Massacre and used as propaganda by colonial leaders. It helped unify colonists against British authority.
What was the primary purpose of the Committees of Correspondence?
To coordinate communication between colonies
To write the Constitution
To train militia
To collect taxes
Beginning in 1772, Committees of Correspondence were established by colonial leaders to share news and coordinate resistance to British policies. They fostered unity and prepared the colonies for the First Continental Congress. Their effective network fueled revolutionary sentiment.
Who commanded the British forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill?
General Cornwallis
General Henry Clinton
General William Howe
General Thomas Gage
General Thomas Gage led British troops at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Despite ultimately taking the ground, British forces suffered heavy casualties. The battle demonstrated the colonists' determination and capability.
The Battle of Saratoga is often considered the turning point in the war because:
It ended the war in the North
It convinced France to join the American cause
It forced Britain to abandon its navy
It led to the capture of Washington
The American victory at Saratoga in October 1777 persuaded France that the colonists could win the war. France formally allied with the United States in 1778, providing crucial military and financial support. This shifted the balance against Britain.
Which act closed Boston Harbor until damages from the Tea Party were paid?
Stamp Act
Declaratory Act
Quebec Act
Intolerable Acts
In 1774, the British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, including the Boston Port Act, which closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for the destroyed tea. These punitive measures further inflamed colonial anger. The acts united many colonies in protest.
The phrase "No taxation without representation" was a rallying cry against which tax?
Tea Act
Stamp Act
Navigation Acts
Townshend Acts
Colonists objected to the Stamp Act of 1765 because it was imposed by Parliament where they had no elected representatives. 'No taxation without representation' encapsulated their demand that only their own colonial assemblies could levy taxes. The protest led to the act's repeal in 1766.
At which battle did Washington cross the Delaware River and surprise Hessian forces?
Trenton
Yorktown
Princeton
Monmouth
On the night of December 25 - 26, 1776, General Washington led Continental troops across the icy Delaware River and captured the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey, boosting morale. This surprise attack was a pivotal moment in the campaign.
Which pamphlet by Thomas Paine inspired American colonists to support independence?
Rights of Man
Common Sense
The American Crisis
Wealth of Nations
Published in January 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense argued forcefully for independence from Britain in clear, persuasive language. It sold over 100,000 copies and swayed colonial public opinion. Its impact was instrumental in the decision to declare independence.
Which European country provided significant naval support to the American cause in 1778?
Spain
Netherlands
Russia
France
France formally entered the war as an ally to the Americans in 1778, sending naval forces that challenged British sea power. French fleets helped isolate British troops at Yorktown in 1781, leading to the decisive surrender. French support was crucial to American victory.
What was the primary role of the Treaty of Alliance (1778) between the United States and France?
To secure French military aid for the American war effort
To annex British territories in Canada
To end the Revolutionary War
To establish diplomatic relations with Spain
The 1778 Treaty of Alliance committed France to military support of the United States until American independence was assured. It also promised neither party would make peace with Britain without the other's consent. This alliance changed the strategic balance.
Which battle marked the last major engagement of the Revolutionary War?
Trenton
Saratoga
Bunker Hill
Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown in October 1781 ended with General Cornwallis's surrender to Washington and French forces. While skirmishes continued, Yorktown effectively ended major combat operations. It paved the way for peace negotiations.
Who was the Prussian officer who helped train the Continental Army at Valley Forge?
Baron von Steuben
Comte de Rochambeau
Marquis de Lafayette
Casimir Pulaski
Baron Friedrich von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge in early 1778 and instituted rigorous drills, discipline, and organization in the Continental Army. His training methods greatly improved troop effectiveness. He authored a military manual used for decades.
What document replaced the Articles of Confederation as the framework of U.S. government?
Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
Federalist Papers
The U.S. Constitution, drafted in 1787 and ratified by 1788, replaced the weaker Articles of Confederation, creating a stronger federal government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It remains the supreme law of the land.
Which Native American confederacy primarily allied with the British during the Revolution?
Sioux Nation
Cherokee Nation
Iroquois Confederacy
Choctaw Nation
Most nations within the Iroquois Confederacy sided with Britain, hoping to protect their lands from colonial expansion. Their alliance provided British forces with logistical support. The war fractured the confederacy and had lasting regional impacts.
Who commanded the French expeditionary force that joined American troops at Yorktown?
Marquis de Lafayette
Baron von Steuben
Bernard de Gálvez
Comte de Rochambeau
French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, led nearly 6,000 French troops from Newport, Rhode Island, to Virginia in 1781. His forces coordinated with Washington's army at Yorktown, completing the siege. This Franco-American cooperation was decisive.
Which American naval officer famously declared, "I have not yet begun to fight" during a sea battle?
Oliver Hazard Perry
Francis Marion
Stephen Decatur
John Paul Jones
During the naval engagement between the Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis on September 23, 1779, John Paul Jones reportedly responded to an enemy demand for surrender with, "I have not yet begun to fight." His victory boosted American morale and naval reputation.
Which act required colonists to provide housing and supplies to British soldiers stationed in America?
Townshend Acts
Quartering Act
Stamp Act
Tea Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 (and its more stringent 1774 revision) compelled colonial assemblies to house and supply British troops. Colonists viewed it as another form of taxation and invasion of privacy. The act fueled growing resentment towards British authority.
Which principle from John Locke's political philosophy was most influential in the Declaration of Independence?
Principle of judicial review
Doctrine of divine right of kings
Theory of mercantilism
Natural rights to life, liberty, and property
Locke's theory that individuals possess inherent natural rights to life, liberty, and property directly informed Jefferson's wording of similar rights in the Declaration. This Enlightenment idea underpinned the colonists' argument that government must protect these rights. Locke's work was widely read in the colonies.
Under the Treaty of Paris (1783), which territory was ceded by Britain to the United States?
Nova Scotia
Florida
Land east of the Mississippi River
The Bahamas
The 1783 Treaty of Paris granted the United States territory east of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes, excluding Spanish Florida. This vast land cession doubled the size of the new nation. The treaty also recognized U.S. independence.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Pre-War Tensions -

