The Duke of Cumberland: ‘Butcher of Culloden’ or ‘Sweet William’? – Card Sort Lesson

This engaging and thought-provoking lesson explores one of the most controversial figures of the Georgian era — the Duke of Cumberland. In the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he was celebrated as a national hero who had saved the Union and was affectionately nicknamed “Sweet William.” Yet, his brutal suppression of the defeated Jacobites soon earned him a far darker reputation as “The Butcher of Culloden.”

Through this interactive card sort activity, students are challenged to weigh up both interpretations and decide for themselves whether the Duke of Cumberland deserves to be remembered as a hero or a villain. The task encourages critical thinking and historical evaluation, helping students to engage with key ideas about perspective, evidence, and historical judgment.

This resource includes a single-page Word document containing two heading cards — “Butcher of Culloden” and “Sweet William” — alongside sixteen information cards that present a range of facts, events, and interpretations for students to analyse and sort. The activity provides enough content for a full lesson and can easily be extended into a homework or follow-up task.

The lesson is designed to fit within the Act of Union theme and aims to help students understand who the Duke of Cumberland was, what role he played in defeating the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, and whether his actions justify the infamous title he earned. Students will develop key historical skills including collaboration, cause and consequence, and interpretation.

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to describe who the Duke of Cumberland was, explain his part in suppressing the Jacobite Rebellion, and evaluate whether he deserves to be remembered as the “Butcher of Culloden.”

The aims and objectives of this lesson are:

Theme: The Act of Union
Know: Who was the Duke of Cumberland?
Understand: What part did he play in the defeat of the Jacobites in 1745?
Evaluate: Does Cumberland deserve to be called the ‘Butcher of Culloden’?
Skills: Collaboration, Cause, Consequence & Interpretation.

If you’re looking for a quick, ready-to-use card sort to complement your existing materials, this is ideal. For teachers wanting a more in-depth version of the lesson — complete with a detailed PowerPoint presentation and supporting activities — you can find it in The History Academy TES shop.

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Kind regards,
Roy