Washington’s Choice: The Crossing of the Delaware

In this lesson, students will review George Washington’s courageous actions in leading his troops to cross the Delaware River against overwhelming obstacles in order to attack and defeat the British army’s Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey. They will achieve the following objectives.

Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.

• What challenges are you facing?
• What fears or concerns might you have?
• What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?

Observation Questions

• In what ways did George Washington exercise courage to enhance life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for himself and others? What other virtues did Washington demonstrate?
• What is George Washington’s identity during this time?
• What did George Washington understand his purpose to be in the events of late December 1776?

Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.

• What is the historical context of the narrative?
• What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
• How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
• How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
• How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
• What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
• Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
• How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?

• Students will analyze George Washington’s character as a military commander and his courageous actions in leading his troops against overwhelming obstacles to cross the Delaware River in order to attack British troops at Trenton, New Jersey.
• Students will examine Washington’s demonstration of courage.
• Students will understand why courage is an essential virtue in their own lives.
• Students will act courageously in their own lives to protect freedom.