Historical Accuracy vs Integrity - Battle of Yorktown

Historical Accuracy vs Integrity

The Battle of Yorktown

Multiple Choice

Which of the following defines a primary source?

• A primary source is an original document or firsthand account.
• A primary source is a summary of events.
• A primary source is a collection of opinions.
• A primary source is a document written by historians after the time being studied.

Word Cloud

What is an example of a primary source?

Primary sources are important because it allows us to understand an event or time period by studying someone who was living at that time.  It can also give us an unique point of view on an event or topic.  It can also help make history feel more like a story (such as a book or movie) and therefore, more enjoyable.

Why are Primary Sources important when studying history?

Poll

Should we study history by only looking at one primary source?

• Yes

• No

Studying history from one source or point of view gives you an incomplete picture.  There are always multiple interpretations and opinions when things happen in life and we need to look at multiple sources and points of view to get the entire picture.  To judge and write history using an incomplete picture is a disgrace to those who lived at the time and does not help you understand and learn about the past.

What are the possible impacts of studying history from only one source or Point of View?

What may happen to our understanding of historical events/people when we compare and contrast several sources and points of view?

Seeing people or events from several points of view and then comparing/contrasting them allows us to fully understand what was happening at a certain time.  People never completely agree on anything.  Therefore, we are allowed to get a complete view of what was happening, what the causes of an event were, see what the agreements & disagreements were, and get a better idea of what the effects were.

Open Ended

What do you see happening in this painting?

You should write at least 2 sentences.

Open Ended

What do you see happening in this picture?

Write at least two sentences.

Read the Background of the Battle of Yorktown.

Categorize

Options (8)

George Washington

General Cornwallis

Alexander Hamilton

Marquis de Lafayette

Henry Knox

Henry Clinton

John Laurens

Vicomte de Noailles

Organize these people into the countries they're from.

Patriot (4)

British (2)

French (2)

Multiple Choice

What strategic advantage did George Washington see in the arrival of the French fleet in Chesapeake Bay?

• It would provide more soldiers for the British.

• It allowed him to trap General Cornwallis's army.

• It would lead to a quick end to the war.

• It meant he could retreat safely to New York.

Multiple Choice

How many soldiers did the American and French forces have compared to the British soldiers at Yorktown?

• 8,000 American and French soldiers to 17,000 British soldiers.

• 17,000 American and French soldiers to 8,000 British soldiers.

• 20,000 American and French soldiers to 10,000 British soldiers.

• 15,000 American and French soldiers to 5,000 British soldiers.

Multiple Select

Why did Cornwallis request a cease-fire? (Two correct answers)

• They were running out of ammunition

• Reinforcements were too far away

• Parliament told him to

• He was tired of fighting

Multiple Choice

What was the outcome of Cornwallis's surrender on October 19, 1781?

• It significantly weakened British forces in America.

• It resulted in a peace treaty being signed immediately.

• It caused the British Parliament to continue fighting.

• It immediately ended the war.

Multiple Choice

Why did the British Parliament end the American Revolutionary War?

• Losing 1/4 of their troops at Yorktown

• They lost interest in keeping America

• The British started a war with France and didn't want to fight two wars at once

• The US Congress ended the war, not the British Parliament

Multiple Choice

Who won the American Revolution?

• United States

• Britain

• France

• Native Americans

Historical accuracy is being factually correct. Names, places, dates, and quotations are not changed at all.

Historical Accuracy

Historical integrity is when, the presentation of a person, event, or document may not be precisely factual, the spirit of that aspect of history is maintained. 

Historical Integrity

Lin-Manuel Miranda used artistic license to alter the facts while maintaining historical integrity. This is demonstrated in the scene in Hamilton in which Alexander Hamilton meets the Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, and John Laurens at the same time in New York City, when in reality Hamilton met the three men at different times and places. Miranda

​changed the historical accuracy of their meeting but maintained historical integrity in showing Hamilton’s relationship with them.

Take a moment to read the Surrender Ceremony reading

Open Ended

What's happening in this painting?

Multiple Choice

Does it show historical accuracy?

Multiple Choice

Does it show historical integrity?

Open Ended

What's happening in this painting?

Multiple Choice

Does it show historical accuracy?

The next few videos show the Yorktown sequence in Hamilton

Poll

Does this last song show historical accuracy?

• Yes

• Kinda yes

• Sorta yes, sorta no

• Kinda no

• No

Poll

Does this last song show historical integrity?

• Yes

• Kinda yes

• Sorta yes, sorta no

• Kinda no

• No

The next video comes from a TV show

Multiple Choice

Does this scene show historical accuracy?

• Yes

• No

Create a 1-2 minute song, rap, poem, or monologue about the American Revolution using primary sources.

Extra Credit Opportunity

Poll

Are you interested in doing this extra credit opportunity?

• Yes

• Maybe

• No