Question 1

The idea of "American exceptionalism" that developed in the Revolutionary era refers to what belief?

Accepted Answer

A)  American slavery and dispossession of Native Americans of their lands prevented the United States from representing freedom to the world. 
B)  The swift equalizing of women's rights after the founding of the United States made the nation a great symbol of freedom for the world. 
C)  The swift equalization of political power among all economic classes after the founding of the United States made the nation a great symbol of freedom for the world. 
D)  The United States has a special mission to serve as a refuge from tyranny and a model of universal freedom for the rest of the world. 
E)  The United States is unique in its position as the first democracy the world has ever seen. 
A)  American slavery and dispossession of Native Americans of their lands prevented the United States from representing freedom to the world. 
B)  The swift equalizing of women's rights after the founding of the United States made the nation a great symbol of freedom for the world. 
C)  The swift equalization of political power among all economic classes after the founding of the United States made the nation a great symbol of freedom for the world. 
D)  The United States has a special mission to serve as a refuge from tyranny and a model of universal freedom for the rest of the world. 
E)  The United States is unique in its position as the first democracy the world has ever seen.

Question 2

British possessions in the West Indies

Accepted Answer

A)  were handed over to the new United States in the Treaty of Paris. 
B)  issued their own declarations of independence in the late 1770s. 
C)  remained loyal to the crown because their leaders feared slave uprisings. 
D)  all fell into the hands of the French as a result of the American Revolution. 
E)  were divided during the American Revolution, with some islands sending regiments to the Continental army. 
A)  were handed over to the new United States in the Treaty of Paris. 
B)  issued their own declarations of independence in the late 1770s. 
C)  remained loyal to the crown because their leaders feared slave uprisings. 
D)  all fell into the hands of the French as a result of the American Revolution. 
E)  were divided during the American Revolution, with some islands sending regiments to the Continental army.

Question 3

Who argued that "true liberty" could only be achieved by remaining in the British empire?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ben Franklin 
B)  Sam Adams 
C)  Ethan Allen 
D)  George Washington 
E)  Joseph Galloway 
A)  Ben Franklin 
B)  Sam Adams 
C)  Ethan Allen 
D)  George Washington 
E)  Joseph Galloway

Question 4

What proportion of the colonies' free white male population aged 16-45 died in the Revolutionary War?

Accepted Answer

A)  one in ten 
B)  one in twenty 
C)  one in fifty 
D)  one in seventy-five 
E)  one in one hundred 
A)  one in ten 
B)  one in twenty 
C)  one in fifty 
D)  one in seventy-five 
E)  one in one hundred

Question 5

How did the British government predominantly view the American colonies prior to the Revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  as an expensive and troublesome responsibility that many in Parliament were eager to be free from 
B)  as an economic possession, the inhabitants of which were merely employees of the empire and had no political rights whatsoever 
C)  as a "sister nation," destined for independence, but as of yet too immature and economically undeveloped to rule itself 
D)  as a "confederation of equals" with British citizens, highly involved in creating British laws and thus obligated to respect them 
E)  as unequal parts in a larger political and economic system, strictly subject to the rulings of Parliament 
A)  as an expensive and troublesome responsibility that many in Parliament were eager to be free from 
B)  as an economic possession, the inhabitants of which were merely employees of the empire and had no political rights whatsoever 
C)  as a "sister nation," destined for independence, but as of yet too immature and economically undeveloped to rule itself 
D)  as a "confederation of equals" with British citizens, highly involved in creating British laws and thus obligated to respect them 
E)  as unequal parts in a larger political and economic system, strictly subject to the rulings of Parliament

Question 6

What was one of the lasting impacts of the arguments made in the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

A)  The American colonists were distracted by guaranteeing human rights for the rest of the world rather than at home. 
B)  The explicit references to equality of the sexes were a boon to women's rights and helped ensure women's role in the new government. 
C)  The claims regarding natural rights-life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness-have inspired many other colonies to assert their own independence, 
D)  The class-based arguments and rejection of individual self-fulfillment have often been used to justify social inequality in the United States. 
E)  The extensiveness of the arguments ensured that a separate constitution did not need to be written in the future. 
A)  The American colonists were distracted by guaranteeing human rights for the rest of the world rather than at home. 
B)  The explicit references to equality of the sexes were a boon to women's rights and helped ensure women's role in the new government. 
C)  The claims regarding natural rights-life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness-have inspired many other colonies to assert their own independence, 
D)  The class-based arguments and rejection of individual self-fulfillment have often been used to justify social inequality in the United States. 
E)  The extensiveness of the arguments ensured that a separate constitution did not need to be written in the future.

