American Revolution and Formation of USA is part of World History. Below are notes on 44 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers.

Background: British Colonial Policies and Mercantilism

  • Mercantilism: British economic theory (17th-18th cent.) where colonies served as sources of raw materials and captive markets for the mother country; aimed at accumulating wealth (bullion) through favorable balance of trade.
  • Navigation Acts (from 1651): Series of British laws mandating that colonial trade be conducted on British or colonial ships; certain "enumerated goods" (e.g., tobacco, sugar) could only be shipped to Britain; restricted colonial economic autonomy.
  • Salutary Neglect (pre-1763): British policy of lax enforcement of trade laws, allowing colonies significant self-governance and economic freedom, fostering a sense of independence.
  • Post-Seven Years' War (1763) Shift: Britain, facing large war debts and costs of maintaining new territories, ended salutary neglect and began imposing stricter controls and new taxes on colonies.
  • Proclamation of 1763: Forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, aiming to prevent conflict with Native Americans and regulate expansion, but seen by colonists as an infringement on their rights.
  • Samuel Crompton (1779): Invented the 'Mule' machine for spinning strong, fine yarn.
  • Richard Arkwright (1769): Invented the 'Water Frame' for weaving pure cotton clothes.
  • Edmund Cartwright (1787): Invented the 'Power Loom' for weaving various materials.
  • James Watt: Converted the steam engine from a mere pump into one providing energy to power factory machines.
  • McAdam: Innovated road construction methods (macadamized roads).
  • Elias Howe: Invented the sewing machine.
  • Studying the History of Science is considered important in conjunction with philosophy.
  • Sugar Act (1764): Lowered the duty on molasses but increased enforcement and broadened scope of goods taxed; first act designed explicitly to raise revenue from colonies.
  • Stamp Act (1765): Imposed a direct tax on printed materials (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards) in the colonies; sparked widespread protests, "no taxation without representation," and colonial boycotts; repealed 1766.
  • Declaratory Act (1766): Passed simultaneously with the repeal of the Stamp Act, asserting Parliament's full authority "to make laws and statutes... to bind the colonies and people of America... in all cases whatsoever."
  • Townshend Acts (1767): Imposed duties on imported goods like glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea; established a Board of Customs Commissioners to enforce trade laws; led to renewed boycotts and unrest.
  • Tea Act (1773): Granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, allowing it to sell tea directly at lower prices but retaining the Townshend duty; intended to save the company, seen by colonists as a trick to accept taxation, leading to the Boston Tea Party.
  • Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts, 1774): Punitive measures enacted by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party; included the Boston Port Act (closed Boston Harbor), Massachusetts Government Act (curtailed self-government), Administration of Justice Act (allowed trials of officials in Britain), and a new Quartering Act.
  • Quebec Act (1774): Extended Quebec's boundaries into the Ohio Valley, granted religious freedom to Catholics, and established a non-representative government for Quebec; seen by colonists as threatening their westward expansion and Protestant identity.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): Repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820; allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to determine the legality of slavery within their borders through "popular sovereignty"; intensified sectional tensions, leading to violence ("Bleeding Kansas").

Battle of Saratoga (October 1777)

Decisive American victory under General Horatio Gates. Considered the turning point of the war, as it convinced France to formally ally with the Americans, providing crucial military, naval, and financial support.

Battle of Yorktown (September-October 1781)

Final major battle of the war. A combined Franco-American force (George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, and Admiral de Grasse's French fleet) besieged British General Cornwallis, forcing his surrender. This effectively ended major British military operations in North America.

American Strategy

Employed Fabian tactics (strategic retreats, avoiding decisive engagements until favorable conditions) by George Washington, focusing on attrition and prolonged resistance. Guerrilla warfare was also utilized.

George Washington's Leadership

Provided extraordinary military leadership, maintaining army morale through harsh conditions, executing strategic retreats, and coordinating effectively with French allies.

