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Teacher Resource Packet

Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War

New Brunswick, NJ

Grades 7-9·2 class periods

New Brunswick experienced the Revolution's full cycle in compressed form: Continental retreat in December 1776, British occupation and foraging, Continental return in January 1777. Students use this sequence to analyze how civilian communities in contested territory navigated changing military occupation, and what the shift from retreat to advance meant for morale and allegiance.

This Packet Includes

  • Learning Objectives & Essential Questions
  • 5 Primary Source Analysis Worksheets
  • 3 Reading & Activity Handouts
  • Assessment Quiz (5 questions)
  • Answer Key
Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Lesson Overview
History is for Everyone
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Learning Objectives

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the sequence of Continental retreat, British occupation, and Continental return through New Brunswick in 1776–1777
  2. Analyze how British foraging and property seizure affected civilian allegiances in New Jersey
  3. Evaluate primary sources from both Continental soldiers and New Brunswick civilians describing the occupation
  4. Explain the psychological significance of Washington's army returning through New Brunswick after Trenton and Princeton

Essential Questions

Keep these questions in mind as you work through this packet:

  • How do civilian communities survive military occupation? What strategies did New Brunswick residents use?
  • What is the relationship between how an occupying army treats civilians and whether those civilians support the enemy? What evidence do we have from New Jersey?
Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
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Primary Source 1 of 5
Document Information
DocumentWashington's Dispatches from New Brunswick and the New Jersey Retreat, November-December 1776
SourceLibrary of Congress, George Washington Papers
TypePRIMARY
Washington's Dispatches from New Brunswick and the New Jersey Retreat, November-December 1776

Washington's Dispatches from New Brunswick and the New Jersey Retreat, November-December 1776

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

  1. Who created this source and why?

  2. When was this source created?

  3. What perspective does this source represent?

  4. What was happening when this was written?

  5. How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to what happened in New Brunswick, NJ? What does it tell you about the people involved?

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:
Primary Source 2 of 5
Document Information
DocumentLord Cornwallis's Reports on the Pursuit Across New Jersey, 1776
SourceUK National Archives, War Office Papers
TypePRIMARY

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

  1. Who created this source and why?

  2. When was this source created?

  3. What perspective does this source represent?

  4. What was happening when this was written?

  5. How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to what happened in New Brunswick, NJ? What does it tell you about the people involved?

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:
Primary Source 3 of 5
Document Information
DocumentWashington's Crossing
SourceOxford University Press (David Hackett Fischer)
TypeSECONDARY

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

  1. Who created this source and why?

  2. When was this source created?

  3. What perspective does this source represent?

  4. What primary sources does this draw from?

  5. What interpretation does the author offer?

Reflection

How does this source connect to what happened in New Brunswick, NJ? What does it tell you about the people involved?

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:
Primary Source 4 of 5
Document Information
DocumentRutgers University Special Collections: New Jersey Revolutionary War Records
SourceRutgers University Libraries
TypeINSTITUTIONAL
Rutgers University Special Collections: New Jersey Revolutionary War Records

Rutgers University Special Collections: New Jersey Revolutionary War Records

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

  1. Who created this source and why?

  2. When was this source created?

  3. What perspective does this source represent?

  4. What is the institution's mission?

  5. How does that mission shape the presentation?

Reflection

How does this source connect to what happened in New Brunswick, NJ? What does it tell you about the people involved?

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:
Primary Source 5 of 5
Document Information
DocumentNew Jersey Gazette, 1777-1783
SourceNew Jersey State Library, Newspaper Collections
TypePRIMARY

Analysis Questions

Read the document carefully, then answer each question in complete sentences.

  1. Who created this source and why?

  2. When was this source created?

  3. What perspective does this source represent?

  4. What was happening when this was written?

  5. How might the author's position affect their account?

Reflection

How does this source connect to what happened in New Brunswick, NJ? What does it tell you about the people involved?

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — New Brunswick Event Timeline
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:

New Brunswick Event Timeline

timeline

Students place key events in chronological order and add details

# New Brunswick Revolutionary Timeline


Instructions: Place the following events in order and add one detail about each.


  • [ ] Washington Recrosses the Raritan and Returns to New Brunswick
  • [ ] Washington's Army Retreats Through New Brunswick
  • [ ] Forage Wars in Central New Jersey
  • [ ] British Establish Supply Depot
  • [ ] General Howe Headquartered at New Brunswick

---


| Event | Date | Significance |

|-------|------|-------------|

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Primary Source Analysis
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:

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 Brunswick during the Revolution?


_______________________________________________


## Perspective

Whose voice is represented? Whose might be missing?


_______________________________________________

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Key Figures Profile
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:

Key Figures Profile

worksheet

Research template for Revolutionary figures

# Revolutionary Figure Profile


## Basic Information

  • Name: _________________
  • Birth/Death Years: _________________
  • Occupation(s): _________________

## Role in the Revolution



## Reflection

Which figure interests you most and why?


_______________________________________________

Unit:Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — Assessment
History is for Everyone
Name: Date: Period:

New Brunswick in the American Revolution

Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.

  1. 1.  What makes New Brunswick significant in Revolutionary history?

  2. 2.  Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.

  3. 3.  Name one event that occurred in New Brunswick during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.

    Answer:

  4. 4.  Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?

  5. 5.  Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.

    Answer:

ANSWER KEY · TEACHER COPY · DO NOT DISTRIBUTE

New Brunswick in the American Revolution

Retreat, Occupation, and Return: New Brunswick's Full Arc of War — New Brunswick, NJ

  1. 1.What makes New Brunswick significant in Revolutionary history?
    Answer:A

    New Brunswick played a significant role in the American Revolution as evidenced by the events we studied.

  2. 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. 3.Name one event that occurred in New Brunswick 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. 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. 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.