Question 7

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was originally drafted by John Adams and then edited by Benjamin Franklin. 
B)  It claimed a natural right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." 
C)  It deliberately limited its arguments to colonists of the British empire. 
D)  It argued that the British constitution implicitly guaranteed the right to claim independence. 
E)  The final version contained a stern condemnation of the slave trade. 
A)  It was originally drafted by John Adams and then edited by Benjamin Franklin. 
B)  It claimed a natural right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." 
C)  It deliberately limited its arguments to colonists of the British empire. 
D)  It argued that the British constitution implicitly guaranteed the right to claim independence. 
E)  The final version contained a stern condemnation of the slave trade.

Question 8

The British Parliament's 1774 Quebec Act

Accepted Answer

A)  banned the Catholic Church in Quebec, in hopes of securing the loyalty of Massachusetts colonists. 
B)  granted the province of Quebec to New York, in hopes of securing the loyalty of New York colonists. 
C)  granted legal toleration to the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, which heightened opposition to British rule among many Protestant colonists. 
D)  granted Quebec independence from Britain, hoping to enlist the Quebecois in any future conflicts with the colonies. 
E)  returned all former tribal lands in Quebec to the Indian tribes. 
A)  banned the Catholic Church in Quebec, in hopes of securing the loyalty of Massachusetts colonists. 
B)  granted the province of Quebec to New York, in hopes of securing the loyalty of New York colonists. 
C)  granted legal toleration to the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, which heightened opposition to British rule among many Protestant colonists. 
D)  granted Quebec independence from Britain, hoping to enlist the Quebecois in any future conflicts with the colonies. 
E)  returned all former tribal lands in Quebec to the Indian tribes.

Question 9

Crispus Attucks

Accepted Answer

A)  defended in court the British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre. 
B)  organized the boycott of British imports following the Townshend Act. 
C)  was the first person of mixed race to serve in the Continental Congress. 
D)  has been called the first martyr of the American Revolution. 
E)  died bravely at the Battle of Concord. 
A)  defended in court the British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre. 
B)  organized the boycott of British imports following the Townshend Act. 
C)  was the first person of mixed race to serve in the Continental Congress. 
D)  has been called the first martyr of the American Revolution. 
E)  died bravely at the Battle of Concord.

Question 10

Why did colonists object to the Tea Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would aid a different part of the empire rather than their own. 
B)  By paying it, they would be acknowledging Great Britain's right to tax the colonists. 
C)  It granted a monopoly, and the colonists opposed all forms of monopoly. 
D)  The British East India Company made inferior tea, and colonists preferred not to drink it. 
E)  It raised the tax on tea so much as to make tea prohibitively expensive. 
A)  It would aid a different part of the empire rather than their own. 
B)  By paying it, they would be acknowledging Great Britain's right to tax the colonists. 
C)  It granted a monopoly, and the colonists opposed all forms of monopoly. 
D)  The British East India Company made inferior tea, and colonists preferred not to drink it. 
E)  It raised the tax on tea so much as to make tea prohibitively expensive.

Question 11

What role did Samuel Seabury play during the Revolutionary period?

Accepted Answer

A)  He led the British troops that fought Washington throughout the Northeast. 
B)  He served as a representative in the Continental Congress from New York. 
C)  He was a silversmith who spoke eloquently against taxation without representation. 
D)  He headed the publishing house that produced Common Sense. 
E)  He was a colonial minister who remained loyal to the British. 
A)  He led the British troops that fought Washington throughout the Northeast. 
B)  He served as a representative in the Continental Congress from New York. 
C)  He was a silversmith who spoke eloquently against taxation without representation. 
D)  He headed the publishing house that produced Common Sense. 
E)  He was a colonial minister who remained loyal to the British.