Geographic Remoteness

Vast distance of the American continent from Britain, leading to long, vulnerable supply lines and communication delays. Lack of good roads further complicated troop movement and logistics.

Logistical Challenges

Difficulty in supplying and reinforcing troops across the Atlantic and within the large American territory.

Failure to Rally Loyalists

British authorities largely failed to effectively mobilize and utilize the significant Loyalist population, who remained fragmented and often unprotected.

Underestimation of American Resolve

British command consistently underestimated the depth of American commitment to independence.

European Conflicts

Britain was simultaneously engaged in wars with France, Spain, and the Netherlands, diverting resources from the American conflict.

American Advantages

    • Strong motivation for independence among a significant portion of the population.
    • Familiarity with the local terrain.
    • Crucial foreign aid (military, naval, financial) from France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic. Americans often lacked superior arms and ammunition, relying heavily on these foreign supplies.

Economic Stability

  • Economic Stability The new republic faced massive debt from the Revolutionary War and lacked a stable national currency.

Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plan (First Treasury Secretary)

Proposed federal assumption of state debts, creation of a National Bank (First Bank of the United States, 1791) to manage finances, establish credit, and provide a stable currency, protective tariffs, and an excise tax on whiskey.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Western Pennsylvania farmers protested the federal excise tax on whiskey; President Washington led federal troops to suppress the rebellion, demonstrating the new government's authority under the Constitution.

Political Factions

Emergence of the Federalist Party (led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, advocating a strong central government, pro-business, and loose interpretation of the Constitution) and the Democratic-Republican Party (led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, advocating states' rights, agrarian interests, and strict interpretation of the Constitution).

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Federalist-controlled Congress passed these laws, restricting immigrant rights and limiting criticism of the government. This led to the

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799), drafted by Jefferson and Madison, asserting states' rights to nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

nullify

federal

laws

deemed

unconstitutional.

  • Foreign Policy Challenges Navigating neutrality amidst ongoing wars between Britain and France, both major US trading partners.

Neutrality Proclamation (1793)

President Washington declared the United States neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain.

Jay's Treaty (1794)

Negotiated with Great Britain to resolve postRevolutionary issues (e.g., British occupation of western forts, trade disputes, impressment of sailors); avoided war but was highly controversial and unpopular.

Pinckney's Treaty (Treaty of San Lorenzo, 1795)

Negotiated with Spain, granting the US navigation rights on the Mississippi River and the right of deposit (transfer goods) at New Orleans, and resolving Florida's boundary dispute.

XYZ Affair (1797-1798)

A diplomatic incident between US and France, where French agents (X, Y, Z) demanded a bribe to negotiate, leading to an undeclared naval "Quasi-War" and heightened anti-French sentiment.

Richard Nixon

The only US President to resign from office (1974) before impeachment proceedings could be completed, due to the Watergate scandal.

Shipbuilding Centers (State Matches)

Houston - Texas; Sparrows Point - Maryland; New Orleans - Louisiana. Camden is a shipbuilding center primarily located in New Jersey, not Florida.

Enlightenment Ideals and Colonial Grievances

  • Enlightenment thinkers (John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire) significantly influenced American revolutionary leaders' political ideas.
  • Locke's concept of natural rights (life, liberty, property) was particularly influential, adapted in the Declaration of Independence.
  • A primary colonial grievance and slogan was 'No taxation without representation'.
  • American merchants frequently organized boycotts of British products to protest policies.
  • The Boston Tea Party incident occurred in 1773 AD, protesting the Tea Act.
  • The First Continental Congress, held in Philadelphia in September 1774, took the following decisions:
    • Rejected a plan for a colonial union under British authority.
    • Drew up a statement of grievances addressed to the British Crown.
    • Agreed upon a scheme to stop trade between the Colonies and England (boycott).
  • The American Declaration of Independence (1776) declared unalienable rights including Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Foreign Intervention and the Decisive Role of France

