Teacher Resources
Paoli
Inquiry Question
Why do some military defeats become rallying cries while others are simply forgotten?
Primary Sources
What Teachers and Students Use
General Charles Grey's Orders and Report on the Paoli Night Attack
PRIMARY · UK National Archives, War Office Papers
5 analysis prompts
Proceedings of a General Court Martial for the Trial of Major General Anthony Wayne
PRIMARY · Continental Army Judge Advocate General
5 analysis prompts
The Philadelphia Campaign, Vol. 1: Brandywine and the Fall of Philadelphia
SECONDARY · Stackpole Books (Thomas McGuire)
5 analysis prompts
Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund: Archaeological Survey Report
INSTITUTIONAL · Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
5 analysis prompts
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 1, Vol. 5: Anthony Wayne Papers
PRIMARY · Pennsylvania State Archives
5 analysis prompts
Downloads
Ready to Print
Student packet, teacher guide with answer key, and quiz — each formatted for classroom printing.
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Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Describe the Paoli Massacre: what happened, why, and what the immediate consequences were
- 2Explain how "Remember Paoli!" functioned as a battle cry at subsequent engagements
- 3Analyze why defeats and massacres are sometimes more motivating than victories
- 4Connect to other historical examples: "Remember the Alamo," "Remember the Maine," etc.
Explore Further
Paoli in the Knowledge Graph
The lesson packet draws from these pages. Use them to extend the lesson or give students primary source context.
Comparative Study
Connected Towns
The corroborate prompts in the student packet point to these towns. Teachers can assign cross-town comparisons.
Valley Forge
SHARED EVENT
The Paoli Massacre (September 21, 1777) and the Valley Forge encampment (December 1777–June 1778) are part of the same continuous campaign. Washington's army retreated from Paoli through Germantown, fought at Germantown, then marched to Valley Forge. Paoli is the opening shock of the campaign season that ended with von Steuben's transformation of the army.
Philadelphia
SHARED EVENT
The Paoli Massacre occurred during the campaign for Philadelphia.
Germantown
SHARED EVENT
Both battles were part of the 1777 Philadelphia campaign.
Assessment
Paoli in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history. · 5 questions · Answer key in Teacher Guide PDF
What makes Paoli significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Paoli during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more in the full quiz PDF
Ready to Print?
All three documents below — student packet, teacher guide, and quiz — are formatted for letter-size classroom printing.