Teacher Resources
Delaware's decision to break with Pennsylvania gave the Continental Congress its key swing vote for independence — the smallest colony with one of the Revolution's most decisive moments.
The Context
The vote for independence on July 2, 1776 was nearly lost when Delaware's delegation was deadlocked — until Caesar Rodney rode eighty miles through the night to break the tie. It is one of the Revolution's most dramatic individual acts.
Dover, the state capital, and Wilmington, its largest city, represent the small colony's outsized contribution to the founding. Delaware's story teaches students that the margin between independence and continued colonial rule was razor-thin, and that individual decisions at critical moments can shape the outcome of history. The state's "Blue Hen" regiment became one of the Continental Army's most celebrated units — a point of pride for a colony too small to be overlooked.
Recommended Sequence
Dover → Wilmington
2–4 class periods
The vote for independence on July 2, 1776 was nearly lost when Delaware's delegation was deadlocked — until Caesar Rodney rode through the night to break the tie. Dover was the political center that produced this decisive moment; Wilmington was the commercial port that felt British policy most acutely. Students examine how individual decisions at critical moments can change the course of history.
Town Resources
Complete teacher packets formatted for classroom printing — lesson plans, source packets, handouts, and quizzes.
6-9 · 2-3 class periods
Source Standards
Every source in our Delaware materials is evaluated using a three-tier credibility system. Tier 1 includes primary documents, National Park Service materials, and peer-reviewed scholarship. Teacher narratives contextualize sources — they don't replace them.