    Explain how events like the Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, and Tea Party fueled colonial resistance and set the stage for the American Revolution.

  2. Identify Key Battles and Strategies -

    Recognize major engagements - from Lexington and Concord to Yorktown - and describe the military tactics that shaped the conflict.

  3. Analyze Political and Social Impacts -

    Examine how British policies and colonial protests influenced public opinion and political alliances leading up to independence.

  4. Recall Influential Figures -

    List pivotal leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and King George III, and summarize their contributions and perspectives.

  5. Evaluate Turning Points -

    Assess decisive moments - like the victory at Saratoga or French intervention - and explain how they shifted momentum in the revolution.

  6. Apply Knowledge to Quiz Scenarios -

    Use your understanding of events, figures, and outcomes to confidently tackle questions for the American Revolution quiz and test your mastery.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Stamp Act and "No Taxation Without Representation" -

    Enacted in 1765, the Stamp Act placed a direct tax on paper goods and ignited widespread colonial protest under the rallying cry "no taxation without representation." Use the mnemonic STAMP (Soldiers, Taxes And Many Protests) to recall how unified resistance led to its repeal in 1766 (Library of Congress).

  2. Boston Massacre and Tea Party Escalation -

    The 1770 Boston Massacre and 1773 Boston Tea Party illustrate how civilian outrage over British policies turned into bold acts of defiance. Remember BMT (Boston's Massacre Triggered) to link these events to the Intolerable Acts and growing colonial unity (National Archives).

  3. Declaration of Independence Structure -

    Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration is organized into four parts: preamble, rights, grievances, and conclusion. Try the acronym PRGC (Preamble, Rights, Grievances, Conclusion) to memorize its layout and understand how each section builds the case for independence (National Archives).

  4. Turning Point at Saratoga and French Alliance -

    The 1777 Battles of Saratoga convinced France to join the American cause in 1778, dramatically shifting the war's balance. Picture two dates - 9/19 and 10/7 - to recall the key victories, then link them to the 1778 Treaty of Alliance (Smithsonian Institution).

  5. Articles of Confederation's Weaknesses -

    Ratified in 1781, the Articles created America's first government but lacked federal taxation and enforcement powers, leading to financial chaos. Remember "No TAX, No ENFORCE" as a quick way to note why the 1787 Constitutional Convention became necessary (Yale University).

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