Battle of the Chesapeake

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-the-chesapeake

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 date of naval engagement?September 5, 1781
2. What is the geographic location?Off the coast of Virginia, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
3. What was the Battle of the Chesapeake and why was it important?It was a naval battle in 1781 where French and British ships fought in Chesapeake Bay. The French win stopped the British from helping Cornwallis, which helped the Americans win at Yorktown.
4. Who were the main commanders in the battle?The French fleet was led by Admiral Comte de Grasse, and the British fleet was commanded by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves.

Rear Admiral: A high-ranking naval officer, typically commanding a squadron or division within a larger fleet.
Ships of the Line: The capital ships of sailing navies, designed for fleet battles, carrying the heaviest armament.
Blockade: The naval action of preventing ships from entering or leaving a port or bay, often to cut off supplies or reinforcements.