8th Grade
Social Studies
Module
8-2
American
Revolution
Lesson 8-2.3
Standard 8-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the
American Revolution—the beginnings of the new American nation and
South Carolina’s part in the development of that nation.
Indicator 8-2.3: Summarize the course and key conflicts of the
American Revolution in South Carolina and its effects on the state,
including the attacks on Charleston; the Battle of Camden; the partisan
warfare of Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion; the
Battle of Cowpens; and the Battle of Kings Mountain. (H, G)
S3 8th Grade Curriculum Draft 11/24/2011
1
Instructional Progression:
In 3rd grade, students summarized the key conflicts and key leaders of the
American Revolution in South Carolina and their effects on the state, including the
occupation of Charleston by the British; the partisan warfare of Thomas Sumter,
Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion; and the battles of Cowpens and Kings
Mountain (3-3.2). In 4th grade, students summarized the events and key battles of
the Revolutionary War, including Lexington and Concord, Bunker (Breed’s) Hill,
Charleston, Saratoga, Cowpens, and Yorktown (4-3.4). In United States History,
students will learn the impact of the Declaration of Independence and the American
Revolution on the American colonies and on the world at large (USHC 2-2.).
Taxonomy level of indicator:
B 2 Understand/ Conceptual Knowledge
Content Overview:
The Battle of Camden was a major defeat for the regular Continental Army and
meant almost all of South Carolina was controlled by the British. The South Carolina
militia was not prepared and turned and fled in the face of the regular British
forces. Loyalist forces and British regulars that had been rampaging through the
backcountry were stopped at the:
Battle of King’s Mountain: Mountain men from both North and South Carolina
attacked the Tory forces from behind rocks and trees, inflicting heavy casualties.
Although the British tried to surrender, they were offered no quarter by the Patriots
in retaliation for harsh treatment of Patriots by the British. King’s Mountain is
considered a turning point because the British began to retreat from the Upcountry.
The Battle of Cowpens showed the cooperation of the regular Continental Army
and the irregular partisan forces. Partisans had a reputation among the British
regular forces of turning tail and running. The American commander counted on
this reputation for his battle plan. The partisans, under the leadership of Andrew
Pickens, led the attack and then fled the field, tricking the British regulars into
thinking that the Americans were retreating. Instead, the partisans lured the British
forces into the guns of the regular American army. The British were soundly
defeated and retreated northward toward Virginia.
Introduction to the lesson: 10 – 15 minutes
Soon after the British were defeated in New York, the British turned their attention
to South Carolina, where they hoped to find a large number of Loyalists who would
be of assistance in the future battle in SC. Have the students create a map of SC
and identify where and when the Battle of Camden, King’s Mountain, and Cowpens
took place.
Lesson time:
Two Days - 90 Minutes
Materials Needed:
SC History Textbook
www.knowitall.org The South Carolina History Slide Show Collection
S3 8th Grade Curriculum Draft 11/24/2011
2
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=020D2DF1-
78E8-4E4D-BEDD-B146C66F9348&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Battle of Camden Video
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=66639BE5-
2B6A-491F-84BA-3CE34173261D&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Battle of Camden Image
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=8081A490-
7EB6-4AF3-9CC8-5B8E00BA27B6&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Article About Kings Mountain
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=2D72BB58-
0C90-402D-AEA4-A1683132F356&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Kings Mountain Video Clip
Battle of Cowpens Information
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_cowp.asp
Walter Edgar Interviews - South Carolina in the Revolution
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=0ED4905F-
B1BF-41B0-B181-A93CD29F56C3&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Teaching the Lesson:
Give students information or have students research The Battle of Camden, King’s
Mountain, and Cowpens. Use information gathered in textbook and from the
content overview. If students are researching the battles, they should gather
information about battle dates, commanders, strategies, victor, and casualty totals.
Discuss each battle and also use the following video clips about the battles.
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=020D2DF1-
78E8-4E4D-BEDD-B146C66F9348&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
The programs in this series are about various eras in our state's history and serve
as good visual resources to interest students studying our state's rich story of
historical importance. This clip is about the Battle of Camden.
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=66639BE5-
2B6A-491F-84BA-3CE34173261D&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Battle of Camden Image
The battle of Camden, August 1780. About 100 miles inland from Charleston,
Camden was one of a series of fortified positions seized by Cornwallis which the
British attempted to use in pacifying the state and establishing British rule. Horatio
Gates, the hero of Saratoga, attempted to oust Cornwallis with a force of 2,000
untrained militiamen, but the British destroyed his army, killing or wounding 750
men.
Kings Mountain
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=8081A490-
7EB6-4AF3-9CC8-5B8E00BA27B6&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Article about Battle of Kings Mountain
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=2D72BB58-
0C90-402D-AEA4-A1683132F356&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Kings Mountain Video Clip – 4 minutes
The victory at Kings Mountain was the beginning of the end of British dominance in
the South.
S3 8th Grade Curriculum Draft 11/24/2011
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Battle of Cowpens Information
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/battles/bat_cowp.asp
Walter Edgar Interviews - South Carolina in the Revolution
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=0ED4905F-
B1BF-41B0-B181-A93CD29F56C3&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Noted South Carolina historian Dr. Walter Edgar discusses the key issues in SC
History. The American Revolution in the Low Country is discussed in four lessons:
1) South Carolina Enters the Revolution
Procedure:
After discussing the Battle of Camden, King’s Mountain, and Cowpens have
students include on the map the battle victor. Once each battle has been
discussed, give each student the following assignment. You are an outstanding
new reporter for the Charles Town Gazette. Your new assignment is to interview
someone who was involved in the Battle of Camden, King’s Mountain, or Cowpens.
You can interview a witness, soldier, cook, nurse, etc… After your interview is
complete, write an article that will be published in the next issue of the Charles
Town Gazette. Your article will give the readers of the paper incite into what is
going on in the battles in South Carolina. Begin your article with background
information about the battle. The information should include battle dates,
commanders, strategies, victor, and casualty totals. The second paragraph should
include information about the interviewee. Include in the paragraph how this
person was involved in this battle and the person’s reaction to the result of the
battle. Also include a quote from the interviewee.
Extensions
See strategies under Suggested Instructional Strategies on the SOUTH
CAROLINA SUPPORT SYSTEMS INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE.
Assessing the Lesson:
Grade map for accuracy of location, dates, and battle victors.
S3 8th Grade Curriculum Draft 11/24/2011
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