Summary:

"The Master Spy of Yorktown" is an expository piece meant to inform the reader about an unusual contributor to the birth of our nation. This nonfiction selection tells of the exploits of James Armistead, an enslaved black man who worked for the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette had come to the colonies from France to support the Americans effort to win independence.   Armistead enlisted with Lafayette to help the American army during the Revolution.  He went to work in Benedict Arnold’s camp and passed information that almost resulted in Arnold’s capture by Virginia soldiers. Later, he was sent to work as a spy in the camp of General Cornwallis in exchange for his freedom from slavery. The British in their army camp assumed they could trust this smiling volunteer who served the officers in camp and guided them on the roads. While there, Armistead was instrumental in helping the American army win the battle at Yorktown by warning of the British armies’ secret troop movements.   This important battle ended the Revolution.  After the war ended, Armistead was granted his freedom and even given a pension. Now that he was a free man, he wanted a new last name and chose “Lafayette” to honor the man he so respected.

Lafayette later went on to work toward outlawing slavery and he also founded a society of The Friends of the Blacks.  He continued all his life to support efforts to give equal rights to men of all races.

Key Concepts:

Black and enslaved men played an important role in the fight for America’s freedom, often with no reward or recognition.

 Vocabulary;

• petition - a request
• campaign - battle
• legislature - a group of lawmakers
• headquarters - center of operations
• procure - to get it

Spelling:

Doubling Final Consonants when adding endings         

Try: knotted, thinning, petting, blurred, dropped, stirring, begged, starring, sobbed, fitting, dragged                                     

Story Questions:

1.  Why was Lafayette de Marquis excited to be chosen to face the British raiders? (he had always dreamed of commanding an American army)

2.Why did Benedict Arnold think James Armistead would remain loyal?  (he knew James wanted freedom from slavery)

3.  Why did James latter change his last name to "Lafayette"?  (wanted a new name when he became a free man and wanted the name of the commander he respected so much)

4.  How did Lafayette help outlaw slavery?  (founded a society called The Friends of the Blacks and supported efforts to give equal rights to men of all races).