The Revolutionary War: The American Spirit

"The American Spirit" tells the story of the Continental Army's struggle against the British from the battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776 to Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. Against terrible odds George Washington, the officers, and the soldiers of the Continental Army exploited the weaknesses of the British Army and convinced the world that the American cause was not hopeless.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga so helpful to the Continental Army?

  2. What role did spies play in the Battle of Trenton?

  3. How does geography help explain the military strategy Washington employed after the Battle of Princeton? How does geography help us to understand British General William Howe's approach of Philadelphia?

  4. The Winter at Valley Forge claimed 2500 lives. What materials did the soldiers lack that would have prevented the loss of so many troops?

  5. In the first half of the Revolutionary War Benedict Arnold proved a valuable general. How did Arnold's stand at Lake Champlain help the war effort?

  6. Prior to 1778, what was the most strategically significant river during the war?

  7. How did wars in Europe and America differ during the 18th century? Why did the British capture of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia not force an American surrender?

  8. Compare the British/ Loyalist winter in Philadelphia to the Continental Army's winter at Valley Forge.

  9. British General John Burgoyne was considered a playboy and an ineffective general by his contemporaries. One of Burgoyne's peers said of him that he had "more sail than ballast." What does this mean?

  10. How did the American victory at Saratoga affect the war? Why is Srartoga considered the turning point in the Revolution?
Extended Activities

  1. What were some of the shortcomings of medical science in the late 18th century? Research this topic and explain how those shortcomings affected the men on the battlefield.

  2. Imagine you are an American soldier at the Battle of Brandywine. In a short story describe the field of battle. What does the battle sound like? What does it smell like? What emotions do you experience? Who wins the battle?

Classroom Materials