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[1] The war was not just a historic military event1. It was also a great political one, for it propelled the colonies to unite, to organize, and –in July 1776—to declare their independence2. Having done so, they fought with even greater determination, defending now not just a set of principles, but an actual, fledgling nation3. By the end of the war, they had created new governments at both the state and national level and had begun experimenting with new political forms that would distinguish the United States from any previous nation in history4.

[2] The war was also important for its effects on American society—for the way it shook (although never overturned) the existing social order; for the way it cause women to question (although seldom openly to challenge) their place in society; and for the way it spread notions of liberty and freedom throughout a society that in the past had often been rigidly hierarchical and highly deferential1. Even African-American slaves absorbed some of the ideas of the Revolution, although it would be many years before they would be in any position to make very much use of them2.

[3] Victory in the American Revolution solved many of the problems of the new nation, but it also produced others1. What should the United States do about its relations with the Indians and with its neighbors to the north and south? 2 What should it do about the distribution of western lands? 3 What should it do about slavery? 4 How should it balance its commitment to liberty with its need for order? 5 These questions bedeviled the new national government in its first years of existence and ultimately led Americans to create a new political order. 6

[from Brinkley, American History, 11E, p. 33]

1

According to the author of this passage, the Revolutionary War was not a historic military event, but it was a great political event.
A)True
B)False
2

According to the author, the declaration of independence made those who fought on the side of the new nation fight harder.
A)True
B)False
3

The war utterly changed the social in the new nation.
A)True
B)False
4

With the end of the war, all of the former colonists’ problems were solved.
A)True
B)False
5

According to the author, which of the following distinguished the new nation from any previous nation in history?
A)fighting for independence
B)winning a war against a larger foe
C)new political forms
D)greater freedom for women and slaves
6

Which of the following would not have represented a major reevaluation of the social order as described in paragraph 2?
A)establishing the rights of wealthy white men
B)establishing the rights of women
C)establishing the rights of slaves
D)establishing the rights of laborers
7

Which of the following sentences best expresses the main idea of the last paragraph?
A)1
B)3
C)5
D)6
8

The word “bedeviled” in paragraph 3, sentence 6 means:
A)bewitched
B)troubled
C)wrecked
D)tricked





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