Terms to Know:

Episode 2: REVOLUTION
Before or after watching this episode,
Introduction
encourage students to define and
review the terms below. Students
The Declaration of Independence is read to jubilant crowds in New
may also want to make their own
York on July 9, 1776. America’s thirteen colonies have taken on
lists of new vocabulary words and
the might of the world’s leading superpower, determined to shake
identification terms as they watch.
free from the yoke of British colonial power. Offshore, 500 ships
bristling with soldiers and guns are readying for what will be the
Alacrity
largest British invasion until D-Day. Within months General George
Bayonet
Washington’s army has been decimated and defeat seems inevitable.
Colonial
Inoculation
Yet in 1783, against all the odds, America prevails. It is a conflict that
Prodigious
tests the resolve of the soldiers to the breaking point. It takes us
Redoubt
from the battlefields of Brooklyn, the disease-ridden encampment of
Resilience
Valley Forge and the forests of Saratoga to the victory of Yorktown.
Siege
Skiff
Typhus
Traverse

American forces learn the hard way to master the landscape, new
weapons, and unconventional battle tactics. And with this elite force,
Washington saps the strength of the British Army and he and his
forces triumph over the British. The British are forced to relinquish
power and the United States is born.
America The Story of Us is useful for American
History, Social Studies, and Media courses. It is
appropriate for 7th grade students and above,
and is an excellent resource for professional
development.
Discussion Questions:
1. W
 ho was Daniel Morgan, and what role did he play in the American
Revolution?

2. W
 hy was it important for the Americans to win the support of France during
the Revolution?

3. W
 hat change in the construction of rifles helped the Americans during the
Revolutionary War?

4. W
 hat were some of the innovative ways Americans fought disease during the
Revolution? What were the risks and potential rewards of these methods?

5. W
 hat are three major reasons the Americans won the Revolutionary War?
Give some specific examples from this program or from your own reading.

America The STory of Us Episode 2: Revolution 2

 ©2010 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 01601.
Primary Source:

Great Encouragement
for seamen
to
ied LA N D SM EN who have a Mind
od
SEAMEN and able-b untry, and make
ALL GENTLEMEN es in the GLORIOUS CAUSE of their Co ANGER , of Twenty Further Explorations:
lv ip R
distinguish themse or tunity now offers on board the Sh New-Hampshire,
O pp
their Fortunes, an la yi ng in Po rtsm outh, in the State of ship’s Rendezvous What else was going on during this time
period? Educators and students can
ow e
Guns (for France) n PAUL JONES Esq; let them repair to th , where they will be explore the sites below to learn more
H N le m
commanded by JO the Sign of Commodore Maxley, in Sa -- The Ship Ranger, about the era of U.S. history covered in
in Portsmouth, or
at ment.
d, an d rec ei ve th e greatest Encourage upon to be one of the best this episode.
kindly entertaine y Person who has seen her is looked ster, and making good The History of the California Missions
er fa
in the Opinion of ev -- She was ever calculated for sailing http://memory.loc.gov/intldl/eshtml/
ic a.
Cruizers in Amer e in es-1/es-1-4-4.html
Weather. ve a M in d to ta ke an agreeable Voyag r,
unteers who ha above Ship Range
Any Gentlemen Vol e Year, may, by entering on board the r Encouragement The Development of the System
of th a furthe of Slavery
this pleasant Season lity they can possibly expect, and for ch one agreeable to www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/ar-
vi ea
meet with ever y Ci ppor tunity being embraced to reward ticle_display.cfm?HHID=72
O
depend on the first oney be
his Merit. es w il l be al low ed , and the Advance-M Primary Source Documents related to
velling Expenc Early American history
All reasonable Tra nce on Board. www.earlyamerica.com
ra
paid on their Appea 29, 1777.
ch
In CONGRESS, Mar ever y able Seamen, Places to Visit:
ved, oriz ed to ad va nc e to
Resol Committee be auth g FORTY DOLLARS,
THAT the Marine ental Service, any Sum not exceedin ing TWENTY Interested in what you saw in this
Contin exceed
that enters into the Seaman or Landsman, any Sum no episode? Visiting historic sites is a great
ry
and to ever y ordina cted from their future Prize-Money. way for teachers, students, and families
DOLLARS, to be de du to learn more about the past. Explore
,
By Order of Congress ident. these historic sites, or look for local
, Pr es historic sites in your town or city to visit.
JOHN HANCOCK
ouse late the Bell-Tavern.
E. Russell, at the H Valley Forge
ER S; Printed by
DANV www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm

Cowpens National Battlefield

Discussion Questions: www.nps.gov/cowp/index.htm

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

1. T
 his document was the first recruitment poster for U.S. naval www.mountvernon.org
sailors, used to draw new sailors into the Revolutionary cause.
Based on the language in this poster, what were some of the
important characteristics of sailors?

2. W
 hat were some of the incentives sailors were offered for
joining the navy?

America The STory of Us Episode 2: Revolution 3