American Revolution Study Guide
Assessment is Thursday
Name __________________________
SS4H4 The student will explain the causes, events, and results of the American
Revolution.
a. Trace the events that shaped the revolutionary movement in America, including the French and Indian War, British Imperial Policy
that led to the 1765 Stamp Act, the slogan “no taxation without representation,” the activities of the Sons of Liberty, and the Boston
Tea Party.
b. Explain the writing of the Declaration of Independence; include who wrote it, how it was written, why it was necessary, and how it
was a response to tyranny and the abuse of power.
c. Describe the major events of the American Revolution and explain the factors leading to American victory and British defeat;
include the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and Yorktown.
d. Describe key individuals in the American Revolution with emphasis on King George III, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin,
Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry, and John Adams.
1. Watch the following BrainPOP videos in chronological order: (The password is in your agenda.)
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/thirteencolonies/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/frenchandindianwar/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/causesoftheamericanrevolution/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/americanrevolution/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/declarationofindependence/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/usconstitution/
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/billofrights/
 You may want to take the BrainPOP quizzes that are with each video.
2. Use what you have read/learned in class, your notes, BrainPOP videos and PowerPoints on our class website to
complete the questions/fill-in-the-blanks below.
1. What was the beginning of all of the causes that started the cause/effect
chain that eventually led to the American Revolution? French and Indian War
2. Other causes that upset the colonists and led to the American Revolution
were:
a. Proclamation of 1763
d. Boston Massacre
b. Quatering Act
e. The Intolerable Acts
c. Stamp Act
f. The Tea Act
3. What does “no taxation without representation” mean? It means that the
colonists thought it was unfair to impose taxes on them without them having
a say in the government.
4. The Sons of Liberty were a group of men who were Patriots. What types of
things/activities would they do to help the colonists gain their freedom from
Britain? Organize protests/boycotts, such as Boston Tea Party; encouraged
colonists to support separation/war with British
5. The Second Continental Congress was a group of delegates from the 13
Colonies that became the government for the American revolutionaries.
They met to decide how to fight the war that had already began and how to
declare _independence_ from Great Britain.
6. The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written by __Thomas
Jefferson__It was approved by _the Second Continental Congress/John
Hancock____ on July 4, 1776.
7. What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? To declare
independence from Great Britain
8. When a government abuses its power it is called tyranny. How did the
British government (Parliament and the King) abuse their power over the
colonists? By imposing unfair laws and taxes without allowing the colonists
to have representation
There were several battles of the Revolutionary War that were fought. Read about
the following battles using your History Alive and Social Studies texts’ indexes and
tell who won each battle (line to the left) and write a summary sentence about
why each battle is important.
__British_ Battles of Lexington and Concord – first battles of the American
Revolution; happened BEFORE the Declaration of Independence was signed;
“Shot Heard ‘Round the World”
__Colonists__ Battle of Saratoga - “turning point of the war” with the help from
France
_ Colonists _ Battle of Yorktown - last battle of American Revolution; British
surrendered
Match the historical figures of the American Revolution to the important information about each.
______ 1. George Washington
A. was a Patriot who made an angry speech against the Stamp Act; exclaimed
During one speech, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
______ 2. King George III
B. a Patritiot and a lawyer who defended the British soldiers that were part of
the Boston Massacre, so that he could show Britain that the colonial courts
were fair.
______ 3. Benjamin Franklin
C. helped to create and write the Declaration of Independence; wanted a Bill
of Rights added to the Constitution
______ 4. Thomas Jefferson
D. abused his powers (tyranny) when he ruled over the colonists and imposed
unfair laws and taxes that angered the colonists
______ 5. Benedict Arnold
E. author of the pamphlet Common Sense that tried to convince colonists to
declare independence
______ 6. Patrick Henry
F. Patriot and inventor; served on the Continental Congress; convinced France
to help the Colonial Army win the war; attended the Constitutional
Convention that created our Constitution
______ 7. John Adams
G. fought in the French and Indian War for the British; later was chosen by the
Second Continental Congress to lead the Continental Army
______ 8. Thomas Paine
H. led many attacks against the British; was a traitor because he started
working for the British against the colonists.
Fill in the blank.
1. After the Revolutionary War ended, the Treaty of Paris was signed.
2. The Articles of Confederation were created. This was a document that
described a new national government for the former American colonies. The
Articles were approved by the states in 1781 and were replaced by the
Constituion in 1789.
3. A meeting called the Constitutional Convention was held to improve the
Articles of Confederation.
4. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation because the Articles
of Confederation were said have limited powers and gave too much power to
the individual states.
5. The Constitution created a strong national government and divided the
government into three parts.
6. The three parts of the national government, included; legislative branch
(make the laws), executive branch (carry out, or execute the laws) and the
judicial branch (would settle disagreements over the meaning of the laws.)