Revolutionary War Board Game

The American Revolutionary War was an epic and complex eight year struggle for independence. For the Americans it was, in many ways, a “two steps forward, one step back” slog of trying to hold on until the British – who struggled with their own inability to come up with a clear strategy to win the war – finally gave up and quit. For students, studying battle after battle can be monotonous – so why not break it up with a game?

This simple yet highly engaging board game is designed to entertain and teach students about the battles, events, struggles, triumphs and personalities involved in the fight for independence. Students compete against each other in small groups of 4-5 players each to become the first to gain independence as they win and lose battles, struggle with war profiteering and disease, and deal with good and bad fortune. As they do so, they are required to read information cards about the war, reinforcing learning while they have fun.

The game is simple to set up, instruct and play, and students immediately become engaged in competing with each other to become the first to reach independence. Be prepared for noise!

Materials include: * instructions * game board * 40 play cards

Materials are provided as PDFs in one zip file.

You will need to provide a die and game markers for each group playing the game, and there is about 30 minutes of one-time set up (copying and cutting out playing cards for each group and preparing the game markers). I’ve played this game in my 8th grade class for years, and it never fails to be a big hit.

Created by Cliff Baker - Ye Olde History Emporium