France, motivated by revenge against Britain 1. (Seven Years' War), began covertly aiding American revolutionaries with arms and loans from 1776. Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy in Paris was 2. instrumental in securing French support. The American victory at the Battle of 3. Saratoga (1777) convinced France of America's viability, leading to open alliance. Treaty of Alliance (1778): France formally 4. recognized American independence and entered into a military alliance, pledging naval and land support. French contributions included significant 5. financial aid, military supplies, trained officers (e.g., Marquis de Lafayette), and substantial naval and land forces (e.g., Comte de Rochambeau's army, Admiral de Grasse's navy). French naval superiority and land forces were 6. decisive at the Siege of Yorktown (1781), blocking British escape and forcing Cornwallis's surrender. French intervention transformed the Americ7. an Revolution into a global conflict, diverting British resources away from the American mainland. The 'Statue of Liberty' was a gift from France 8. to the USA, symbolizing the lasting friendship and alliance forged during the American Revolution.

Impact of Seven Years' War (1756-1763)

    • Britain gained Canada, Florida from France, ending French threat to colonies.
    • Significant British war debt.
    • Ended 'salutary neglect'; Britain sought to assert greater control & compel colonies to contribute to defense costs.

Molasses Act (1733)

British trade regulation imposing duties on foreign molasses; largely evaded by colonists.

Grenville's Ministry (1763-1765)

Initiated new policies to raise revenue and assert imperial authority. Key acts:

Sugar Act (1764)

Replaced Molasses Act, lowered duty on molasses but enforced collection strictly.

Stamp Act (1765)

First direct tax on colonists; required stamps on all printed materials (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards).

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonies to provide housing and supplies for British troops.

Stamp Act (1765) & Colonial Response

    • Triggered widespread protest, slogan "No taxation without representation."

Stamp Act Congress (October 1765, New York City)

Delegates from 9 colonies met to protest the Act.

    • Repealed by Parliament in

1766 due to colonial boycotts and protests.

    • Declaratory Act (1766) Passed simultaneously, asserting Parliament's full authority to make laws binding the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

Townshend Acts (1767)

    • Imposed indirect duties on imported glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea.
    • Aimed to raise revenue to pay salaries of colonial governors and judges.
    • Led to renewed colonial boycotts and protests.
    • Most duties repealed in

1770, except for the tax on tea.

  • Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts, 1774)
    • Passed by Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party.
    • Punitive measures, including closing Boston Port, altering Massachusetts' colonial government, and expanding the Quartering Act.
    • Made reconciliation between Britain and her American colonies virtually impossible.

April 19, 1775

Battles of Lexington and Concord. First battles of the American Revolutionary War, where British soldiers met Colonial Militia.

9. French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

May 10, 1775

Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia.

July 4, 1776

American Declaration of Independence adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

Major Personalities and Leadership (e.g., George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin)

  • George Washington: First President of the USA. Appointed Commander-in-Chief of American forces at the Second Continental Congress in 1775.
  • Thomas Paine: Authored the revolutionary pamphlet "Common Sense".
  • Abraham Lincoln: Described democracy as "Government of the People, for the People and by the People".
  • John Adams: First President to take residence in the White House (November 1, 1800).
  • The White House: Official residence and workplace of the US President. Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. A symbol of American Democracy.
  • Presidents of the USA mentioned: Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, James Buchanan.
  • James A. Garfield: Assassinated while in office.
  • Zachary Taylor and William H. Harrison: Died while in office (not assassinated).

key government/military posts, collected feudal dues.

