Spies of the American Revolution

Introduction

The year is 1776. The United States has just declared independence from Great Britain. Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston all remain in American hands. However, the fight is not yet over. British Major General Howe is on his way to New York City with 30,000 red coats and British mercenaries. The fledgling Continental Army is about to face its toughest battle yet. George Washington needs your help! Assist General Washington to combat the British in espionage to give the Continental Army the advantage in battle! Dive deep undercover and research the British plans in order to report back to General Washington so that he may move against the British army using your intelligence. The fate of the United States falls on YOU!

Task

Your task is to follow the links, and research the British general’s strategy to fight the Continental Army during the northern campaigns of 1776-1780. Act as an agent in the famous Culper Ring to collect information and assess where the British will strike next to keep Washington one-step ahead in the game.

Process

1. Immediately break into spy rings of no more than four and no less than agents

2. Assign each other code names to which you will refer to each other for the remainder of the exercise

3. Look into the intelligence at https://www.thoughtco.com/general-sir-william-howe-2360625. Attempt to distinguish what General William Howe's plans are for invading the United States! Report this information in your dossier to be submitted to Gen. Washington

4. Read the information at http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-long-island to see if you were correct.

5. Look into the intelligence at http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/rall.html. Decide whether an attack can be made on British or Hessian forces in New Jersey. Report this information in your dossier to be submitted to Gen. Washington right away!

6. Read the information at http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-trenton-and-princeton to see if you were accurate!

7. Read the information at http://history.rutgers.edu/honors-papers-2011/284-the-battle-of-monmouth/file Decide what to do in regards to the British potentially moving out of Philadelphia. Suggest a course of action for Gen. Washington and the Continental Army to take! Submit to your dossier immediately!

8. Read the information at http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/battle-of-monmouth/ to see if you were successful!

Evaluation

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Agents completed the dossier for Gen Washington in a timely manner for part 1	Minimal dossier with far less than descriptive writing, which gives some if any evidence of research	Sub-par dossier with less than descriptive writing, which gives some evidence of research	Mostly complete dossier with mostly descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research	Complete dossier with descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research.
Agents completed the dossier for Gen Washington in a timely manner for part 2	Minimal dossier with far less than descriptive writing, which gives some if any evidence of research	Sub-par dossier with less than descriptive writing, which gives some evidence of research	Mostly complete dossier with mostly descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research	Complete dossier with descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research.
Agents completed the dossier for Gen Washington in a timely manner for part 3	Minimal dossier with far less than descriptive writing, which gives some if any evidence of research	Sub-par dossier with less than descriptive writing, which gives some evidence of research	Mostly complete dossier with mostly descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research	Complete dossier with descriptive writing, which gives clear evidence of research.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You assisted General George Washington and the Continental Army is repelling the British invasion of the United States. Although the British remain in control of New York City, they are unable to continue the war in the north and have been forced to change strategies, and attack the south. We will certainly win this theater of war! By recapturing Philadelphia and securing the city of Boston, the United States will live to see its dream of becoming and independent nation a reality all thanks to you!

Think about the dangers that the real Culper Ring dealt with as they attempted to defeat the British army through espionage. Do you think you would have been up to the challenge? Ask yourself, what would you have been willing to sacrifice for this young nation.