CAASPP Reading Worksheet – American Revolution - Ashley Parker | Library

Passage 1: The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
On the night of April 18, 1775, a silversmith named Paul Revere set out on a daring mission. The British army was preparing to march from Boston to seize weapons stored by the American colonists in Concord. The Patriots needed to warn the townspeople and militia that the British were coming.
Revere and two other riders, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, rode through the countryside spreading the alarm. "The British are coming!" Revere called out as he galloped from town to town. Lanterns had been placed in the Old North Church—one if by land, two if by sea—to signal how the British troops were advancing.
Though Revere was eventually captured by the British, his mission was a success. The colonial militias were ready, and the first battles of the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord the next day.

Questions 1-7

1

What was the purpose of Paul Revere’s ride?

1

What signal was used to indicate the British were coming by sea?

1

How did Paul Revere’s actions contribute to the outcome of the American Revolution? Use details from the passage to support your answer.

1

How does the phrase “spreading the alarm” in paragraph two help the reader understand the urgency of the situation?

1

Compare Paul Revere’s role to another historical figure who delivered an important message. What similarities and differences do you notice?

1

Rewrite this event from the perspective of a British soldier. How might the events of that night be described differently?

1

Imagine the Patriots had not received Revere’s warning in time. How might history have changed?

1

Why did the colonists protest the Tea Act?

1

What was the main effect of the Boston Tea Party?

1

How did the Boston Tea Party help unite the American colonists? Use evidence from the text.

1

How does the author’s use of the word “resistance” in paragraph two emphasize the colonists' determination?

1

Compare the Boston Tea Party to another protest in history. What common themes or motivations do you see?

1

If you were a British leader, how would you have responded differently to the Boston Tea Party to avoid conflict? Explain your reasoning.

1

Write a speech from the perspective of a colonist arguing either for or against the Boston Tea Party. Include at least three supporting points.

1

How did both Paul Revere’s ride and the Boston Tea Party contribute to the growing tensions between the American colonists and the British government? Use evidence from both passages.

1

What similarities exist between the colonists’ motivations in the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere’s midnight ride? Explain how both events show the colonists’ desire for independence.

1

If you had to choose, which event—Paul Revere’s ride or the Boston Tea Party—do you think had a bigger impact on the American Revolution? Justify your answer with evidence from both passages.