Spies and Secret Codes

Mission Brief #22

🎯 Your mission

Figure out how this changed the world.

⚡ The twist

History is written by the winners — keep asking what's missing.

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Spies played a crucial role during the American Revolution. Both the British and American sides used spies to gather information about their enemies. They often used secret codes to communicate important messages without being discovered. Many brave individuals risked their lives to gather intelligence, helping their side make smart decisions during battles and campaigns.

Key facts

Remember these

1Spies gathered important information about enemy plans and movements.
2Secret codes helped protect messages from being understood by the enemy.
3Many spies were everyday people who wanted to support their cause.

Timeline

When it happened

1776
Nathan Hale is hanged as a spy
1778
Washington's Culper Spy Ring begins operating in New York
1780
Benedict Arnold's plot to surrender West Point is uncovered

Then & Now

The choices made back then are why the world looks like this now.

Mind = blown

Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776 — John Adams expected that date, not July 4, to be the one Americans celebrated.

Question 1 of 2

What was one job of spies during the American Revolution?

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Question 2 of 2

Why did spies use secret codes?

How sure?😐 maybe

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Next: The French Revolution: An Overview All lessons

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🌍 Why this still matters: Every road sign, every flag, every holiday — there's history hiding inside.

🏆 Try this week: Find one historical photo that shocked you. Tell someone about it.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “What's something from history you wish you could see in person?”

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