- 1. Rough Crossings by Simon Schama is an insightful historical narrative that delves into the tumultuous atmosphere of the American Revolution and its far-reaching effects on the fate of enslaved individuals in the 18th century. The book intricately weaves together the lives of African Americans who embarked on perilous journeys toward freedom by aligning themselves with the British forces, which promised emancipation in exchange for their loyalty during the war. Schama masterfully explores the complexities of their choices, the harsh realities they faced, and the brutal world of slavery from which they sought to escape. With vivid storytelling and meticulous research, the author not only highlights the struggles and aspirations of these individuals but also questions the broader implications of freedom and the contradictions that lay within the revolutionary ideals of liberty. Through a combination of personal accounts, historical analysis, and a profound understanding of the social and political landscape of the time, Rough Crossings challenges readers to reconsider the narrative of freedom and the true cost of war, ultimately shedding light on the often-overlooked stories of those who fought for their own liberation amidst the chaos of revolution.
Which British proclamation promised freedom to enslaved people who joined the British forces?
A) Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
B) The Treaty of Paris
C) The Stamp Act
D) The Somerset Ruling
- 2. Who was the British military leader who initially authorized offering freedom to enslaved people?
A) General Cornwallis
B) General Howe
C) Lord Dunmore
D) King George III
- 3. Which Black Loyalist became a prominent leader and petitioned for better conditions in Nova Scotia?
A) Crispus Attucks
B) Benjamin Banneker
C) Thomas Peters
D) Frederick Douglass
- 4. What document recorded the names of Black Loyalists who evacuated New York?
A) The Emancipation Proclamation
B) The Book of Negroes
C) The Somerset Register
D) The Dunmore Ledger
- 5. What was the primary reason enslaved people joined the British forces?
A) Higher wages
B) Better equipment
C) Political ideology
D) Promise of freedom
- 6. What year did the first Black Loyalists sail from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone?
A) 1792
B) 1776
C) 1807
D) 1783
- 7. Which American founding father owned slaves despite advocating for liberty?
A) John Jay
B) Alexander Hamilton
C) John Adams
D) Thomas Jefferson
- 8. What was the primary challenge faced by Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia?
A) Native American attacks
B) Harsh weather conditions
C) Discrimination and broken promises of land
D) French military threats
- 9. How did the British military use Black Loyalists during the war?
A) As laborers, guides, and soldiers
B) Exclusively as naval officers
C) As diplomatic envoys
D) Only as domestic servants
- 10. What was the fate of many Black Loyalists who remained in the United States?
A) Deportation to the Caribbean
B) Integration into Native American tribes
C) Re-enslavement or continued discrimination
D) Immediate citizenship and voting rights
- 11. Which document ended the American Revolutionary War?
A) Articles of Confederation
B) Treaty of Paris (1783)
C) Treaty of Versailles
D) Declaration of Independence
- 12. What was the name of the Black Loyalist settlement in Nova Scotia?
A) Birchtown
B) Halifax
C) Dartmouth
D) Sydney
- 13. How did Schama characterize the American Revolution's relationship to slavery?
A) As deeply hypocritical and contradictory
B) As supportive of slavery
C) As completely unrelated
D) As successfully abolitionist
- 14. What role did Granville Sharp play in the Black Loyalist story?
A) British abolitionist who helped establish Sierra Leone colony
B) American slave owner who opposed emancipation
C) British general who commanded Black regiments
D) French diplomat who negotiated treaties
- 15. What was the ultimate significance of the Black Loyalist experience according to Schama?
A) It had no historical significance
B) It proved the failure of abolitionist movements
C) It showed the superiority of British colonialism
D) It demonstrated Black agency in pursuit of freedom during the Revolution
- 16. Who was the British abolitionist who helped establish the Sierra Leone settlement?
A) Thomas Clarkson
B) Granville Sharp
C) William Wilberforce
D) Olaudah Equiano
- 17. What was the name of the settlement established in Sierra Leone?
A) Freeman's Landing
B) New London
C) Libertville
D) Freetown
- 18. Which Black Loyalist became a prominent Baptist preacher in Nova Scotia?
A) Boston King
B) Thomas Peters
C) Cato Perkins
D) David George
- 19. What was the name given to Black soldiers who served in engineering roles?
A) Pioneers
B) Guards
C) Redcoats
D) Minutemen
- 20. Which American state saw significant Black recruitment by the British?
A) Virginia
B) Pennsylvania
C) New York
D) Massachusetts
- 21. Which European power controlled Sierra Leone when Black Loyalists arrived?
A) Portugal
B) France
C) Britain
D) Netherlands
- 22. What was the primary crop Black Loyalists hoped to grow in Sierra Leone?
A) Sugar
B) Cotton
C) Rice
D) Tobacco
- 23. Which Black Loyalist leader had been owned by George Washington?
A) Thomas Peters
B) Boston King
C) David George
D) Harry Washington
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