The Revolutionary War was a pivotal moment in American history. As the 13 colonies fought for independence from British rule, many heroes emerged and countless stories of struggle and triumph were born. Though it ended over 200 years ago, the Revolutionary War continues to capture our imagination today. One fun way to learn more about this fascinating period is by testing your knowledge with some riddles!
Riddles About Revolutionary War Events
Let’s start with some riddles about key events from the Revolutionary War:
Riddle 1
What famous document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776?
Answer: The Declaration of Independence
Riddle 2
In 1775, patriots attacked a British fort in Boston during the first major fight of the Revolutionary War. What was the name of this fort?
Answer: Fort Ticonderoga
Riddle 3
Which decisive American victory on October 17, 1777 led France to recognize the United States and formally enter the war as an ally?
Answer: The Battle of Saratoga
Riddle 4
In the winter of 1777-78, George Washington led his army to camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This was a major turning point for the Continental Army. What important Prussian military officer volunteered to train the soldiers while at Valley Forge?
Answer: Baron von Steuben
Riddle 5
Which was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, leading to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and effectively ending the war?
Answer: The Battle of Yorktown
Riddle 6
On September 3, 1783, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States with the signing of which treaty?
Answer: The Treaty of Paris
Riddles About Famous People
Next up are some riddles about key figures from the Revolutionary War era:
Riddle 7
I was one of the Founding Fathers and drafters of the Declaration of Independence. I also served as the second President of the United States. Who am I?
Answer: John Adams
Riddle 8
I was the commander of the Continental Army and first President of the United States. My leadership was crucial to winning independence. Who am I?
Answer: George Washington
Riddle 9
I authored Common Sense, a widely-read pamphlet advocating for independence, and Crisis, a series of pamphlets boosting patriot morale during the Revolutionary War. Who am I?
Answer: Thomas Paine
Riddle 10
I sewed the first American flag, which was flown during the Battle of Fort Stanwix in 1777. Who am I?
Answer: Betsy Ross
Riddle 11
I was a spy for the Continental Army and provided crucial intelligence, including revealing Benedict Arnold’s treason. Often known by my codename Agent 355. Who am I?
Answer: Agent 355 (actual identity unknown but likely Lady Washington)
Riddle 12
I was an enslaved African American who won his freedom by serving in the Continental Army. After the war, I became an outspoken critic of slavery. Who am I?
Answer: James Armistead Lafayette
Riddle 13
I led Hessian mercenary troops for the British and was defeated twice by General Washington, in battles that boosted American morale. Who am I?
Answer: General Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Riddle 14
I served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and the first Secretary of the Treasury. I was famously killed in a duel by Aaron Burr in 1804. Who am I?
Answer: Alexander Hamilton
Riddle 15
I was a talented American painter who created many portraits of the Founding Fathers and scenes from Revolutionary War battles. Who am I?
Answer: Charles Willson Peale
Riddles About Weaponry and Soldiers
How much do you know about the weapons and soldiers who fought in the war? Test yourself with these riddles:
Riddle 16
I was a significant advantage for the colonists since they were skilled marksmen proficient with using me, while the British were not. Who am I?
Answer: The rifle
Riddle 17
We were ragtag citizen soldiers led by General Francis Marion in South Carolina, known for our guerilla tactics. Who are we?
Answer: Marion’s Partisans (also known as Marion’s Brigade)
Riddle 18
I was a turncoat general who betrayed the Continental Army by trying to surrender the fort at West Point to the British. Who am I?
Answer: Benedict Arnold
Riddle 19
We were elite Loyalist cavalry units named for an American Indian nation, feared by the Continental Army for our brutal foraging and scouting methods. Who are we?
Answer: Butler’s Rangers
Riddle 20
I was a Prussian volunteer who served in the Continental Army, wrote influential military manuals, and laid the foundation for the professionalization of the U.S. Army. Who am I?
Answer: Frederick William von Steuben
Riddles About Locations
How familiar are you with the important locations and geography of the Revolutionary War? Test your knowledge with these riddles:
Riddle 21
I am a city located along the Delaware River where Washington led his army in a daring midnight crossing before the Battle of Trenton. What city am I?
Answer: Philadelphia
Riddle 22
We are the 14 British colonies located along the Atlantic coast that declared independence in 1776. Who are we?
