History is for Everyone · American Revolution Network

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

Dover, DE

Grade Range: 5-8·Duration: 2 class periods

Most students learn the Declaration was signed on July 4, but the actual independence vote happened on July 2 — and nearly did not include Delaware. This lesson uses Rodney's midnight ride as an entry point for examining how the Continental Congress worked, what delegation deadlocks meant, and why small-state representation mattered from the beginning.

This Packet Includes

Lesson Plan & Learning Objectives
5 Primary Source Analysis Worksheets
3 Student Handouts
Assessment Quiz (5 questions)
Answer Key (Teacher Copy)
Standards Alignment

Name: Date: Period:

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

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

Essential Questions

Keep these questions in mind throughout the unit:

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?

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source 1 of 5

Document Information

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

Source:National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses

Type:PRIMARY

Credibility:TIER1

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

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to the events in Dover, DE? What does it reveal about the people involved?

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source 2 of 5

Document Information

Document:Delaware Public Archives: Revolutionary War Records

Source:Delaware Public Archives

Type:PRIMARY

Credibility:TIER1

Delaware Public Archives: Revolutionary War Records

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to the events in Dover, DE? What does it reveal about the people involved?

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source 3 of 5

Document Information

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

Source:Delaware Public Archives

Type:PRIMARY

Credibility:TIER1

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

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to the events in Dover, DE? What does it reveal about the people involved?

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source 4 of 5

Document Information

Document:Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed

Source:Lindsay and Blakiston (William B. Reed)

Type:SECONDARY

Credibility:TIER1

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What primary sources does this draw from?
What interpretation does the author offer?

Reflection

How does this source connect to the events in Dover, DE? What does it reveal about the people involved?

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source 5 of 5

Document Information

Document:First State National Historical Park: Dover Unit

Source:National Park Service

Type:INSTITUTIONAL

Credibility:TIER1

First State National Historical Park: Dover Unit

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What is the institution's mission?
How does that mission shape the presentation?

Reflection

How does this source connect to the events in Dover, DE? What does it reveal about the people involved?

Name: Date: Period:

Dover Event Timeline

timeline

Students place key events in chronological order and add details

# Dover Revolutionary Timeline

Instructions: Place the following events in order and add one detail about each.

[ ] Caesar Rodney's Midnight Ride to Philadelphia
[ ] Delaware Ratifies the U.S. Constitution — First State
[ ] Delaware Adopts State Constitution
[ ] Delaware Regiment ("Delaware Blues") Organized
[ ] Delaware Sends Delegates to Constitutional Convention

---

| Event | Date | Significance |

|-------|------|-------------|

| | | |

Name: Date: Period:

Primary Source Analysis

graphic organizer

Structured analysis of Revolutionary-era documents

# Primary Source Analysis Worksheet

## Source Information

Title: _________________
Author: _________________
Date: _________________
Type: _________________

## Observation

What do you notice? (List 3 things)

## Reflection

What do you wonder? (List 2 questions)

## Analysis

What does this source tell us about Dover during the Revolution?

_______________________________________________

## Perspective

Whose voice is represented? Whose might be missing?

_______________________________________________

Name: Date: Period:

Key Figures Profile

worksheet

Research template for Revolutionary figures

# Revolutionary Figure Profile

## Basic Information

Name: _________________
Birth/Death Years: _________________
Occupation(s): _________________

## Role in the Revolution

### Caesar Rodney

Delaware statesman who rode fifty miles overnight through a thunderstorm to cast the deciding vote for independence on July 2, 1776. Served as President of Delaware 1778–1781, organizing the state's war effort from Dover despite worsening facial cancer that would kill him in 1784.

My questions about this person:

### George Read

Delaware lawyer who initially voted against independence but signed the Declaration when finalized. Principal drafter of Delaware's 1776 state constitution and leading delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Present at Dover's ratification convention.

My questions about this person:

## Reflection

Which figure interests you most and why?

_______________________________________________

Name: Date: Period:

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 eventsBIt had no connection to the RevolutionCIt was founded after the RevolutionDIt was a British stronghold throughout the war
2. Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
True False
3. Name one event that occurred in Dover during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
Answer:
4. Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?
ADifferent people experienced events differentlyBIt makes history more confusingCOnly one perspective is ever correctDPerspectives don't matter in history
5. Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.
Answer:

Dover in the American Revolution

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

1.What makes Dover significant in Revolutionary history?
Answer:A
Dover played a significant role in the American Revolution as evidenced by the events we studied.
2.Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
Answer:True
Primary sources provide firsthand evidence about historical events.
3.Name one event that occurred in Dover during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
Answer:[Varies - accept any accurate event with reasonable explanation]
Students should identify a specific event and connect it to broader Revolutionary themes.
4.Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?
Answer:A
Multiple perspectives help us understand the full complexity of historical events.
5.Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.
Answer:[Varies - accept any accurate connection]
Students should demonstrate understanding of the interconnected nature of Revolutionary events.

Name: Date: Period:

Standards Addressed

Common Core ELA

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3: Identify key steps in a text's description of a process related to history
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.6: Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose

C3 Framework

D2.His.1.6-8: Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts
D2.His.2.6-8: Classify series of historical proposed causes in terms of their relative significance
D2.His.5.6-8: Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time