Clashes and Battles and Wars...OH MY!
This lesson helps students understand the nature of battles in the Revolutionary War, and that all colonists were not on the side of the "new country" separating from the British crown. Some colonists did not want war at all.
Also addressed in this lesson is how the soldiers of each side wore identifiable uniforms, but citizens who helped out with battles (supporting either side) fought in their regular clothes when they had a chance to fight. These groups of "occasional soldiers" fought in a new style nicknamed guerilla warfare.
Lesson Created By: Katherine Bradley
Essential Question
Determine if colonists of the 13 colonies should be in favor of or against independence from England.
Grade(s):
- 4
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
VIEW AS A CLASS & THEN DISCUSS:
video - Brattonsville-Choosing Sides/ The SouthernCampaign (8:46) Knowitall.org
video - Huck's Defeat/ Palmetto Scene (1:32) Knowitall.org
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
chart paper or poster board, cut in half
printer paper
markers, crayons,pens
pencils (for sketching)
Lesson Progression
1. The class will watch the two videos as a preparation for a group discussion.
2. IMPORTANT TERMS FOR THE CLASS TO UNDERSTAND AND DISCUSS:
-Loyalists, Tories, British Army= supporters of the King
-Patriots,Militia, Whigs, Minutemen, Continental Army/ supporters of the movement for independence
-Pacifists, Quakers= people wanting to remain neutral, not choosing sides and not wanting war
3.Discuss these differences in the 2 armies:
CONTINENTAL ARMY - wore BLUE COATS, WHITE PANTS, BLUE TRI-CORNERED HATS. They were not experienced soldiers, but once they joined were paid money contributed by colonies; the men who had to work at their trade and couldn't join the army full-time would join battles when they were able and wore their regular clothes! These men sometimes brought axes, knives, spears, and even farm tools as battle weapons, if they didn't own a gun.
BRITISH ARMY - wore RED COATS, WHITE PANTS, BLACK TRI-CORNED HATS. They were professional paid soldiers, were highly trained and experienced in fighting, and used the newest weapons of the times, including guns with bayonets attached. They marched in long, organized lines to fight their enemies. Loyalists who occasionally joined the British Army to fight wore their farm/work clothes...sometimes it was hard to tell these British supporters from the Colonial supporters when they were fighting!
ACTIVITY FOLLOWING THE GROUP DISCUSSION:
- Groups of 2-3 students will form to make "recruitment" posters to attract "soldiers" for either the Continental Army, the British Army, or the pacifists.
- Each group will design a poster that EXCITES and CONVINCES people in the colonial towns to join their group.
- Exciting posters should use ACTION VERBS, UNEXPECTED ADJECTIVES, and CREATIVE DRAWINGS of any aspect of the war....uniforms, courageous deeds and bravery, and the EXCITEMENT of your side possibly winning the war!
- Each group will stand with their poster, and read it with EXCITEMENT as if they're trying to attract members to join their army, or their pacifist group. Be sure to tell WHY you included the details and drawings that you created.
Book: IF YOU WERE THERE, by Barbara Brenner (Macmillan)
This book (aimed primarily at elementary grades) provides simple explanations of the problems between the colonists and the British government in England, which brought on the Revolutionary War. Illustrations help students identify uniforms of the "Redcoats/British Army" and the colonists' "Continental Army" , and also understand that colonists who were either Loyalists and Patriots ( but who were NOT official army members ) were fighting alongside both armies in many battles.
View ResourceBrattonsville - Choosing Sides/The Southern Campaign 8:46 Huck's Defeat/Palmetto Scene 1:32
View ResourceHuck's Defeat | Palmetto Scene
Another chance to see the variety of uniforms and the confusion that might result from many fighters wearing their "regular clothes"
View Resource