American Revolution Web Quest:

Introduction: You are a lieutenant in General George Washington’s Continental Army and your job is to help lead the troops to victory. Along with George Washington you have 10,000 men in your command, but General Howe, of the British forces, has 32,000 trained soldiers under his command! For this reason, General Howe is certain he will defeat us and we can’t let that happen.

Process: In your adventures as a lieutenant in General George Washington’s Continental Army, you must experience some of the events that took place during the American Revolution. Follow the steps and participate in the activities, completing each task along the way.

Task: You will have 7 challenges to accomplish in order to complete a victorious mission!

Challenge 1
Lead a daring escape out of Brooklyn! General Howe is in Staten Island and moved across the river to Brooklyn where you are currently located. You need to move your men in a dark and foggy night.

Fill in the map of how you moved your men out to safety, from Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River! Use the link below:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/279846/washingtons-escape-from-Brooklyn-Oct-24-2006

Challenge 2
There is trouble in your ranks. We need to make sure we know what General Howe is planning. You have found a few loyal people to help pass along information to you! Among these spies were Nathan Hale, Anna Smith Strong, and Sybil Ludington.

Click on the link below to find Nathan Hale’s last words. Write the quote on the worksheet and explain what he meant.

http://www.libertyskids.com/arch_who_nhale.html

Next, click on the link for Anna Smith Strong’s secret code. Using her secret code, “hang” a message for the other spies to pass on to General Washington.

http://www.nsa.gov/women/women00001.cfm

Our last spy is Sybil Ludington and it would be great to trace the map of where she traveled that night to make sure she gets the message to the other farmers in the area.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1789/sybil.html

Challenge 3
Get ready for our biggest battle yet! We are heading to Saratoga. If we win this battle we might have a chance to win the Revolution. Find out why this battle is called the “turning point” of the American Revolution. Then take a look inside the camps our troops are staying in. Fill in the Venn Diagram comparing the soldiers’ quarters (housing) then to soldiers’ quarters (housing) in 2008.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17517&archive=true

http://www.saratoga.org/battle1777/am_camp.html

Challenge 4
Even though we had a big victory at the battle of Saratoga, the British are still trying to take over New York and they want West Point. West Point is currently under the command of Benedict Arnold and he has helped the Continental Army win many battles.
Look at the two websites below and answer the following questions.

1. What was Benedict Arnold’s plan for the army he commanded?
2.Why is it a bad thing to be called a Benedict Arnold?

http://www.libertyskids.com/arch_who_barnold.html

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/benedictarnolddef.htm

Challenge 5
Your next challenge has to do with the Native Americans and their role in the Revolutionary War in New York State. The American Revolution divided the Iroquois, or the People of the Longhouse. The Tuscaroras and most of the Oneida sided with the United States, the Patriots. The other four nations, Mohawks, Onondagas, Senecas and the Cayugas sided with the British or Loyalists. The unity of the People of the Longhouse was destroyed because of the war.

Why do you think that the Native Americans divided during the war?

Challenge 6
Evacuation Day
Look in your social studies textbook and find the section about The American Victory and Evacuation Day.

1. What is evacuation day?
2. Do you think we should still celebrate this day? Explain why or why not.

Challenge 7
Washington said goodbye to his troops at the end of the war and went back home to his family in Virginia. Do you know what George Washington’s next job would be?


Conclusion
Congratulations on completing this Web Quest on the American Revolution in New York State! You were a big help to General Washington as he lead his troops to victory!