1776

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who were the major figures involved in the American Revolution? Who were the political leaders, and who were the military leaders? Was there any overlap between political and military leaders? How might the military influence politics, and vice versa?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to assign specific leaders to students. Readers might focus not only on leaders who are discussed in the book, such as George Washington, but also on leaders who are not, such as Alexander Hamilton. Discussion on leaders in the book will help to supply context on the backgrounds and accomplishments of these leaders, while focusing on other leaders will help to provide context on events and figures outside of George Washington’s campaigns.

• “People of the American Revolution” – This site from the National Park Service provides a list of people involved in the American Revolution. Some of them are less well-known; assigning an unfamiliar figure might serve as a challenge for advanced students.
• “8 Key Figures from the Revolutionary War” – This site from Norwich University in Vermont provides a list of both political and military leaders.
• “Beyond the Founding Fathers: 12 Unsung Figures Who Helped Build America” – TIME offers brief historical biographies for important figures students may not know, including women, an Indigenous person, enslaved people, and an abolitionist.

2. Who were the Patriots and who were the Loyalists? What role did the colonists’ social and economic status play in their allegiance? Were there any other factors that contributed to the side they chose?

Teaching Suggestion: This question will help students to consider the viewpoint of the American colonists: Who would choose to join the Continental Army? Whom did they view as their enemy? Later in the book, when Washington and Congress must decide what to do about New York, it may be helpful to understand why they had animosity toward the people there.

• “Loyalists and Patriots” – This explainer from the Smithsonian American Art Museum includes descriptions of each group’s goals and examples of key figures.
• “Loyalist vs. Patriot” – This page from the Bill of Rights Institute discusses the issue in more detail, and offers additional discussion questions on the topic.
• “7 Famous Loyalists of the Revolutionary War Era” – A brief description from History of the two groups’ differences is followed by a list of seven Loyalists.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What makes a good leader? What are the most important character traits in a leader?

Teaching Suggestion: This question connects to the theme George Washington’s Character and Leadership. You may wish to have students brainstorm a list of leaders first, then identify characteristics or leadership traits they have in common. This could be done individually or in small groups, then compiled into a class list.

“Being a Great Leader: 14 Effective Leadership Skills” - This article from Oxford Summer Courses may be helpful in prompting students with ideas for leadership traits.