Answer: The original 13 colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia)
Riddle 23
I am a peninsula bordered by the York and James Rivers where the last major battle of the Revolutionary War took place leading to the British surrender. What location am I?
Answer: Yorktown Peninsula
Riddle 24
I am a natural harbor along the East River in New York where the British maintained a key naval base and control over the city throughout most of the war. What location am I?
Answer: New York Harbor
Riddle 25
I am a wilderness route through the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky, used by pioneers moving West but also by the Patriot militia when British control of the sea made the trip along the coast too dangerous. What historic route am I?
Answer: Wilderness Road
Riddles About Causes and Effects
The Revolutionary War didn’t happen in isolation – many factors contributed to its outbreak while it also had long-lasting impacts. Test your knowledge of the context surrounding the war:
Riddle 26
I was a tax on printed materials like newspapers, almanacs, and playing cards in the colonies, despised by American patriots and leading to protests against British rule. What am I?
Answer: The Stamp Act
Riddle 27
We were a series of laws passed by Parliament without representation from the colonies, creating anger among American colonists and a rallying cry of “No taxation without representation!” What were we?
Answer: The Intolerable Acts (which included the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act)
Riddle 28
I was a secret patriot organization that conducted protests like the Boston Tea Party to oppose British policies. What group am I?
Answer: The Sons of Liberty
Riddle 29
I was the first battle of the Revolutionary War, a skirmish between British soldiers and local militiamen outside Boston in 1775. I signaled the outbreak of armed conflict between the colonies and Britain. What battle was I?
Answer: The Battles of Lexington and Concord
Riddle 30
I was a 1777 plan that offered slaves freedom in exchange for fighting for the British cause. I led thousands of African Americans to escape and weakened the economies of Southern colonies. What was I?
Answer: Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation
Riddle 31
I greatly expanded Congressional powers by replacing the Articles of Confederation and established America’s system of federalism. What founding document was I?
Answer: The United States Constitution
Riddles About Daily Life
The Revolutionary War affected more than just politics and battlefields. Here are some riddles exploring its impacts on daily life:
Riddle 32
I was a style of backcountry fighting without formal battles, often involving ambushes, sackings, and massacres between settlers who supported opposing sides. What brutal war was I?
Answer: The Cherry Valley War
Riddle 33
We were American women who stepped into traditionally male roles on farms and in family businesses as men went off to war. Who were we?
Answer: Republican Motherhood
Riddle 34
I was an unprecedented case of biological warfare when the British attempted to spread smallpox in America by distributing infected blankets among Patriot troops. What incident was I?
Answer: The Siege of Fort Pitt
Riddle 35
I greatly devalued American paper money, causing rampant inflation and economic trouble during and after the war. What was I?
Answer: Continental currency (also known as the Continental dollar)
Riddle 36
Escaped slaves and poor whites flocked to fight for me after the British governor of Virginia offered us freedom in exchange for military service. Who was I?
Answer: Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment
Riddles About Turning Points
The momentum shifted at many pivotal moments during the Revolutionary War. Test your knowledge of these turning points:
Riddle 37
My surprising American victory over Hessian mercenaries on December 26, 1776 reignited Patriot hopes after months of defeat around New York City. What was I?
Answer: The Battle of Trenton
Riddle 38
My arrival in the colonies with supplies, troops, and naval support led to a decisive Franco-American victory over the British in Virginia in 1781. Who am I?
Answer: The French fleet (under the Comte de Grasse)
Riddle 39
General Horatio Gates placed me in charge of the Southern Continental Army after the British captured Charleston in 1780. I was then victorious in the battles of King’s Mountain and Cowpens. Who am I?
Answer: General Nathanael Greene
Riddle 40
I established the Bank of North America in 1781, the first national bank in America. My efforts helped stabilize the colonial economy and fund the war. What was I?
Answer: The Bank of North America
Riddle 41
Foreign aid and supplies flowed to America through me after the colonies formed a close alliance with my country in 1778. What nation am I?
Answer: France
Conclusion
How did you do with these Revolutionary War riddles? The road to American independence was long and complex, filled with many key people, events, and factors that shaped the future United States. Though over 200 years have passed, this formative period continues to captivate the public imagination. Next time you’re looking for a fun way to engage with history, test your wits against these riddles about the Revolutionary War!