      • Third Estate (Commoners): ~97% population (peasants, artisans, bourgeoisie). Paid all direct taxes (taille), indirect taxes, feudal dues, and tithes. Lacked political representation.
    • Privileges: First & Second Estates enjoyed vast privileges (tax exemption, special legal treatment, feudal rights) resented by the Third Estate.
    • Rising Bourgeoisie: Wealthy middle class within the Third Estate (merchants, lawyers, doctors) sought political influence commensurate with their economic power.
  • Economic Causes:
    • Financial Crisis: Massive national debt due to lavish royal spending (Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette) and costly wars (e.g., American War of Independence).
    • Inequitable Taxation: Third Estate bore almost entire tax burden, while privileged estates largely escaped.
    • Food Scarcity: Poor harvests in late 1780s led to soaring bread prices, widespread hunger, and rural unrest.
    • Inflation & Unemployment: Contributed to widespread poverty and social discontent.
  • Political Causes:
    • Absolute Monarchy: Inefficient, corrupt, and arbitrary rule of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who were perceived as out of touch.
    • Lack of Representation: Estates-General (parliamentary body) had not been convened since 1614, denying the populace any say in governance.
    • Influence of American Revolution: Demonstrated successful overthrow of monarchical rule and establishment of republican ideals.
  • Intellectual Causes (The Enlightenment):
    • Philosophes challenged traditional authority, advocating reason, individual rights, liberty, and equality.
    • Voltaire: Criticized absolute monarchy, the Church, advocated religious tolerance and freedom of speech. (Not Dante, who was not a contributor to the French Revolution's intellectual base).
    • Rousseau: Advocated popular sovereignty and the 'general will'. Famously stated, "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains" (from *The Social Contract*).
    • Montesquieu: Proposed separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent tyranny (*The Spirit of the Laws*).
    • Diderot: Editor of the *Encyclopédie*, which disseminated Enlightenment ideas across Europe.
    • These intellectual predecessors were crucial; Napoleon Bonaparte reportedly acknowledged their role, stating, "Without the French Revolution would not have taken place" (referring to the Enlightenment thinkers).

Practice MCQs: American Revolution and Formation of USA

Background: British Colonial Policies and Mercantilism

  1. Who invented sewing machine?

    Asked in: Field Investigator 2020 · UPSC CDS 1 2019

    1. Elias Howe
    2. Will Brand
    3. N. R. Finsen
    4. Henry Se Greaterhead
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Elias Howe

    This question tests knowledge of historical inventions and their inventors, focusing on significant technological advancements. B. The Act did not permit the territories the right to vote over the question of slavery. C. The voice of the majority in regard to the issue of slavery was muzzled. D. The Federal Government had the sole authority to decide on slavery. Ans: A - The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. - It introduced the principle of popular sovereignty, allowing residents of the territories to decide on slavery.

Course of the War: Key Battles and Strategies (e.g., Saratoga, Yorktown)

  1. Which of the following was/were the reasons for the defeat of British during the American War of Independence ? 1. The remoteness of the American Continent and the lack of good roads 2. The British authorities failed to rally the loyalist Americans 3. The Americans benefited from the extraordinary military leadership of George Washington 4. The Americans had access to superior arms and ammunition

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 2 2016

    1. 1, 2 and 4
    2. 3 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

    Factors contributing to American victory included geographical challenges for Britain, British strategic errors, American leadership, foreign aid (especially from France), and strong American motivation.

Early Challenges of the New Republic (e.g., economic stability, political factions, foreign policy)

  1. Who among the following Presidents of USA resigned before he could be impeached?

    Asked in: UPSC Geoscientist 2021

    1. Richard Nixon
    2. Andrew Johnson
    3. Bill Clinton
    4. Jimmy Carter
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Richard Nixon

    - Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, amidst the Watergate scandal. - The House Judiciary Committee had already approved articles of impeachment, and it was widely expected that the full House would vote to impeach him. - Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House of Representatives but were acquitted by the Senate and thus remained in office. - Jimmy Carter completed his term but was not re-elected; he did not face impeachment proceedings.

  2. Which one of the following is NOT correctly matched ? Shipbuilding Centre State - Texas - Maryland - Louisiana - Florida

    Asked in: RO ARO pre 2016

    1. Houston
    2. Sparrows Point
    3. New Orleans
    4. Camden
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Camden

    Camden is a shipbuilding center in New Jersey, not Florida.

