American Revolution
Reading Essentials
NAME:
PERIOD:
Section 1 Essential Question
What challenges did the American revolutionaries face at the start of the war?
Directions: As you read, complete the graphic organizer to list the challenges faced by the American
revolutionaries at the start of the war
1.
5.
2.
CHALLENGES FACED BY PATRIOTS
3.
4.
The Opposing sides (pages 153-155)
American Army Advantages
British Army Advantages
Patriot Defeats and Victories (pages 156-158)
Create a comic strip for the following battles. Make sure to include the…who, what, when,
where and why in your strip.
Battle of Long Island
Outcome:
Battle of Saratoga
Outcome:
Section 2 Essential Question
How did the United States gain allies and aid during the Revolutionary War?
Directions: As you read, complete the graphic organizer to list why France and Spain chose to support the Patriot
cause and what support those countries offered.
Reasons aid was offered
France
What was offered
1.
2.
3.
4.
Overseas Help
Winter at Valley Forge
How did the following people contribute
to the war effort
1. Marquis de Lafayette
2. Friedrich von Steuben
Help from Overseas
3. Thaddeus Kosciusko and
Casimir Pulaski
Money Problems
Determining Cause and Effect: Use the diagram to identify the effects of the Revolutionary War on
women who remained at home.
Effects of the War on Women
Section 3 Essential Question
How did fighting in the West and South affect the course of the Revolutionary War?
Directions: As you read, complete the graphic organizer to list several victories of the British and the Patriots in the
West and the South.
British Victories
Patriot Victories
1.
1.
2.
2.
War in the West (page 169)
Determining Cause & Effect
What strengthened the Americans' position in
the West?
Victory at Vincennes
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the entire section.
In the space below, write an essay explaining why the British strategy in the South did not work. Use
evidence from the reading to support your point of view.
Play writing. Write a short play (script) based on John Paul Jones and the battle between the
Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis.
John Paul Jones: (Raises his arm and yells) “Keep the cannons firing.”
Section 4 Essential Question
How did the Battle of Yorktown lead to American independence?
Directions: As you read, complete the cause-and-effect diagram below showing the effects of trapping Cornwallis
in Yorktown.
Combined
American and
French forces trap
Cornwallis at
Yorktown
Battle of Yorktown
Making Generalizations How did the American Revolution affect the rest of the world?