Teacher Resource Packet
Tarleton's Raid: The Revolution Comes to Jefferson's Doorstep
Charlottesville, VA
Students examine Tarleton's June 1781 raid on Charlottesville — the most dramatic episode of the Revolution in the Virginia Piedmont — through the lens of Jack Jouett's midnight ride and Jefferson's narrow escape from Monticello. The lesson uses the raid to explore the Revolution's impact on civilian life and on Virginia's political leadership.
This Packet Includes
- Learning Objectives & Essential Questions
- 5 Primary Source Analysis Worksheets
- 3 Reading & Activity Handouts
- Assessment Quiz (5 questions)
- Answer Key
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe Tarleton's raid on Charlottesville (June 4, 1781) and identify its military objectives
- Explain Jack Jouett's ride and compare it to Paul Revere's ride as an act of Revolutionary service
- Analyze the political consequences of Jefferson's flight from Monticello for his reputation and career
- Evaluate the raid as evidence of British strategic priorities in Virginia in 1781
Essential Questions
Keep these questions in mind as you work through this packet:
- Jefferson barely escaped capture at Monticello. How did this episode affect how Americans remembered him? Is escape a failure or survival?
- Jack Jouett rode 40 miles through the night to warn Charlottesville, just as Paul Revere warned Lexington. Why is Jouett less famous than Revere? Does fame track historical importance?
Thomas Jefferson to William Gordon, July 16, 1788 (Account of Tarleton's Raid)
Analysis Questions
Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.
Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?
Reflection
How does this source connect to what happened in Charlottesville, VA? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Analysis Questions
Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.
Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?
Reflection
How does this source connect to what happened in Charlottesville, VA? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Analysis Questions
Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.
Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?
Reflection
How does this source connect to what happened in Charlottesville, VA? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: Research and Collections
Analysis Questions
Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.
Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What is the institution's mission?
How does that mission shape the presentation?
Reflection
How does this source connect to what happened in Charlottesville, VA? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Analysis Questions
Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.
Who created this source and why?
When was this source created?
What perspective does this source represent?
What was happening when this was written?
How might the author's position affect their account?
Reflection
How does this source connect to what happened in Charlottesville, VA? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Charlottesville Event Timeline
timeline
Students place key events in chronological order and add details
# Charlottesville Revolutionary Timeline
Instructions: Place the following events in order and add one detail about each.
- [ ] Tarleton's Raid on Charlottesville
- [ ] Virginia Legislature Meets in Charlottesville (May 1781)
- [ ] Jefferson Flees Monticello
- [ ] Jefferson Proposes the University of Virginia (1818–1819)
- [ ] Jack Jouett's Midnight Ride
---
| Event | Date | Significance |
|-------|------|-------------|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Primary Source Analysis
graphic organizer
Structured analysis of Revolutionary-era documents
# Primary Source Analysis Worksheet
## Source Information
- Title: _________________
- Author: _________________
- Date: _________________
- Type: _________________
## Observation
What do you notice? (List 3 things)
1.
2.
3.
## Reflection
What do you wonder? (List 2 questions)
1.
2.
## Analysis
What does this source tell us about Charlottesville during the Revolution?
_______________________________________________
## Perspective
Whose voice is represented? Whose might be missing?
_______________________________________________
Key Figures Profile
worksheet
Research template for Revolutionary figures
# Revolutionary Figure Profile
## Basic Information
- Name: _________________
- Birth/Death Years: _________________
- Occupation(s): _________________
## Role in the Revolution
### Thomas Jefferson
Narrowly escaped capture at Monticello on June 4, 1781, when Tarleton's cavalry raided Charlottesville. Jefferson left his mountaintop home minutes before British soldiers arrived. The incident, coming at the end of a difficult governorship, was used by his political enemies to question his courage and leadership.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
### Banastre Tarleton
Aggressive British cavalry officer whose raid on Charlottesville nearly captured Jefferson and the Virginia legislature. Tarleton was known for the speed and brutality of his operations, and his name was feared throughout Virginia and the Carolinas. His raid on Charlottesville was one of the most daring cavalry operations of the war.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
## Reflection
Which figure interests you most and why?
_______________________________________________
Charlottesville in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
1. What makes Charlottesville significant in Revolutionary history?
2. Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
3. Name one event that occurred in Charlottesville during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
Answer:
4. Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?
5. Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.
Answer:
Charlottesville in the American Revolution
Tarleton's Raid: The Revolution Comes to Jefferson's Doorstep — Charlottesville, VA
- 1.What makes Charlottesville significant in Revolutionary history?Answer:A
Charlottesville played a significant role in the American Revolution as evidenced by the events we studied.
- 2.Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.Answer:True
Primary sources provide firsthand evidence about historical events.
- 3.Name one event that occurred in Charlottesville during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.Answer:[Varies - accept any accurate event with reasonable explanation]
Students should identify a specific event and connect it to broader Revolutionary themes.
- 4.Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?Answer:A
Multiple perspectives help us understand the full complexity of historical events.
- 5.Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.Answer:[Varies - accept any accurate connection]
Students should demonstrate understanding of the interconnected nature of Revolutionary events.