Enlightenment Ideals and Colonial Grievances

  1. Which of the following is/are the right/rights mentioned in the 'American Declaration of Independence'? 1. Life 2. Liberty 3. Pursuit of Happiness 4. Fraternity Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 1 2022

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. 2, 3 and 4
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 1, 2 and 3

    The American Declaration of Independence lists Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness as fundamental, unalienable rights.

  2. Which of the following was/were among the decisions taken by the First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in September 1774 ? 1. It rejected a plan for a colonial union under the British authority. 2. It drew up a statement of grievances. 3. It agreed upon a scheme to stop trade between the Colonies and England. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 2 2019

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 1 and 2 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

    - Rejected Galloway Plan (colonial union under British authority). - Issued Declaration of Rights and Grievances. - Formed the Continental Association to enforce a trade boycott.

  3. Consider the following statements concerning the American War of Independence : The Americans raised the slogan, 'No taxation without representation'. The American merchants resorted to the boycott of the British products. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 2 2019

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements accurately describe key aspects of the lead-up to and the American War of Independence. The slogan "No taxation without representation" was a central grievance of the American colonists, protesting against taxes imposed by the British Parliament where they had no elected representatives. This was a major catalyst for the revolution. American merchants and colonists frequently organized boycotts of British goods, such as in response to the Stamp Act (1765) and the Townshend Acts (1767). These boycotts were a powerful tool of economic resistance against British policies.

  4. What important influence did John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire have on the United States?

    Asked in: PPSC CS Prelims 2021

    1. They were Europeans who came to help the Americans fight the British in the Revolution.
    2. They were European political thinkers who influenced the ideas of American leaders at the time of the Revolution.
    3. They were Europeans whose inventions sparked the American Industrial Revolution around 1800.
    4. They were European philosophers who met with Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. They were European political thinkers who influenced the ideas of American leaders at the time of the Revolution.

    Enlightenment thinkers like Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire provided key philosophical ideas that shaped the American Revolution and the political framework of the United States.

  5. In which year the incident of ‘Boston Tea Party’ took place ?

    Asked in: Forest Guard Examination 2022

    1. 1773 AD
    2. 1648 AD
    3. 1453 AD
    4. 1618 AD
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 1773 AD

    The Boston Tea Party, a significant act of protest against British taxation policies, took place in 1773.

Foreign Intervention and the Decisive Role of France

  1. Which country gifted the 'Statue of Liberty' to the USA?

    Asked in: AESE (RECRUITMENT TEST) 2025

    1. Germany
    2. France
    3. Canada
    4. England
    Show answer

    Answer: B. France

    This is a well-known historical fact concerning a prominent international monument.

Impact of the Seven Years' War and Taxation Policies (e.g., Stamp Act, Townshend Acts)

  1. Directions: The following two (2) items consist of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the code given below. 111. Statement I : The passing of the Coercive Acts made reconciliation between Britain and her American colonies virtually impossible. Statement II : The British Parliament, having issued the Stamp Act in 1765, repealed it later. Code :

    Asked in: UPSC CDS 1 2017

    1. Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
    2. Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
    3. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
    4. Statement I is false but Statement II is true
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I

    Statement I accurately describes the impact of the Coercive Acts on Anglo-American relations. Statement II accurately describes the passage and repeal of the Stamp Act. The repeal of the Stamp Act (1766) is historically separate from and does not explain the impact of the Coercive Acts (1774).

  2. When did the Stamp Act Congress consisting of delegates from 9 of the 13 colonies of America meet in New York City?

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 2 2018

    1. 1763
    2. 1764
    3. 1765
    4. 1766
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 1765

    The Stamp Act, which imposed a tax on various paper documents in the British colonies in America, was passed by the British Parliament in March

  3. In response to this act and the principle of "taxation without representation," representatives from nine of the thirteen colonies met for the Stamp Act Congress in New York City in October 1765. 13. Which among the following was not one of the four Regulations proposed by Greenville in America? (1) Iron Factories Act (2) Molasses Act (3) Stamp Act (4) Quartering Act

    Asked in: Headmaster (Secondary School) 2018

    1. Iron Factories Act
    2. Molasses Act
    3. Stamp Act
    4. Quartering Act
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Iron Factories Act

    Grenville's policies were a series of acts aimed at increasing British control and revenue from the American colonies, which ultimately contributed to the growing tensions that led to the American Revolution.

