Battle of Long Island

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/battle-of-long-island

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Western Long Island, New York (encompassing present-day Brooklyn and surrounding areas)
2. What is the date of engagement?August 27, 1776
3. Why did the British want New York?New York had a deep harbor that let the British navy help them attack the colonies. The harbor was a key spot for ships and supplies. Capturing it would give the British a strong base.
4. How did Washington move his soldiers?He moved most of his troops to Manhattan and built forts on Brooklyn Heights. This helped protect the city from the British. The soldiers stayed ready for battle.

Continental Army: The unified military force of the thirteen American colonies established to fight the British.
British Army: The professional military forces of Great Britain, including regular troops and hired mercenaries (Hessians).
Flank Attack: A military tactic involving an assault on the side or rear of an enemy formation, often bypassing frontal defenses.
Envelopment: A military maneuver in which a force attacks the enemy's flanks and rear, encircling them.