Teacher Resource Packet
Moore's Creek Bridge: Three Minutes That Ended a Loyalist Army
New Bern, NC
The February 27, 1776 Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge lasted roughly three minutes but had strategic consequences that lasted years. This lesson uses the battle as an entry point for understanding the Loyalist experience of the Revolution — who the Loyalists were, why they remained loyal, and what the consequences of choosing the losing side looked like in a civil war.
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:
- Explain who the Highland Scots were and why they had particular reasons for loyalty to the Crown
- Describe the Moore's Creek battle and how the Patriot forces achieved their tactical advantage
- Analyze the battle's strategic consequences for the planned British southern invasion of 1776
- Evaluate the Loyalist experience after the Patriot victory — confiscation, exile, community fracture
Essential Questions
Keep these questions in mind as you work through this packet:
- Who were the Loyalists and what does their story reveal about the Revolution as a civil war?
- What does it mean to bet on the wrong side of a revolution?
- How did geography and local knowledge shape military outcomes at Moore's Creek?
North Carolina Provincial Congress: Proceedings and Journal, 1774-1776
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 New Bern, 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 New Bern, 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 New Bern, NC? What does it tell you about the people involved?
Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens: Research 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 New Bern, 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 New Bern, NC? What does it tell you about the people involved?
New Bern Event Timeline
timeline
Students place key events in chronological order and add details
# New Bern Revolutionary Timeline
Instructions: Place the following events in order and add one detail about each.
- [ ] Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge — Loyalist Defeat
- [ ] North Carolina Authorizes Vote for Independence
- [ ] Governor Martin Flees New Bern
- [ ] North Carolina Adopts State Constitution
- [ ] Battle of Alamance — Regulator Movement Crushed
---
| 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 New Bern 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
### Richard Caswell
North Carolina militia and Continental officer who co-commanded Patriot forces at Moore's Creek Bridge in February 1776. His victory ended Loyalist military power in North Carolina. Served as North Carolina's first elected governor under the state constitution, 1776–1780.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
### Colonel James Moore
North Carolina Continental colonel who organized and commanded the overall Patriot response to the Loyalist march in early 1776. Coordinated militia and Continental forces to intercept the Highland Tories before they could reach the coast. Died of illness in April 1777 before the southern campaign reached its crisis.
My questions about this person:
1.
2.
## Reflection
Which figure interests you most and why?
_______________________________________________
New Bern in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
1. What makes New Bern 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 New Bern 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:
New Bern in the American Revolution
Moore's Creek Bridge: Three Minutes That Ended a Loyalist Army — New Bern, NC
- 1.What makes New Bern significant in Revolutionary history?Answer:A
New Bern 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 New Bern 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.