Question 12

Which of the following statements accurately describes the allegiance of Native American tribes during the War for Independence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tribes living east the Mississippi River exclusively supported the Americans, while tribes in the West exclusively supported the British. 
B)  The tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy all agreed to support the Americans and doubled the size of the American army. 
C)  Tribes individually decided which side to support based on which they believed more likely to support their own ideas of freedom. 
D)  Most tribes successfully maintained neutrality throughout the conflict and, thus, were able to protect their towns. 
E)  The Cherokees exclusively supported the British and ensured that they followed the traditional rules of warfare. 
A)  Tribes living east the Mississippi River exclusively supported the Americans, while tribes in the West exclusively supported the British. 
B)  The tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy all agreed to support the Americans and doubled the size of the American army. 
C)  Tribes individually decided which side to support based on which they believed more likely to support their own ideas of freedom. 
D)  Most tribes successfully maintained neutrality throughout the conflict and, thus, were able to protect their towns. 
E)  The Cherokees exclusively supported the British and ensured that they followed the traditional rules of warfare.

Question 13

The author of "An Alarm to the Legislature of the Province in New-York" equated freedom with

Accepted Answer

A)  religion. 
B)  British tyranny. 
C)  sedition. 
D)  property ownership. 
E)  Indians' right to use land. 
A)  religion. 
B)  British tyranny. 
C)  sedition. 
D)  property ownership. 
E)  Indians' right to use land.

Question 14

What role did the Committees of Correspondence play in the years preceding the revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  They opened up effective channels of communication between the colonists and their Indian allies. 
B)  They allowed the British to enforce taxes and regulations more efficiently. 
C)  They exacerbated tensions between Protestants and Catholics in the colonies. 
D)  They helped colonial leaders to share ideas on resisting taxation. 
E)  They created an irreparable rift between northern and southern states. 
A)  They opened up effective channels of communication between the colonists and their Indian allies. 
B)  They allowed the British to enforce taxes and regulations more efficiently. 
C)  They exacerbated tensions between Protestants and Catholics in the colonies. 
D)  They helped colonial leaders to share ideas on resisting taxation. 
E)  They created an irreparable rift between northern and southern states.

Question 15

With the Sugar Act, Britain

Accepted Answer

A)  attempted to force the North American colonies to import more sugar from the British West Indies. 
B)  abolished slavery on all colonial sugar plantations. 
C)  required colonists to work for wages on Barbadian sugar plantations. 
D)  cracked down on smuggling by prosecuting accused smugglers without the benefit of a jury trial. 
E)  required South Carolina and Virginia to shift their main crops to sugar. 
A)  attempted to force the North American colonies to import more sugar from the British West Indies. 
B)  abolished slavery on all colonial sugar plantations. 
C)  required colonists to work for wages on Barbadian sugar plantations. 
D)  cracked down on smuggling by prosecuting accused smugglers without the benefit of a jury trial. 
E)  required South Carolina and Virginia to shift their main crops to sugar.

Question 16

What was one of the outcomes of the Stamp Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lower-class riots in response to the act began to worry elite rulers and landholders. 
B)  The Stamp Act Congress insisted that the right to consent to taxation was essential to people's freedom. 
C)  The Stamp Act Congress adopted the Declaratory Act, which formally defined American liberties. 
D)  Thomas Jefferson publicly stated that revolting against Great Britain had become necessary. 
E)  Disagreements about the best response to the act split colonial governments into opposing factions. 
A)  Lower-class riots in response to the act began to worry elite rulers and landholders. 
B)  The Stamp Act Congress insisted that the right to consent to taxation was essential to people's freedom. 
C)  The Stamp Act Congress adopted the Declaratory Act, which formally defined American liberties. 
D)  Thomas Jefferson publicly stated that revolting against Great Britain had become necessary. 
E)  Disagreements about the best response to the act split colonial governments into opposing factions.

Question 17

Prior to the Seven Years' War, Britain had not tried to regulate the colonies' economy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Writs of assistance alarmed colonists because they

Accepted Answer

A)  required colonists to assist British officials in administering the Stamp Act. 
B)  were general search warrants that allowed customs officials to search anywhere they chose for smuggled goods. 
C)  required stamps for all kinds of printed material. 
D)  required colonists to retrieve the tea thrown into Boston Harbor. 
E)  imposed new taxes on goods imported from the Caribbean. 
A)  required colonists to assist British officials in administering the Stamp Act. 
B)  were general search warrants that allowed customs officials to search anywhere they chose for smuggled goods. 
C)  required stamps for all kinds of printed material. 
D)  required colonists to retrieve the tea thrown into Boston Harbor. 
E)  imposed new taxes on goods imported from the Caribbean.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best explains colonial resistance to the Sugar Act?

Accepted Answer

A)  It made rum much more expensive to produce and thus to purchase. 
B)  It doubled the price on sugar, making it too expensive for middle-class consumers. 
C)  It allowed smugglers to pay a fine rather than being tried in a court with a jury. 
D)  It outlawed the admiralty courts and forced smugglers to stand trial in London. 
E)  It was expected to worsen an existing economic recession. 
A)  It made rum much more expensive to produce and thus to purchase. 
B)  It doubled the price on sugar, making it too expensive for middle-class consumers. 
C)  It allowed smugglers to pay a fine rather than being tried in a court with a jury. 
D)  It outlawed the admiralty courts and forced smugglers to stand trial in London. 
E)  It was expected to worsen an existing economic recession.

Question 20

The Regulators were concerned primarily with

Accepted Answer

A)  the secure possession of their land. 
B)  protecting the privilege of the rich and powerful. 
C)  helping the British to enforce new regulations. 
D)  returning land to Native Americans. 
E)  abolishing slavery. 
A)  the secure possession of their land. 
B)  protecting the privilege of the rich and powerful. 
C)  helping the British to enforce new regulations. 
D)  returning land to Native Americans. 
E)  abolishing slavery.

Exam 5: The American Revolution, 1763-1783

The idea of "American exceptionalism" that developed in the Revolutionary era refers to what belief?

British possessions in the West Indies

Who argued that "true liberty" could only be achieved by remaining in the British empire?

What proportion of the colonies' free white male population aged 16-45 died in the Revolutionary War?

How did the British government predominantly view the American colonies prior to the Revolution?

What was one of the lasting impacts of the arguments made in the Declaration of Independence?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Declaration of Independence?

The British Parliament's 1774 Quebec Act

Crispus Attucks

Why did colonists object to the Tea Act?

What role did Samuel Seabury play during the Revolutionary period?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the allegiance of Native American tribes during the War for Independence?

The author of "An Alarm to the Legislature of the Province in New-York" equated freedom with

What role did the Committees of Correspondence play in the years preceding the revolution?

With the Sugar Act, Britain

What was one of the outcomes of the Stamp Act?

Prior to the Seven Years' War, Britain had not tried to regulate the colonies' economy.

Writs of assistance alarmed colonists because they

Which of the following statements best explains colonial resistance to the Sugar Act?

The Regulators were concerned primarily with

A New World

Beginnings of English America, 1607-1660

Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750

Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763

The Revolution Within

Founding a Nation, 1783-1791

Securing the Republic, 1790-1815

The Market Revolution, 1800-1840

Democracy in America, 1815-1840

The Peculiar Institution

An Age of Reform, 1820-1840

A House Divided, 1840-1861

A New Birth of Freedom: the Civil War, 1861-1865

What Is Freedom: Reconstruction, 1865-1877

Americas Gilded Age, 1870-1890

Freedoms Boundaries, at Home and Abroad, 1890-1900

The Progressive Era, 1900-1916

Safe for Democracy: the United States and World War I, 1916-1920

From Business Culture to Great Depression: The Twenties, 1920-1932

The New Deal, 1932-1940

Fighting for the Four Freedoms: World War II, 1941-1945

The United States and the Cold War, 1945-1953

An Affluent Society, 1953-1960

The Sixties, 1960-1968

The Conservative Turn, 1969-1988

From Triumph to Tragedy, 1989-2004

A Divided Nation

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