Teacher Resources
Baltimore
Students examine the Continental Congress's flight to Baltimore in December 1776 as a window into the governance crisis of the early Republic, analyzing the emergency powers Congress granted Washington and evaluating the tension between civilian control and the practical needs of fighting a losing war.
Grade Range
7-10
Duration
2-3 class periods
Included
3 Resources
What's Included
Everything
You Need
- 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
- Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
- 3 printable handouts
Lesson Overview
Students examine the Continental Congress's flight to Baltimore in December 1776 as a window into the governance crisis of the early Republic, analyzing the emergency powers Congress granted Washington and evaluating the tension between civilian control and the practical needs of fighting a losing war.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean for a government to function in crisis, and what are the costs of giving one person emergency powers?
- Why did Congress need to flee Philadelphia, and what does that reveal about the Revolution in December 1776?
- How did the experiences of 1776–77 shape founders' thinking about what kind of government America needed?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Journals of the Continental Congress, December 1776 - February 1777 (Baltimore Sessions)
Library of Congress
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Maryland Admiralty Court Records: Privateering Commissions, 1776-1783
Maryland State Archives
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Maryland State Archives: Baltimore County Committee of Observation Records
Maryland State Archives
View SourceSECONDARY · TIER1
Chronicles of Baltimore: Being a Complete History of Baltimore Town and Baltimore City
Turnbull Brothers (J. Thomas Scharf)
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum
Flag House and Star-Spangled Banner Museum / National Register
View SourceLesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Explain why the Continental Congress relocated to Baltimore in December 1776
- 2Analyze the emergency powers resolution as a response to the crisis of late 1776
- 3Evaluate the tension between civilian control of the military and wartime necessity
- 4Connect the failures of the Continental Congress to the movement for constitutional reform
Assessment
Baltimore in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Baltimore 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 Baltimore during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more questions in the full packet
Ready to Print?
The full teacher packet includes cover page, lesson plan, all primary source worksheets, quiz, answer key, and standards alignment — formatted for classroom printing.