Nero Hawley's Dream

Nero Hawley's Dream

By Joe Brennan

• The American Revolution had started. All over the country, Patriots were fighting for freedom. The British were fighting back. At first, not everyone was allowed to join the Patriot cause. Many Patriot leaders didn’t want to allow free or enslaved African American men to take part. Then the British offered freedom to any enslaved man who would join their side.

Multiple Choice

"Many Patriot leaders didn’t want to allow free or enslaved African American men to take part." Which statement best describes enslaved?

• to be a slave

• to be free, not a slave

• to be married

Multiple Choice

How does the picture support the main idea of the text?

• it shows the patriots and the British in the revolution

• it shows the people at home waiting for the soldiers

• it shows what it looks like after the revolution

Multiple Choice

What were the patriots fighting for in the American Revolution?

• land

• freedom

• money

Multiple Choice

How were African Americans able to get freedom?

• they were granted freedom

• they fought with the patriots for it

• they had to join the British side

• This worried the Patriots. They needed more men. So they allowed free African American men to join up. Some white men who didn’t want to go to war sent slaves in their place as well. Nero Hawley was one of those enslaved men. He had worked in a sawmill in Connecticut. In the fall of 1777, his master sent him to join the army.

Multiple Choice

Who was Nero Hawley?

• a patriot soldier who chose to fight in the revolution

• a British soldier who chose to fight in the revolution

• an African American slave who was sent in place of someone

Multiple Choice

How did Nero Hawley join the army?

• he signed up to join the patriots

• his master sent him to the army

• he joined the British side

Multiple Choice

How did some African American slaves fight alongside the patriots?

• they just joined by free choice

• they were sent in for white men who didn't want to go

• they went in as trade for freedom

• The Patriots promised to free any slaves who fought on their side. Throughout the war, Hawley held on to this promise of freedom. He looked forward to the day he would no longer be enslaved. Some aspects of army life were new to Hawley. As a soldier, he was paid a small amount each month. Before, he hadn’t been paid. He ate and worked with other soldiers, black and white. Before, he had only worked with other enslaved people. 

Multiple Choice

How does the picture support the main idea of the text?

• it shows what they do in the army

• it shows the difference for Hawley working with white men

• it shows what they do for fun outside, hobbies

Multiple Choice

What was the patriot's promise?

• they would win the revolution

• they would free any men fighting on their side

• they would free all African American slaves

Multiple Select

What changes came to Hawley for working in the army? Choose 2 answers .

• getting paid to work

• working with white men

• working with slaves

• Hawley was sent to Pennsylvania. There he joined General George Washington’s troops. Washington was one of the most influential leaders in the war. He commanded a huge army of soldiers. Washington ordered his troops to set up camp at Valley Forge. As the army made camp, snow began to fall. It kept falling. The soldiers knew that the coming winter would be long and hard. 

Multiple Choice

Who was one of the most influential leaders in the war?

• Nero Hawley

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

Multiple Choice

Where did Washington order his troops to set up camp?

• Fort Sumter

• Valley Forge

• Gettysburg

• The winter at Valley Forge was even harder than the soldiers had expected. Hawley shared a hut with twelve other soldiers. The snow fell and then melted. Then more snow fell. It melted. The men couldn’t keep dry. The army had begun to run out of provisions. There was hardly any food or clothing. Many soldiers had no shoes, and the huts were freezing. 

Multiple Choice

"The army had begun to run out of provisions." Which statement best describes provisions?

• providing or supplying something

• starvation and scarcity

• excuses and arguments

Multiple Choice

How does the picture support the main idea of the text?

• it shows how big and comfy the huts were

• it shows how the soldiers were doing so well

• it shows how cold and empty the huts are

Multiple Select

What made the winter at Valley Forge harder than expected? Click all that apply.

• there was hardly any food

• there was hardly any clothing

• the huts were freezing

• there were blankets and coats

• There were about 500 camp followers at Valley Forge. They were wives, sisters, and children of the men. They made important contributions to the army. They took care of wounded soldiers. They cooked and did laundry. They fetched water. Even so, nearly 3,000 soldiers died of sickness. Nero Hawley was one of the lucky survivors.

Multiple Choice

How does the picture support the main idea of the text?

• it shows the men getting no help or assistance

• it shows the soldiers wounds getting taken care of

• it shows the soldiers at home now

Multiple Choice

What killed nearly 3,000 soliders?

• 3,000 died of fighting

• 3,000 died of sickness

• 3,000 died by an accident

Multiple Choice

Who made important contributions to the army?

• nurses and doctors

• the wives, sisters, and children of the men

• the soldiers helped each other

• In October 1781, the long, terrible war finally ended. The British surrendered. The colonies were free to rule themselves. Nero Hawley’s dream of freedom came true. He had survived many battles and returned to Connecticut a free man. He trained as an apprentice and became a skilled brick maker. Hawley lived to be 75 years old.

Multiple Choice

What did Nero Hawley do after the war was over?

• he returned to his old slave work

• he became a skilled brick master

• he died in the war along the patriots

Multiple Choice

How did the war end?

• the British killed all the soldiers

• the British finally surrendered

• The patriots gave up

Multiple Choice

When did the war end?

• December 1800

• March 1890

• October 1781

Multiple Choice

What did the American Revolution do for Nero Hawley?

• it made his dream come true, he became a free man

• he became injured from the battles

• he lost many of his friends in battle

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose of the text?

• entertain

• inform

• persuade