Chapter Six Recreating America: Independence and a New Nation, 1775-1783

Chapter Six

Recreating America: Independence and a

New Nation, 1775-1783

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 6-2

Berkin, Making AmericaChapter 6

American weaknesses during the War for Independence included all the following except

1. underpaid soldiers.

2. officers with little military training.

3. unscrupulous profiteers.

4. no foreign support.



American weaknesses during the War for Independence included all the following except

4. no foreign support.

Hint: Because this statement is not true, it is the correct choice. France, Holland, and Spain supported America. See pages 111–112.



Washington moved his army from Massachusetts to New York City because

1. the colonists of Massachusetts were able to protect themselves.

2. supplies necessary to an army were easier to obtain in New York.

3. British strategy focused on it because it had many loyalists.

4. he anticipated that Burgoyne would march south from Canada into New York.



Washington moved his army from Massachusetts to New York City because

3. British strategy focused on it because it had many loyalists.

Hint: The British hoped to capitalize on the presence of many loyalists in the middle colonies. See page 108.



The Battle of Saratoga was important because it

1. raised the possibility of French support for the Americans.

2. ended the siege of New York.

3. encouraged the Americans to sue for peace.

4. damaged the prestige of the British command structure.



The Battle of Saratoga was important because it

1. raised the possibility of French support for the Americans.

Hint: See page 111.



Friedrich von Steuben contributed to Washington's ragged army by

1. helping train and discipline the raw recruits.

2. using his personal wealth to supply troops.

3. heading up the important army engineering operations.

4. lending prestige and respectability to the Continental Army.



Friedrich von Steuben's chief contributed to Washington's ragged army by

1. helping train and discipline the raw recruits.

Hint: He was an excellent drillmaster. See page 112.



France decided to support America during its war for independence because

1. it had just gone through its own revolution and sympathized with people who rebelled against tyranny.

2. the French foreign minister had been bribed by American diplomats.

3. Catholics (the French) and Protestants (the British) were still enemies.

4. of her losses to Britain in the Great War for Empire.



France decided to support America during its war for independence because

4. of her losses to Britain in the Great War for Empire.

Hint: France hoped to regain some of the territory and international status that it had lost to Britain during the Great War for Empire. See page 112.



To meet the problem of insufficient hard currency, Congress

1. raised taxes.

2. printed paper money.

3. abolished the gold standard.

4. coined copper instead of silver money.



To meet the problem of insufficient hard currency, Congress

2. printed paper money.

Hint: Congress resorted to printing paper currency as the supply of hard currency fell. See page 113.



Which of the following statements regarding the fighting at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 is most accurate?

1. It demonstrated the incompetence of the American army.

2. It proved that George Washington was a military genius.

3. It showed the value of French support for the American cause.

4. It pointed out the superiority of land over naval forces.



Which of the following statements regarding the fighting at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 is most accurate?

1. It demonstrated the incompetence of the American army.

Hint: A French army and the French navy were crucial elements in the victory over the British at Yorktown. See pages 117–118.



To fight the war, the British relied on 1. loyalist guerrilla forces.

2. a plan to detach New England from the rest of the colonies.

3. Hessian mercenaries.

4. All of these



To fight the war, the British relied on

4. All of these

Hint: Because a, b, and c are true, this is the correct choice.



In negotiating an end to the war, America's diplomats

1. insisted on Canada's return to France.

2. gave up all claims for access to the fisheries off Newfoundland.

3. forced the British to recognize American independence as the price for even beginning the negotiations.

4. fought so much with each other that the British were able to take advantage of them.



In negotiating an end to the war, America's diplomats

3. forced the British to recognize American independence as the price for even beginning the negotiations.

Hint: The American delegation declared that this was their precondition to any negotiations at all. In other words, they refused to negotiate for American independence. See page 118.



The revolutionary era's emphasis on protecting the rights of the individual led to

1. granting women full property rights.

2. laws guaranteeing freedom of religion.

3. the abolition of indentured servitude.

4. the disestablishment of churches in all of the states.



The revolutionary era's emphasis on protecting the rights of the individual led to

2. laws guaranteeing freedom of religion.

Hint: Virginia led the way in its 1786 Statute of Religious Freedom; other states followed suit. See page 119.

Documents

Chapter Six Recreating America: Independence and a New Nation, 1775-1783