Deck 3: Independence and the Birth of a National Military

Question 1

How did Parliament respond to the Sons of Liberty's destruction of the East India Tea Company's property?

A) They passed the Coercive Acts.
B) They enforced the previously neglected Sugar Act.
C) They passed the Stamp Act.
D) They imposed the Townshend Duties.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Since the protests were influential on Parliament's decision to repeal: What was the most important consideration the Stamp Act?

A) It did not raise the intended revenue.
B) They realized that they had no real authority over the colonies.
C) The Stamp Act created widespread anger back in London.
D) The colonists' protests economically crippled England.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Americans were fighting what type of war against the British?

A) defensive
B) offensive
C) attritional
D) maneuver

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What system was inadvertently created by allowing each state to retain its own militia in tandem with the creation of the Continental Army?

A) dual army
B) the militia tradition
C) citizen soldiers
D) guerilla warfare

Question 5

What British commander sought to split the colonies in two in 1777?

A) John Burgoyne
B) Charles Cornwallis
C) William Howe
D) Henry Clinton

Question 6

In August 1776, where did Major General William Howe outflank and defeat Washington?

A) Long Island
B) White Plains
C) Harlem Heights
D) Kips Bay

Question 7

Which series of engagements ended with the surrender of British general John Burgoyne, and in turn led to a military alliance with France?

A) Saratoga
B) Ticonderoga
C) Bennington
D) Long Island

Question 8

Why did the British opt to move operations southward after 1778?

A) They sensed a strategic opportunity in the possibility of retaking colonies that were economically valuable to the British Empire.
B) They were losing manpower in the form of less British soldiers.
C) They had hopes of greater Loyalist participation in the southern colonies.
D) They had lost four consecutive battles in a row.

Question 9

Greene's strategy in the southern colonies was one that contained which of the following?

A) a strategy based on a direct assault to destroy the British army in the field
B) irregulars to raid the British outposts
C) continental soldiers to support the irregulars
D) massive plundering, rapes and assaults on those who stood in his way

Question 10

How did the French affect naval warfare upon their entrance into the war?

A) They kept Henry Clinton bottled up in New York lest he get caught at sea by the French.
B) They had no effect on British control of the seas.
C) They exerted little effect on British control of the seas.
D) They decimated Britain's navy.

Question 11

Why did Cornwallis gather his forces at Yorktown?

A) It afforded easy support from the sea for resupply or rescue.
B) It provided ample land access and was protected by large hills.
C) The French had yet to make their way into Virginia.
D) Nathaniel Greene had lost the southernmost states for the rebel cause.

Question 12

What proposal by officers of the Continental Army attempted to force Congress to provide them with more than the promised half-pay?

A) Newburgh Conspiracy
B) Conway Cabal
C) continental mutinies
D) Shays Rebellion

Question 13

How did Shays Rebellion call attention to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

A) It warned that a weak federal government could not protect its citizens.
B) It proved that many wealthy Americans were still very upset.
C) It hinted that a strong government led to tyranny.
D) It proved that Congress had too much political power.

Question 14

Which of these was Congress empowered to create under Article 1 of the Constitution?

A) an army and navy
B) an army
C) a navy
D) a navy and marine corps

Question 15

Which Article of the Constitution made the president the Commander in Chief of the military?

A) Article I
B) Article II
C) Article III
D) Article IV

Question 16

How did colonists view westward expansion? How did the British government? In what ways did their differing visions generate conflict?

Question 17

Describe the assets and liabilities of both belligerents in the American War of Independence. Based on these factors, which side should have won? Why?

Question 18

Why was the choice of Washington as commander of the Continental Army so significant? Did he prove the right man for the job? Why or why not? Support your answer.

Question 19

How had the overall strategic situation altered by 1778 in the Revolutionary War? How did this effect America's standing with regards to British strategic priorities?

Question 20

What was the role of the Continental Navy in the war effort?

Question 21

Why was the French presence important in securing a final success at Yorktown?

Question 22

What was the Newburgh Conspiracy and how did it affect civil-military relations in the United States? How did Washington's leadership break the support for whatever conspiracy ever existed?

Question 23

What conditions led to the outbreak of Shays' Rebellion? What were the actions of the rebels? Of the Massachusetts government? Why did the rebellion eventually collapse?

Question 24

What concerns did the representatives meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 have to balance with regards to the defense establishment? How did they attempt to balance these competing issues? What were the shortcomings of their responses? How successful were their solutions overall?

Question 25

How did the Bill of Rights address specific concerns about the role of the military in American society?