Teacher Resources
Savannah
This lesson uses the British capture of Savannah in December 1778 to teach how battles are won through intelligence, surprise, and terrain. Students analyze why Campbell's flanking move succeeded, what role Quamino Dolly played, and what the battle's outcome meant for the rest of the southern war. The lesson also introduces the social dimension of the war through the story of enslaved people's choices and risks.
Grade Range
6-8
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
This lesson uses the British capture of Savannah in December 1778 to teach how battles are won through intelligence, surprise, and terrain. Students analyze why Campbell's flanking move succeeded, what role Quamino Dolly played, and what the battle's outcome meant for the rest of the southern war. The lesson also introduces the social dimension of the war through the story of enslaved people's choices and risks.
Essential Questions
- How does knowledge of local terrain change the outcome of battles?
- What choices did enslaved people face when both armies claimed to offer something to them?
- Why does the British capture of Savannah in 1778 matter to understanding everything that happened in the southern states afterward?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell to Lord Germain: Dispatch on the Capture of Savannah, December 29, 1778
Public Record Office (National Archives, United Kingdom)
PRIMARY · TIER1
General Benjamin Lincoln: Correspondence during the Siege of Savannah, September-October 1779
Massachusetts Historical Society
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Vice-Admiral Comte d'Estaing: Dispatches on the Siege of Savannah, 1779
Archives nationales (France)
PRIMARY · TIER1
Account of the Death of Count Casimir Pulaski at the Siege of Savannah, October 9, 1779
Library of Congress
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
British Garrison Records: Savannah, 1779-1782
Public Record Office (National Archives, United Kingdom)
Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Students will explain how Campbell used terrain intelligence to outflank Howe's defenses
- 2Students will describe Quamino Dolly's role and discuss why his motivations are historically significant
- 3Students will analyze why Georgia was chosen as the entry point for the British southern strategy
- 4Students will explain the consequences of Savannah's fall for the rest of the southern war
Assessment
Savannah in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Savannah 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 Savannah 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.