War Worksheet (High School)
Thomas Paine, The Crisis, 23 December 1776.
1) What was Thomas Paine’s purpose in writing this essay? What was the
plight that prompted Paine’s famous phrase, “These are the times that try
men’s souls”?
2) What mistake did Paine suggest the revolutionaries made in timing their
decision to declare independence from Great Britain? How important
does he think this mistake was?
3) How did the people of New Jersey respond to the British invasion of their
territory? How did Paine explain their reaction?
4) How did Paine explain the American surrender of Fort Lee? How did he
defend Washington’s decision to retreat rather than fight?
5) What in Paine’s opinion was the “great error in generalship” committed by
General Howe?
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6) How did Paine characterize General Washington?
7) To what degree did Paine’s characterization of Washington serve
propaganda purposes?
8) To what degree did later events confirm Paine’s confidence in
Washington?
Henry Knox to Lucy Knox, 28 December 1776.
1) What obstacles did the Continental Army face in crossing the Delaware
River on the morning of December 26, 1776? To what did Knox attribute
the success of the crossing?
2) How did the storm actually work to the advantage of the Continental Army
later in the morning?
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3) How sympathetic was Knox to the plight of the Hessians? What
adjectives did he use to describe them?
4) How did Knox describe the American forces?
5) To what did Knox attribute the American victory? (Hint: The teacher might
encourage students to think about how Providence was used to explain
historical events and to compare this explanation with current theories of
historical causation.)
Thomas Rodney to Caesar Rodney, 30 December 1776.
1) What conditions prevented Rodney’s troops from accomplishing their
mission?
2) What was the reaction of these troops to the news that Washington had
succeeded in taking Trenton?
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3) How did Rodney describe the reaction of the Hessians to their defeat?
4) How did he describe the people of New Jersey’s response to the victory at
Trenton?
5) To what did Rodney attribute the victory?
6) What was Rodney’s opinion of the eventual outcome of this conflict? How
valid was his optimism?
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