Student Worksheet Packet
Kings Mountain: The Revolution as Civil War
Kings Mountain, NC
Students use Kings Mountain to examine the Revolution's civil war dimension. By analyzing who fought (no British regulars), what grievances drove both sides, and what the "quarter controversy" reveals about military honor in civil conflict, students develop a more complete understanding of what the Revolution actually was for the people who lived it.
This Packet Includes
- Learning Objectives & Essential Questions
- 5 Primary Source Analysis Worksheets
- 3 Reading & Activity Handouts
- Assessment Quiz (5 questions)
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify the civil war dimension of the Revolutionary War, particularly in the Carolina backcountry
- Analyze the motivations of both Patriot and Loyalist participants at Kings Mountain
- Evaluate the "quarter controversy" as evidence of the backcountry civil war's accumulated grievances
- Assess the battle's strategic significance for Cornwallis's 1780 campaign
Essential Questions
Keep these questions in mind as you work through this packet:
- Was the American Revolution also a civil war?
- How should we think about violence exceeding military necessity in a conflict where rules of war are contested?
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 Kings Mountain, NC? 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 Kings Mountain, NC? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Kings Mountain National Military Park: Official Interpretive Resources
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 Kings Mountain, NC? 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 Kings Mountain, NC? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Draper Manuscripts: Kings Mountain and Its Heroes -- Source Materials
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 Kings Mountain, NC? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Kings Mountain Event Timeline
timeline
Students place key events in chronological order and add details
# Kings Mountain Revolutionary Timeline
Instructions: Place the following events in order and add one detail about each.
- [ ] Battle of Kings Mountain
- [ ] Cornwallis Cancels the North Carolina Invasion
- [ ] Major Patrick Ferguson Is Killed
- [ ] Patriot Forces Encircle Kings Mountain
- [ ] Ferguson's Ultimatum to the Overmountain Settlements
---
| 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 Kings Mountain 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
### Major Patrick Ferguson
The only British regular at Kings Mountain, commanding 1,100 Loyalist militia. Inventor of the Ferguson breech-loading rifle and one of the army's most capable officers. His ultimatum to the Overmountain settlements triggered the campaign that killed him.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
### Colonel William Campbell
Virginia militia colonel who led roughly 400 riflemen — the largest contingent at Kings Mountain — and served as overall commander. His forceful leadership of disparate independent commands directed the encirclement that trapped Ferguson's command.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
## Reflection
Which figure interests you most and why?
_______________________________________________
Kings Mountain in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
1. What makes Kings Mountain 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 Kings Mountain 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: