Snow's Island, South Carolina
Along South Carolina's Liberty Trail
A lesson plan for 8th grade.
South Carolina’s Liberty Trail (an actual trail of historic sites you can visit!) highlights many of the Revolutionary War battles that shaped the Southern Campaign. These battles affected the outcome of the conflict, resulting in independence from Britain for the United States.
The British captured Charleston in 1780 and marched into the state, expecting overwhelming support from South Carolina residents. In response to British proclamations, reports of cruelties and support for American independence, South Carolinians rallied to defend their state. At some battles, soldiers of the American Continental Army battled British soldiers. At other fights, partisans or militia units fought—sometimes neighbor against neighbor as communities divided over the war. Defeats on South Carolina battlefields challenged American morale in the war, but victories provided much needed success and eventually forced British troops into North Carolina, then Virginia and toward the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. Back in South Carolina, the British were forced to retreat to Charleston, giving up territory, outposts and supplies along the way.
Today, you’ll explore some of the battlefields along South Carolina’s Liberty Trail by doing some research, virtually viewing the sites and finding a quote about the battle. These are places where South Carolinians fought for American liberty during the Revolutionary War and place to consider what that legacy means to us now.
This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to South Carolina State Social Studies Standards.
This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.
South Carolina & The American Revolution Curriculum
Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Knowledge
- Briefly explain the outcome of the Revolutionary War Southern Campaign.
- Share about a Revolutionary War battle and battlefield in South Carolina.
2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis
- Examine secondary and primary sources and consider the outcomes of a historic battle.
3. Evaluation
- Consider how historic preservation can make a difference in understanding state or national history.
Check out the Lesson Plan Teaching Guide for more instructions on using the prepared Lesson Plan.
Lesson Plan Primary Source Activity
- Watch the Southern Campaign Animated Map. (~15 minutes)
- Use the Lesson’s PowerPoint to explore more context and history.
- Individually, in groups or as a class, select a battle to study:
- Waxhaws – May 29, 1780
- Hanging Rock – August 6, 1780
- Camden – August 16, 1780
- King’s Mountain – October 7, 1780
- Blackstock’s Plantation – November 20, 1780
- Cowpens – January 17, 1781
- Ninety-Six – May-June 1781
- Eutaw Springs – September 8, 1781
- Distribute the lesson’s worksheet.
- Using the battle[s] page[s] listed on the Lesson Plan Page, students can research and fill out the “Battle Notes” section of the worksheet.
- Using VR headsets, computers or phones have students view the 360 Virtual Tour of the battlefield they are studying and fill out the “Virtually Explore the Battlefield” section on the worksheet. (The Virtual Tours are linked on the Lesson Plan Page.)
- Distribute printed versions or links to the primary sources related to their battle study. (Links are on the Lesson Plan Page in the Primary Source section.)
- Waxhaws: "Not a man was spared"
- Hanging Rock: “The British and Tories are panic stricken”
- Camden: Charge the rascals!" An Irish Officer describes the Battle of Camden, 1780
- King’s Mountain: "We were attacked": A Royalist Account of the Battle of King's Mountain
- Blackstock's Plantation: "The advantage of the ground"
- Cowpens: "To obtain a compleat Victory": Daniel Morgan's Letter after the Battle of Cowpens
- Ninety-Six: "Camp before Ninety Six"
- Eutaw Springs: Robert Kirkwood: "With a Determination of Fighting the British Army"
- Students will read the primary source and fill out the “Quote from a Primary Source” section of the worksheet.
- Either as a discussion or a short-written answer, have the students answer the “Consider” prompt on the worksheet.
OPTIONAL HOMEWORK/ASSESSMENT/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Option 1: Write a letter
From their research on a Revolutionary War battle in South Carolina, students can write a letter as though they are a historical person who witnessed the event.
- Encourage students to think of different perspectives: an officer, a soldier from Britain or a northern state, a South Carolina militiaman, a local civilian, etc.
- Also encourage students to think about who they will write to and if they intend their letter to be quoted in a newspaper—like some 18th Century letters were to share news.
- Will they write differently about their experiences depending on who they are writing to and why they are writing?
- What do these considerations help us learn about reading and studying primary sources?
Option 2: Design an interpretive marker
At battlefield sites, it is helpful to have signs that explain to visitors what happened and why it matters. Choose a battlefield and design a prototype of an informative sign. What would be helpful to know? How and why would you encourage people to visit this place? If someone only learned one thing about the American Revolution or this battle in South Carolina, what do you want them to know? And don’t for the 6 common questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Include a historic image or two…or draw your own art on for your sign.
South Carolina State Social Studies Standards
Grade 8
- 8.2.CO Compare the motives and demographics of loyalists and patriots within South Carolina and the colonies.
- 8.2 CX Contextualize the roles of various groups of South Carolinians as the colonies moved toward becoming an independent nation.
- 8.2 E Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to analyze multiple perspectives on the development of democracy in South Carolina and the United States.
This Lesson plan
contains the following:
3 Activities | 38 Resources
Audience: Middle school