Name __________________________________________________ Date ______________________________
Chapter 13 The American Revolution
Building Vocabulary
Use words from the Word Bank to complete each sentence.
Word Bank
enlist
mercenary
tactic
treaty
turning point
1. People chose to ____________________, or agree to serve, in the army or navy.
2. A(n) ____________________ is a soldier hired to fight for a foreign army.
3. The ____________________ in the Revolution was the Battles of Saratoga because the Continental
army gained strong allies.
4. A formal agreement between two or more nations is called a(n) ____________________.
5. One ____________________, or planned action, used by Patriots was surprise attacks.
Big Ideas
Circle the letter next to the best answer.
6. Overthrowing one government and replacing it with another is called
A. a strategy.
B. a turnover.
C. a revolution.
D. an enlistment.
7. Why was it hard for the British to replace troops and supplies?
A. Their homeland was far away.
B. They made the Loyalists angry.
C. Parliament would not pay them.
D. Their army was poorly trained.
8. Which phrase describes a tactic of the Continental army?
A. desire to win
B. surprise attacks
C. food and supplies
D. control of key cities
9. Why is the Battle of Saratoga considered a turning point?
A. The British agreed to end the war.
B. The colonial victory persuaded France to give more help.
C. George Washington defeated the German mercenaries.
D. The British government took Florida from Spain.
10. Which of these was not an outcome of the Treaty of Paris?
A. All slaves in the army were freed.
B. Thousands of Loyalists fled.
C. The new nation got huge amounts of land.
D. Great Britain recognized the United States.
Reading Further
11. Which of these was part of the home front?
A. a battlefield
B. a family farm
C. a warship at sea
D. an army camp
12. Name two examples of a Continental army ally AND in what ways did these allies help the
Continental army?
13. What is an example of a way colonial women helped the Continental army?
14. Whose side did more American Indians fight on during the American Revolution AND why?
15. What is an example of an advantage the Continental army had over the British army?
16. What is an example of an advantage the British army had over the Continental army?
17. What did the Treaty of Paris achieve in 1783?
A. Great Britain agreed to pay the American war debt in full.
B. Great Britain gave the United States all of the land south of the Rio Grande.
C. Great Britain recognized the United States of America as an independent nation.
D. Great Britain returned control over Florida to France.
18. What was the last big battle of the American Revolution?
A. the Battle of Lexington
B. the Battle of Saratoga
C. the Battle of Trenton
D. the Battle of Yorktown
19. What is an example of an uncommon tactic that Continental soldiers used against the British?
A. Continental sharpshooters hid in the woods and shot British soldiers, one by one.
B. The Continental army used their better-trained troops to openly engage British troops in battle.
C. Continental soldiers seized Philadelphia in an attempt to force the British army into the open.
D. The Continental army kept control of Boston because they knew the British wanted it.
20. How did the British army use its strengths to try to win the war?
A. It allowed the Continental army to control the cities, because it controlled the woods.
B. It fought an offensive war, with the aim of controlling key cities.
C. It tried to protect itself from attacks by waging a defensive war.
D. It used uncommon tactics, such as making surprise attacks on small groups of Continental
soldiers.
21. The Continental soldiers had a strong motivation to win because they
A. were paid to fight and win the war.
B. would receive large land grants if they won.
C. wanted to prevent Spain from conquering them.
D. were fighting for a better future for their families.
22. One major advantage of the Continental army over the British army was that it
A. fought at home and could easily get supplies.
B. was well supplied by British naval ships.
C. was better funded and prepared for war.
D. had one of the strongest military forces in the world.
23. Why was Great Britain so confident it would end the revolution quickly?
A. It had one of the strongest military forces in the world.
B. It allied itself with France and Spain against the colonists.
C. It believed the colonists were not serious about independence.
D. It paid thousands of American soldiers to run away from battles.
Social Studies Skills
Use this painting of the Continental army at Valley Forge to answer the questions.
24. At what time of year does this scene take place? How can you tell?
25. Describe something about the soldiers’ clothing that adds to their discomfort.
26. List two ways in which the men are trying to keep warm.
27. Why might the painter have felt proud of the Americans in this painting?
Show You Know
28. Suppose that you are one of these people in the American Revolution:
________ a soldier in the British army
________ a soldier in the Continental army
________ a woman helping the colonial soldiers
Put a check mark on the line beside the person you choose. Now, write a letter home to your family.
Your letter should include
• an explanation of why you are on this side.
• an example of your day-to-day experience in the war.
• at least one advantage you see for your side.
• at least one disadvantage or hardship you see for your side.