Question

defining the issues
the american revolution began as an argument over the application of british law to colonial american citizens. the disagreement originated because of a need for money. great britain had incurred a great debt fighting the seven years war to protect its colonial interests and believed it only fair that the colonists should pay their share of the costs. therefore the americans were taxed as english citizens.
many colonials saw the situation differently. they hated new taxes and questioned the authority of parliament to tax them without representation, believing that only colonial legislatures could pass laws affecting them. a growing group of patriots fought the laws by both legal and \illegal\ means. declarations, petitions, and articles were written to dispute the hated parliamentary acts, while violent and non-violent demonstrations were held to rally support for their position.
still, many colonists did not agree with the patriot point of view. loyalists or tories supported king george and the mother country, arguing that colonists were no different from other british citizens and were, in some ways, treated even better. colonial taxes, for example, were lower than those paid by people in england. loyalists were grateful for britains defense against the french and indians and considered taxation a small price to pay for security.
the issue, the patriots argued, was not one of money but of freedom. the fact that people have \inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness\ was not supported by the reality of british troops stationed in their towns and homes watching their every move. the harder the british were on the colonists, the stronger the patriot argument became, increasingly calling for revolution. some loyalists feared the patriots, believing a revolution would replace british rule with a more oppressive government.
as tensions grew and erupted into war with the fighting at lexington, concord, and elsewhere, colonials were forced to make an important decision. should they fight with their king and country or alongside their friends and neighbors?
according to the passage, the revolution was fought mainly over
a. money. b. rights. c. support. d. legislatures.
tories but patriots control by great britain.
a. feared ... questioned
b. disagreed ... supported
c. appreciated ... defied
d. considered ... originated
an antonym for the word \oppressive\ in the fourth paragraph is
a. fair. b. powerful. c. strict. d. different.
classify each quote as mostly likely being a p - patriot or l - loyalist statement:
\i refuse to pay that tax!\ ____ \war is now a necessary evil.\ ____
\the king is a good man.\ ____ \we cannot succeed on our own.\ ____
\let us boycott their goods.\ ____ \it pains me to fight against friends.\ ____
\we have no representation.\ ____ \we have certain inalienable rights.\ ____

Explanation:

• First question: The text states "The issue, the patriots argued, was not one of money but of freedom" which relates to rights.
• Second question: Tories (Loyalists) were grateful for Britain's defense (appreciated) and patriots fought (defied) British control.
• Third question: "Oppressive" means harshly controlling. "Fair" is the opposite.
• Classification: Patriots opposed British taxes (refused to pay, boycotted, no representation, inalienable rights). Loyalists supported the king (king is good, can't succeed alone, pain to fight friends).

Answer:

1. B. rights
2. C. appreciated... defied
3. A. fair

4.

• "I refuse to pay that tax!" - P
• "War is now a necessary evil." - P
• "The king is a good man." - L
• "We cannot succeed on our own." - L
• "Let us boycott their goods." - P
• "It pains me to fight against friends." - L
• "We have no representation." - P
• "We have certain inalienable rights." - P