10 Questions: The American Revolution Multiple Choice Quiz | History

Answer: Lexington and Concord

Lexington and Concord would be 'the shot that was heard around the world' and the opening rounds of the Revolution. Forty-nine colonials were KIA, 39 were wounded, and 5 would go MIA. The British had 73 KIA, 174 wounded, and 53 went missing.

Answer: Kips Bay near Lexington and 23rd

Kips Bay is near the docks on the east side of the city on the other side of the Business District 17 miles from the World Trade Center on Lexington Ave.

Answer: Tim Murphy

It was one shot that changed the battle. When the battle started Gates was playing low-ball and attempted to sit the battle out while his men were getting killed. Gates also relieved Benedict Arnold of command after Gates argued with Arnold over battle tactics. Arnold disobeyed orders, stole a horse and he and his men rode to the camp of Daniel Morgan and his snipers. Morgan approached Arnold, and demanded to know why Arnold of all people was in his camp? "Arnold, what the hell are you doing here? Has General Gates restored your command?" Arnold responded "Damn that idiot Horatio Gates to Hell I'm here to win this battle not listen to that old fool. Simon Fraser is coming I need you and your men to take him out." Arnold pointed out Fraser and Morgan sent Tim Murphy up a tree to kill him.

The first shot missed. The second spooked his horse. On the third shot Tim Murphy shot Fraser in the gut and he fell dead. Two minutes later a messenger arrived with orders; Tim Murphy shot him in the head. Arnold then rode out and met the British and they put two bullets in his leg and dropped a horse on him. Arnold was taken to the hospital and Gates stole his victory. Morgan then rode to York to report the battle and Congress restored Arnold to command and Washington and Congress fired Gates after Morgan told them Gates was an idiot and that he, Tim Murphy, and Arnold won the battle, not Gates.

Answer: Baron von Steuben

It would be Baron von Steuben who would shape Washington's grunts into the men they are. After months of training General Washington and his men were ready to defeat the British at Yorktown.

Answer: Culper Ring

The Culper Ring was responsible for bringing down the British. Robert Townsend (alias Culper Jr. would write a message and head to the edge of town and hand it to Austin Roe. Roe would take the bag to Abraham Woodhull (aka Culper Sr.) and bury it until Brewster arrived. Once Brewster arrived in town Anna Strong would do her laundry and hang black petticoats on her line with handkerchiefs to mark where Woodhull had hidden the bag. Brewster would then go to Woodhull's farm and they would dig up the bag, retrieve the message, and Caleb Brewster would mount a horse and ride to Valley Forge to deliver the letter to George Washington or he would give it to Lafayette to deliver to the French Fleet.

This trapped Clinton in New York who attacked Long Island and a dummy fort.

The French Fleet then sank the British and a storm did the rest. The stage was now set to engage Cornwallis and end the war.

Answer: Yorktown

Yorktown was the final battle. Cornwallis thought Clinton would back him up along with Burgoyne. Cornwallis was wrong he was on his own Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, Howell also surrendered and was captured at Trenton, Clinton lost his fleet and had to go back to New York, and Arnold was headed back to England. Washington captured Pennsylvania and marched south to Yorktown without telling his troops. Upon reaching Yorktown Washington and his men tunneled into the British trenches then they went overland to Yorktown.

The French arrived and Cornwallis was cornered trying to escape. Cornwallis was then forced to surrender.

Answer: The Delaware Crossing

On Christmas Eve 1776 George Washington loaded his grunts, 72 pack horses, and all 18 of Henry Knox's artillery guns into the back of a Durham boat and 12 flat barges. They took all day to cross the river, and on the morning of December 26, 1776 Washington and his grunts invaded Trenton and drove the Hessians out and defeated Colonel Rall who was killed by his own guns.

Answer: Common Sense

'Common Sense' was the most read book in the States. Thomas Paine wrote it himself on a drum head and called for support of the Revolution and for America to rebel against the British. 'Common Sense' is so popular that the Library of Congress has encouraged reprints of the book, and it is still in use today. It is given to our troops in their care packages, and is required reading.

Answer: The Declaration of Independence

The Document that started it all. In June 1776 Jefferson put pen to paper and wrote it out. One July 2 it was approved and ratified. Two days later on July 4th was the vote and all 56 men signed it.

The Preamble reads: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

The Declaration later goes on to charge King George with tyranny and all the illegal laws he has placed on the citizens of the United States. (This section was written by John Adams).

The Preamble and the Denunciation were written by Franklin with the opening paragraph and the conclusion written by Jefferson.

Answer: The Newburgh Conspiracy

In 1783 at the end of the Revolution, Washington and his grunts set up camp at Newburgh in preparation for discharging the men. None of them have been paid, and Congress did nothing. Horatio Gates and John Armstrong wrote a treason letter to start a mutiny, to remove Washington from command, and replace him with Gates. Washington found out about this, and called a meeting. Gates opened the meeting, and announced plans to mutiny. Washington threw the doors open, and walked up to the pulpit causing a stunned Gates to sit down. Washington then got out his speech and started to read but he had become blind in his left eye that he had to pull out his glasses. Washington then spoke. "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country." after he was done talking all thoughts of rebellion were quenched and Gates and Armstrong were relieved of command.