Teacher Resources
Bennington
This lesson uses the Battle of Bennington to examine the tactical and motivational differences between professional armies and citizen militia in the Revolutionary War. Students analyze why militia — often dismissed by Continental officers as unreliable — won decisively at Bennington, and what conditions had to exist for that outcome. The lesson also introduces the Saratoga connection, tracing how a battle in Vermont shaped a campaign in New York and an alliance with France.
Grade Range
6-8
Duration
2 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
This lesson uses the Battle of Bennington to examine the tactical and motivational differences between professional armies and citizen militia in the Revolutionary War. Students analyze why militia — often dismissed by Continental officers as unreliable — won decisively at Bennington, and what conditions had to exist for that outcome. The lesson also introduces the Saratoga connection, tracing how a battle in Vermont shaped a campaign in New York and an alliance with France.
Essential Questions
- Why would citizen soldiers sometimes fight more effectively than professional soldiers, and under what conditions?
- How did a battle in Vermont contribute to France entering the war on America's side?
- What does Stark's pre-battle address reveal about the difference between fighting for pay and fighting for your community?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
General John Stark's Report on the Battle of Bennington to General Schuyler, August 22, 1777
Library of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Lieutenant Colonel Baum's Dispatch to General Burgoyne, August 14-15, 1777
Public Record Office, Kew (British National Archives) / Transcribed in Burgoyne's State of the Expedition
PRIMARY · TIER1
A State of the Expedition from Canada
J. Almon (London) (General John Burgoyne)
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site Interpretive Program
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
View SourceSECONDARY · TIER1
Saratoga: A Military History of the Decisive Campaign of the American Revolution
Savas Beatie (John F. Luzader)
Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Students will compare the strengths and limitations of regular army troops versus citizen militia in 18th-century warfare
- 2Students will explain the tactical decisions Stark made at Bennington and why they succeeded
- 3Students will trace the causal chain from Bennington to Saratoga to the French alliance
- 4Students will evaluate primary source evidence about militia soldiers' motivations
Assessment
Bennington in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Bennington 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 Bennington 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.