The American Revolution

by Bruce Bliven, 1958

A detailed account of the Revolutionary War. With this novel, students can go into depth about significant, sometimes local, battles of the war.

ISBN-13:  9780394846965

LEXILE SCORE:  1070L

BOOKSELLER                          


Discussion/Study Questions
Chapter 1: "A Young King Ends a Great War."
1. Why was the young King limited in what power he had over his people? What events caused him to be very careful in the way he exercised his power?
2. How did he attempt to "control" Parliament? What "tactics" did he use to make sure that Parliament was on his side?
3. Though the people of America hated Parliament, they loved their King. Why do you think this happened?

Chapter 2: "Quarrels Over Money"
1. Why did laws like the Navigation Acts and the Molasses Act affect New England more than other parts of the country?
2. Originally, smugglers were tried by King's Custom Officers who were mainly Englishman. Why were there many convictions in these courts? What happened when accused smugglers were later placed in front of colonial juries? (This we discussed in class.)
3. What does the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" mean? How does it apply to the Stamp Act?
4. Describe how Americans reacted to the Stamp Act. How did the new Prime Minister convince Parliament to repeal the law?

Chapter 3: "Americans Boycott British Goods"
1. What did the Declaratory Act say? Why does the author say it "made a law out of something the Stamp Act only implied"?
2. What were the Townshend Acts and how were they received here in the colonies?
3. How did the legislatures of New York and Massachusetts collide with the authority of Britain's Parliament?
4. Describe the role women played during the colonial boycott. Give examples of how the women helped this boycott work.
5. Why was John Hancock a popular man in Boston? Discuss the public's reaction to the British seizure of one of Hancock's ships. Why was a "customs official" a dangerous job at this time?

Chapter 4: "Boston: The Massacre and a Tea Party"
1. Prior to the incident on March 5, 1770, what were some unmistakable signs that there was trouble in Boston?
2. How does the account of the massacre in the book differ from Paul Revere's engraving (the picture we saw in class)?
3. Why was there a conflict over who should pay the governor of Massachusetts? What did each side want and why?
4. What was the purpose of Tea Act? Why did it anger so many colonists?
5. What events preceded the "Tea Party" in Boston?
6. How did the British react to the vandalism? What steps did they take to "punish" Boston?

Chapter 5: "The First Continental Congress"
1. What was the "war scare" that happened at the First Continental Congress? How did delegates at the Congress react to this news?
2. What was the "Association"? What role did "Committees of Inspection" play in this?
3. What was in the "Declaration of Rights" passed by the Congress?
4. What was King George's attitude towards the colonists at this point? Explain

Chapter 6: "Lexington and Concord"
1. Why was it difficult for the British to keep their movements a secret in Boston?
2. When the British arrived in Lexington, what did they find?
3. What did the colonists think when the British accidentally set fire to courthouse and blacksmith shop in Concord?
4. Describe what happened to the British on their return march to Boston.
5. How did neighboring colonists react to the news about the fighting at Lexington and Concord?

Chapter 7: "Bunker Hill"
1. For what main reason was George Washington chosen by the Second Continental Congress to command the Continental Army?
2. Explain why the colonists had such an advantage in the "high ground" during this battle. How did the British strategy lead to many casualties? Why weren't the colonists able to hold out indefinitely?
3. The author states the "the fighting was a forstate (preview) of something the war would prove." What is meant by this? What did this battle indicate?

Chapter 8: "The Americans Attack Canada"
1. What was the purpose of a military expedition into Canada?
2. The forces which invaded Canada were split into two parts. Which general was responsible for capturing Montreal? Did he succeed?
3. What troubles Benedict Arnold's men have?
4. What kept the Americans from successfully taking the fortress at Quebec? What factors led to Arnold's eventual withdrawal from Canada?

Chapter 9: The British Leave Boston and the Americans Declare Their Independence"
1. Why did the size of Washington's army keep shrinking?
2. What was Washington's plan he used to drive the British out of Boston? Why didn't General Howe, the British commander, put up a fight?
3. What steps did the Second Continental Congress take in April and May of 1777 that led to a break with England?
4. How did the people of England (and the King) feel about the "revolutionary steps" the colonies were taking?
5. Who was responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence?

Chapter 10: "Washington Loses, crosses the Delaware and Wins"
1. What were two reasons why the British chose New York City as their next target?
2. Give a few reasons why the British trounced the colonists at Brooklyn Heights.
3. Washington managed to escape a decisive defeat at White Plains. Why didn't General Howe pursue Washington?
4. What happened to some of the colonists taken prisoner by the British? (describe)
5. What happened to Washington's partner, General Lee?
6. Why didn't Howe pursue Washington into New Jersey and finish off the colonial army?
7. What was Washington's plan regarding Trenton? Why did it succeed? What effect did this victory have on the colonial army?
8. How did Washington manage to follow up this victory with another victory at Princeton?

Chapter 11: "Brandywine and Germantown"
1. What does the author suggest is the reasoning behind General Howe's "cautious" moves? Why didn't he ever seem to follow up on his victories?
2. What was the relationship between General Washington and the Marquis de La Salle?
3. When Howe and his army sailed up the Chesapeake Bay, when did Washington expect to try to stop them from taking Philadelphia?
4. Briefly describe the mistakes that were made by the colonial army that caused them to lose at Brandywine and Germantown.

Chapter 12: "The Saratoga Campaign"
1. What problems did General Burgoyne have on his march?
2. What happened to the Germans with Burgoyne at the battle of Bennington?
3. What happened to the British Colonel St Leger?
4. Briefly describe what happened at Saratoga. What was Benedict Arnold's role in this battle? Why do you think this victory was significant for the colonial army?

Chapter 16: "America's Most Famous Traitor"
1. Who was Peggy Shippen?
2. What effect did the court martial and Washington's reprimand have on Arnold?
3. Who was Major Andre?
4. What were the promises made between Andre and Arnold?
5. How was this plot uncovered? By whom?
6. What eventually happened to Major Andre? Who was Nathan Hale?