General Peter Muhlenberg a Virginia Officer of the Continental Line

General Peter Muhlenberg A Virginia Officer of the Continental Line

DESIGN LEVEL

This book is appropriate for high school students studying English Language Arts, History or the Revolutionary War and most adults.

OVERVIEW

General Peter Muhlenberg: A Virginia Officer of the Continental Line1 by Michael Cecere follows the life of a relatively unknown Founder of the United States who served as a General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and would go on to become a Member of Congress. He began his professional career as a pastor and was nicknamed the “Fighting Pastor.”

ASSESSMENT

General Peter Muhlenberg is an excellent literary work on the American Revolution for young adults and adults, alike. It is highly accessible for diverse reading levels and very engaging. General Muhlenberg served over the entire span of the Revolutionary War which will give readers a sense of many of the key theaters of action in the northern and southern colonies. The book may be especially appealing to young adults because it contains all of the action associated with military combat. Unlike a lot of military history nonfiction, the content is not extremely graphic or violent making it

1 General Peter Muhlenberg: A Virginia Officer of the Continental Line. By Michael Cecere. Journal of the American Revolution Books. Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-595416-342-5. Maps. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

1 more appropriate for an educational environment. The content may be too introductory for seasoned historians or Revolutionary War enthusiasts.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, READING: LITERATURE, GRADE 11-12:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

Readers will be able to identify instances in the book where the text leaves matters uncertain. Due to limited availability of primary resources, particularly in matters of military combat, Cecere is left to speculate on a variety of issues. For example, in Chapter Four of the book, Cecere makes note of a dispute between historians regarding General Muhlenberg’s role in a clash between British and American troops. Cecere uses primary sources and inferences to lay out different theories of what happened during the battle.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

There are two storylines to General Peter Muhlenberg. The first is the overall backdrop of the Revolutionary War. Cecere conducts an extensive analysis of several key battles including introducing readers to many of the key players in the war like Continental Army Commander-in-Chief George Washington, Major General Charles Lee, and Commander-in-Chief of the British military forces in North America William Howe. Cecere also explores General Muhlenberg’s personal and professional life as a military officer. He addresses issues of family separation and how General Muhlenberg dealt with being passed over for promotion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3 Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

General Peter Muhlenberg provides ample opportunity to analyze the various elements of General Muhlenberg’s life story. Readers can explore why Cecere focused on specific characters and battles and whether he fully developed them throughout the book. There is also opportunity to assess whether certain issues should even be included in the book because it is not always clear how they relate to General Muhlenberg.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

One of the strengths of this book is the use of primary and secondary sources, including

Copyright © 2021 Nathan’s Papers - All Rights Reserved personal letters, military documents like General’s Orders or military reports, and information from General Muhlenberg’s other biographies. Cecere does not just cite them, but often quotes significant sections of the text. This allows readers to critically analyze the different forms and styles of writing used at that time and consider whether any issues are left open to interpretation.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.

Cecere focuses on a very distinct part of General Muhlenberg’s life, his service in the Continental Army. However, in the Epilogue he notes that the General had a rich life in politics after the war. Readers can analyze whether there was more to add to the book to make it a fuller exploration of General Muhlenberg’s service to the country and contribution to the American founding.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.10 By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

General Peter Muhlenberg is a challenging historical nonfiction. It covers mature topics that were relevant during the Revolutionary War and includes action sequences that can engage readers. Other themes explored in the book include the American founding, military life, work/life balance, courage, duty, and public service.