Teacher Resources
Carlisle
Students examine the Mary Ludwig Hays story — documented history vs. legendary accretion — to analyze how historical memory is created, what real roles women played in the Continental Army, and how myths about individuals can both illuminate and obscure historical truth.
Grade Range
6-9
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
Students examine the Mary Ludwig Hays story — documented history vs. legendary accretion — to analyze how historical memory is created, what real roles women played in the Continental Army, and how myths about individuals can both illuminate and obscure historical truth.
Essential Questions
- What is the difference between a historical person and a historical legend? When does a legend become historically misleading?
- What roles did women actually play in the Revolutionary War, and why are those roles less celebrated than the legend?
- Why do societies create heroic legends? What purposes do they serve, and what do they obscure?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Board of War Papers: Carlisle Arsenal Correspondence, 1776-1781
National Archives and Records Administration
PRIMARY · TIER1
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2 and 5: Militia Records and Border Defense
Pennsylvania State Archives
View SourceSECONDARY · TIER1
The Whiskey Rebellion: Frontier Epilogue to the American Revolution
Oxford University Press (Thomas P. Slaughter)
PRIMARY · TIER1
Journals of the Military Expedition of Major General John Sullivan, 1779
Knapp, Peck & Thomson (Frederick Cook, ed.)
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER2
Cumberland County Historical Society: Revolutionary War Collections
Cumberland County Historical Society
View SourceLesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Distinguish between documented facts about Mary Ludwig Hays and later legendary additions
- 2Describe the actual roles women played in the Continental Army: camp followers, nurses, laundresses, water carriers
- 3Analyze how the "Molly Pitcher" legend developed over time and what needs it served
- 4Evaluate the tension between historical accuracy and inspiring historical narratives
Assessment
Carlisle in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Carlisle 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 Carlisle 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.