Voices of the Revolution: gallery walk posters

Setting up the gallery walk

  1. Print one poster per exhibit (letter or tabloid size, color if possible) and tape them around the room at eye level, spread out.
  2. Print the Gallery Walk Viewing Guide PDF for each student.
  3. Make groups of 3–4. Start each group at a different poster.
  4. Set the lesson presenter timer for 4 minutes per poster. At the signal, groups rotate clockwise.
  5. At each poster, students find every numbered detail, read the placard, and write I see / I think / I wonder.
  6. After the walk (about 20 minutes), students open Voices of the Revolution on devices to solve each exhibit's challenge, or discuss the "After the walk" question as a class.
Exhibit AVoices of the Revolution · 5.H.7–5.H.13

George Washington

Portrait with Valley Forge, 1777–78

Valley Forge hutsResignedcommand, 17831st President123

Look closely

  1. Commander: Chosen in 1775 to lead the Continental Army, often short on food and pay.
  2. Valley Forge: In the winter of 1777–78 about 2,000 soldiers died, but Washington kept the army together.
  3. Gave up power: After winning, he gave up command instead of ruling like a king. Later he became the first President.

Placard

A Virginia planter and veteran of the French and Indian War, George Washington was chosen to lead the Continental Army in 1775. His army was often short on food, clothing, and pay. During the brutal winter of 1777–78 at Valley Forge, about 2,000 soldiers died from disease and cold, but Washington kept the army together.

After victory, he chose to give up power and return home. He later became the first President of the United States (1789–1797).

Exhibit BVoices of the Revolution · 5.H.7–5.H.13

Abigail Adams

Portrait with her 1776 letter

"Rememberthe Ladies"the family farm123

Look closely

  1. A famous letter: She asked John Adams and Congress to "Remember the Ladies" in the new laws.
  2. Running the farm: Women kept farms and businesses going while men served in the war or Congress.
  3. Patriot women: Women made supplies for soldiers and led boycotts of British goods.

Placard

Abigail Adams ran her family's farm in Massachusetts while her husband, John Adams, served in Congress. In a famous 1776 letter, she wrote to him:

"...in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors."

Women kept farms and businesses running, made supplies for soldiers, and led boycotts of British goods.

Exhibit CVoices of the Revolution · 5.H.7–5.H.13

James Armistead Lafayette

Portrait with spy notes, Yorktown 1781

SECRETBritish campSpy for the Patriots123

Look closely

  1. Double agent: Pretending to be a runaway, he worked in General Cornwallis's camp and passed secrets to the Americans.
  2. Trap at Yorktown: His reports helped the Americans and French trap the British at Yorktown in 1781.
  3. Winning freedom: He was not freed automatically. With Lafayette's letter, he won his freedom in 1787.

Placard

James Armistead was an enslaved man in Virginia who volunteered to serve as a spy. Pretending to be a runaway, he worked in the camp of British General Cornwallis and passed secret information to the Americans. His reports helped set the trap at Yorktown in 1781.

After the war, he was not freed automatically. He had to petition the Virginia legislature, and with a letter of support from the Marquis de Lafayette, he won his freedom in 1787. He added "Lafayette" to his name in thanks.

About 5,000 Black soldiers fought for the Patriots. Many others joined the British, who promised freedom to those who escaped Patriot enslavers.

Exhibit DVoices of the Revolution · 5.H.7–5.H.13

George Rogers Clark

The march to Vincennes, February 1779

Fort Sackvilleicy floodwater up to their shoulders123

Look closely

  1. The march: About 170 men marched 18 days through flooded, icy prairie from Kaskaskia.
  2. Fort Sackville: They surprised the British at Vincennes, Indiana, and the British commander surrendered.
  3. Why it mattered: The victory helped the U.S. claim land northwest of the Ohio River, including future Indiana.

Placard

In February 1779, George Rogers Clark led about 170 men on an 18-day march through flooded, icy prairie from Kaskaskia (Illinois) to Vincennes, Indiana. At times they waded through freezing water up to their shoulders.

They surprised the British at Fort Sackville, and British commander Henry Hamilton surrendered. Clark's victory helped the United States claim the lands northwest of the Ohio River, including future Indiana, in the peace treaty.

Today you can visit the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Vincennes.

Exhibit EVoices of the Revolution · 5.H.7–5.H.13

Loyalists & Allies

Choosing sides

Loyalists sail awayFrench ships help1 in 5colonists wereLoyalists123

Look closely

  1. Loyalists: About one-fifth of colonists stayed loyal to King George III. Many lost homes and left for Canada or Britain.
  2. Allies: France, and later Spain, helped the Patriots with money, soldiers, and ships.
  3. Native nations: Most Native nations stayed out or sided with Britain, hoping to stop colonists from taking their land.

Placard

Not everyone supported independence. About one-fifth of colonists were Loyalists who stayed loyal to King George III. Many lost their homes and moved to Canada or Britain after the war.

Most Native nations tried to stay out of the war or sided with Britain, hoping to stop colonists from taking their land. France, and later Spain, helped the Patriots with money, soldiers, and ships. The Marquis de Lafayette, a young French noble, became one of Washington's trusted generals.