 | In September of 1780, defenses in Upstate New York were extremely important to the Continental Patriots. It was imperative to block the British from traveling past West Point, so all kinds of items - sunken ships, underwater spikes, and the like - were used to create a blockade the river and impede enemy ships' passage. Key players worked in a nearby forge to create a massive chain with two- to three-foot links that would cross the river and achieve the needed defense. Part of that chain can still be seen, now preserved on the property. |
Yesterday, I gave students 30 links of their own. They were tasked with constructing their own chains. The kicker was that the links must be placed in the chain in the correct order. On each link was a clue to hint which link came next. This was a huge review of American history up to the point of our current study in 1780. They did not come close to extending the 300 yards of the original chain about which we learned.
