1. Courtney Castro
5th Grade
Topic: Revolutionary War
Learning Objectives: Identify Key Events, Dates and
People of the Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War was a huge turning point in American history. With this Webquest you
will find out what caused the War, some of the main battles and important people in the War, as
well as a few primary documents and groups that became the foundation of our country’s
government.
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/4thjuly.cfm
Scroll down to the summary at the bottom of the page. Read the paragraphs and answer the
following questions regarding the causes of the Revolutionary War:
1. What was the first act imposed by the British government to increase taxes in the
colonies?
2. What happened at the Boston Massacre of 1770?
3. When did King George III declare the colonies in rebellion?
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intolerable_Acts
Read the section labeled Background and answer the following question:
4. What did the colonists want in return for taxation? What slogan did the colonists use to
represent their desires?
Next, read the section entitled Passage and answer the questions about the Intolerable Acts
below:
5. What act was the cause of the first four Intolerable Acts?
6. What are the first four Intolerable Acts? What did they mean for the colonists?
http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/revolutionary_people.
html
Read the sections on George Washington, John Paul Jones, and John
Adams then answer the following questions:
7. Who led the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain,
presided over the Constitutional Convention, and was the first
President of the United States of America?
8. Who was the founding father of the United States Navy? What ship did he command
when he defeated the British ship Serapis?
9. What role did John Adams play in the Boston Massacre trial?
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html
Scroll down to the red section that says People Important to the American Revolution. First,
click on the first link under Paul Revere and answer the following question:
10. Who was Paul Revere sent to Lexington to warn? What was he sent to warn them about?
3. Next, click on the second link under Thomas Jefferson. Read the Overview and answer the
question below:
11. What document was Thomas Jefferson know for being the author of?
Now click on the first link below Lord Charles Cornwallis. Read the page and answer the
question:
12. In what town did Lord Cornwallis and the British surrender? What was the result of the
surrender?
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/amrevolution/amflash2.htm
Using the Interactive Battle Map click on the towns of Boston, Valley Forge, and Saratoga and
read the information provided. Then answer the questions below:
13. Where were the first shots of the Revolutionary War fired?
14. How come so many people died during the winter spent at Valley Forge?
15. Why was the Battle of Saratoga one of the most significant battles of the Revolutionary
War?
http://www.historycentral.com/Revolt/battles.html
Click on the links Battle of Trenton, Arnold a Traitor, and Battle of Germantown. Answer the
questions below:
16. What was the outcome of the Battle of Trenton? What did this do for American morale?
17. Why was Benedict Arnold considered a traitor?
4. 18. Was the Battle of Germantown successful? Why or why not?
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html
Read about the Declaration of Independence and answer the following questions:
19. Describe the difference between the “Patriots” and the “Loyalists”.
20. Who were the five men appointed to write the Declaration of Independence?
21. What day was the Declaration of Independence adopted and our nation officially born?
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0362-first-continental-congress.php
Read about the First Continental Congress and answer the question below:
22. What resolution was passed at the First Continental Congress?
23. What happened for the first time in American History at the First Continental Congress?
24. How many delegates met at the First Continental Congress?
http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/amrev/sccedit.htm
Read about the Second Continental Congress and answer the questions below:
25. Why did the Second Continental Congress meet?
26. Who was the Second Continental Congress planning on appointing commander in chief?
5. 27. What petition did Congress use to try to settle the conflict with compromise? Did it
work?
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_timeline.html
Answer the questions below:
28. What happened in February of 1778? Why was that important to the World?
29. What happened in September 1783?
30. What happened in April 1775?
The next two links are games that will help you use your knowledge of the Revolutionary War.
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road.html
http://www.quia.com/rd/49005.html?AP_rand=1640059940
*You can use the Timeline website to help you out!
6. Answer Key
1. What was the first act imposed by the British government to increase taxes in the
colonies?
The Stamp Act
2. What happened at the Boston Massacre of 1770?
An angry mob incited a soldier to fire into the crowd. The ensuing mayhem caused five
deaths.
3. When did King George III declare the colonies in rebellion?
August 23, 1775
4. What did the colonists want in return for taxation? What slogan did the colonists use to
represent their desires?
Representation in the Government- “No taxation without representation”
5. What act was the cause of the first four Intolerable Acts?
The Boston Tea Party
6. What are the first four Intolerable Acts? What did they mean for the colonists?
The Boston Port Act- closed the Boston Harbor until the East India Tea Company was
repaid for the tea that was destroyed.
The Massachusetts Government Act- all positions in the colonial government were to be
appointed by the governor or the king.
The Administration of Justice Act- allowed the governor to move trials of accused royal
officials to another colony or even to Great Britain if he believed the official could not
get a fair trial in Massachusetts
The Quartering Act- allowed a governor to house soldiers in other buildings if suitable
quarters were not provided
7. Who led the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain, presided over the
Constitutional Convention, and was the first President of the United States of America?
George Washington
8. Who was the founding father of the United States Navy? What ship did he command
when he defeated the British ship Serapis?
John Paul Jones - the Bonhomme Richard
9. What role did John Adams play in the Boston Massacre trial?
He was the lawyer the defended the British soldiers.
10. Who was Paul Revere sent to Lexington to warn? What was he sent to warn them about?
John Hancock and Samuel Adams He was sent to warn Lexington that the Red Coats
(British) were coming to town.
11. What was Thomas Jefferson know for being the author of?
The Declaration of Independence
12. In what town did Lord Cornwallis and the British surrender? What was the result of the
surrender?
7. Yorktown It was the end of the Revolutionary War
13. Where were the first shots of the Revolutionary War fired?
Lexington
14. How come so many people died during the winter spent at Valley Forge?
Unsanitary conditions and it was so bitter cold that many people died.
15. Why was the Battle of Saratoga one of the most significant battles of the Revolutionary
War?
It marked the turning point in the war and proved America’s independence.
16. What was the outcome of the Battle of Trenton? What did this do for American morale?
It was the first American victory of the war and helped restore American morale.
17. Why was Benedict Arnold considered a traitor?
He was going to turn his command, West Point, over to the British for money and a
position as a General in the British Army.
18. Was the Battle of Germantown successful? Why or why not?
No, the attack failed because it was foggy and the coordination broke down.
19. Describe the difference between the “Patriots” and the “Loyalists”.
“Patriots” are Colonists who did not wish to remain British subjects and those who
remained faithful to England called themselves "Loyalists."
20. Who were the five men appointed to write the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger
Sherman
21. What day was the Declaration of Independence adopted and our nation officially born?
July 4, 1776
22. What resolution was passed at the First Continental Congress?
The Congress decided that British Parliament did not have the right to pass laws in the
colonies, and only had the right to regulate trade between the colonies and Great Britain.
23. What happened for the first time in American History at the First Continental Congress?
The 13 colonies were working together as a group and not individual colonies.
24. How many delegates met at the First Continental Congress?
56
25. Why did the Second Continental Congress meet?
Because the British government ignored the First Continental Congress, to discuss
governmental issues and unite the colonies for war.
26. Who was the Second Continental Congress planning on appointing commander in chief?
George Washington
27. What petition did Congress use to try to settle the conflict with compromise? Did it
work?
The Olive Branch Petition. No the Congress did not think he would comply.
28. What happened in February of 1778? Why was that important to the World?
8. France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States and the American Revolution
becomes a world war.
29. What happened in September 1783?
A peace treaty is signed between Great Britain and the United States.
30. What happened in April 1775?
The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.
