Towns

DE, USA

Dover

Lesson plans and classroom materials.

Caesar Rodney's Ride: Delegation, Deadlock, and the July 2 Vote

5-8 · 2 class periods

What you'll get

  • 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
  • Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
  • 3 printable handouts
Print full packet
5-82 class periodsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sourcesCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3: Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to historyD2.His.1.6-8: Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the difference between the July 2 independence vote and the July 4 signing
  2. Describe Continental Congress delegation voting structure
  3. Trace the chain of events leading to Rodney's ride and explain why it was decisive
  4. Analyze what Rodney's personal circumstances reveal about the stakes involved

Essential Questions

  • What does it mean for a vote to be "unanimous" and why did that matter in 1776?
  • When does one person's decision change history, and how do we recognize those moments?
  • How did small-state interests shape the founding from the very beginning?

Procedure

Primary Sources

Delaware Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, December 7, 1787

National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Delaware Public Archives: Revolutionary War Records

Delaware Public Archives · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Delaware Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules, September 11, 1776

Delaware Public Archives · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed

Lindsay and Blakiston (William B. Reed) · SECONDARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

First State National Historical Park: Dover Unit

National Park Service · INSTITUTIONAL · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Handouts & Materials

Dover Event Timeline

timeline

Students place key events in chronological order and add details

Primary Source Analysis

graphic organizer

Structured analysis of Revolutionary-era documents

Key Figures Profile

worksheet

Research template for Revolutionary figures

Dover in the American Revolution

Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.

1.

What makes Dover significant in Revolutionary history?

AIt was the site of important Revolutionary events
BIt had no connection to the Revolution
CIt was founded after the Revolution
DIt was a British stronghold throughout the war
2.

Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.

TTrue
FFalse
3.

Name one event that occurred in Dover during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.

4.

Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?

ADifferent people experienced events differently
BIt makes history more confusing
COnly one perspective is ever correct
DPerspectives don't matter in history
5.

Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.