Key Events: From Lexington and Concord to the Declaration of Independence

  1. At which of the following was the American Declaration of Independence adopted on 4 July, 1776 ?

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 1 2021

    1. Washington Conference
    2. San Francisco Conference
    3. Second Continental Congress
    4. First Continental Congress
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Second Continental Congress

    The Second Continental Congress served as the governing body of the American colonies during the American Revolutionary War. It convened in May 1775, following the outbreak of hostilities.

  2. In 1775, where was the first battle of the American Revolution fought, when a thousand British soldiers met the Colonial Militia ?

    Asked in: PPSC CS Prelims 2018

    1. Boston
    2. Lexington
    3. Jamestown
    4. Trenton
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Lexington

    The Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, marked the outbreak of armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in mainland North America. The confrontation began in Lexington, where a small group of colonial militia (Minutemen) faced a larger force of British regulars. While Concord also saw fighting, Lexington is historically recognized as the site where the first shots were fired.

Major Personalities and Leadership (e.g., George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin)

  1. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘White House’ : 1. The address of the White House is 1800 Pennsylvania Avenue. 2. It is the official residence and workplace of the President of USA. 3. On November 1 1800 John Adams became the first President to take residence in the building. 4. It is a symbol of American Democracy. Which of the above statements are correct?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 69th

    1. 1, 3 and 4
    2. Only 2 and 3
    3. Only 3 and 4
    4. 2, 3 and 4
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 2, 3 and 4

    Statement 1 is incorrect; the official address of the White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., not 1800. Statement 2 is correct; it is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Statement 3 is correct; John Adams, the second U.S. President, moved into the White House on November 1, 1800, becoming the first President to reside there. Statement 4 is correct; the White House is widely considered a powerful symbol of the American presidency, the executive branch of the U.S. government, and the nation itself, representing American democracy.

  2. George Washington was made the Commander in Chief of the American forces

    Asked in: UPSC CDS 1 2017

    1. in December 1773, after the Boston Tea Party
    2. at the First Continental Congress in September 1774
    3. at the Second Continental Congress in 1775
    4. by the Continental Congress at the Declaration of Independence on 4th July, 1776
    Show answer

    Answer: C. at the Second Continental Congress in 1775

    The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia starting in May 1775, shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord had initiated the American Revolutionary War. One of its crucial early decisions was to establish a unified Continental Army and appoint a commander.

  3. Who among the following American Presidents described democracy as “Government of the People, for the People and by the People”?

    Asked in: UPSC NDA 1 2022

    1. Abraham Lincoln
    2. Thomas Jefferson
    3. George Washington
    4. John F. Kennedy
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is one of the most important speeches in American history and provides a concise and powerful definition of democratic government.

  4. Who among the following never became the President of United States of America?

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2019

    1. Herbert Hoover
    2. Geraldin Ford
    3. Calvin Coolidge
    4. James Buchanan
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Geraldin Ford

    Herbert Hoover (31st President, 1929–1933), Calvin Coolidge (30th President, 1923–1929), and James Buchanan (15th President, 1857–1861) all served as Presidents of the United States. Geraldine Ford was the wife of the 38th U.S. President, Gerald Ford, and served as the First Lady from 1974 to 1977. She herself never held the office of President.

  5. Which of the following American Presidents was assassinated while in office?

    Asked in: Computer Programmer 2021

    1. Zachary Taylor
    2. William H. Harrison
    3. James A. Garfield
    4. None of them
    Show answer

    Answer: C. James A. Garfield

    Several US Presidents have been assassinated while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. Zachary