Summary
The British land the largest invasion force of the war and drive Washington's army off Long Island and out of New York City. James watches a desperate series of retreats — and learns that a general can lose nearly every battle and still keep an army, and a cause, alive.
Viewer safety
Animated battle sequences — cannon fire, troops maneuvering. No graphic wounds or death shown.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Losing New York was a disaster, but Washington's genius that autumn was knowing when to run. By keeping his army intact, he kept the Revolution from ending in 1776.
- Why was control of New York Harbor so valuable to the British?
- Washington kept retreating instead of risking his whole army in one battle. Was that cowardly or wise? Explain.
- How can losing ground but saving your forces still count as a kind of success?
- How did rivers, islands, and the harbor shape where battles could be fought?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: campaign, retreat, harbor, strategy, invasion.
Try it: On a map of New York, find Long Island, Manhattan, and the Hudson River. Use arrows to show the British advance and Washington's retreat. Write one sentence on how the water shaped the fighting.