First unit: European exploration & Colonization
Assignment questions are located near the bottom. read the instructions carefully.
Students will understand how the exploration and colonization of North America transformed human history.
Describe and explain the growth and development of the early American colonies.
Assess the global impact of cultural and economic diffusion as a result of colonization.
Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities held by different groups of people during the colonial period.
Important Vocabulary to Use: colony, exploration, Europe, North America, South America, cultural diffusion, indentured servant, slavery, displacement, charter, compact, Iroquois Confederacy
Benchmark: The English colonies in North America began to organize and discuss creating an independent form of government separate from England's rule. After making their case in their Declaration of Independence, the colonies engaged in a Revolutionary war that culminated in their independence and the creation of a new nation, the United States of America.
Describe and explain the growth and development of the early American colonies.
Assess the global impact of cultural and economic diffusion as a result of colonization.
Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities held by different groups of people during the colonial period.
- Using maps - including pre-1492 maps - and other geographic tools, locate and analyze the routes used by the explorers.
- Explain how advances in technology lead to an increase in exploration (e.g. ship technology)
- Identify explorers who came to the Americas and the nations they represented.
- Determine reasons for the exploration of North America (e.g., religious, economic, political).
- Compare the geographic and cultural differences between the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies (e.g., religious, economic, political).
- Analyze contributions of American Indian people to the colonial settlements.
- Describe the cultural and economic impacts that occurred as a result of trade between North America and other markets (e.g., arts, language, ideas, the beginning and expansion of the slave trade, new agricultural markets).
- Analyze and explain the population decline in American Indian populations (i.e. disease, warfare, displacement).
- Compare the varying degrees of freedom held by different groups (e.g. American Indians, landowners, women, indentured servants, enslaved people).
- Explain how early leaders established the first colonial governments (e.g. Mayflower compact, charters).
- Describe the basic principles and purposes of the Iroquois Confederacy.
Important Vocabulary to Use: colony, exploration, Europe, North America, South America, cultural diffusion, indentured servant, slavery, displacement, charter, compact, Iroquois Confederacy
Benchmark: The English colonies in North America began to organize and discuss creating an independent form of government separate from England's rule. After making their case in their Declaration of Independence, the colonies engaged in a Revolutionary war that culminated in their independence and the creation of a new nation, the United States of America.
Comprehension questions for "Age of Exploration" Lessons:
1. Whose death brought about Dutch control over the spice trade?
2. Where did the Dutch set up their main trade center? Why is this location significant?
3. What sneaky tactics did the Dutch use to control the spice trade?
4. What area did Henry Hudson explore?
5. How did Peter Minuit acquire Manhattan? (To answer this question, you need to watch the short video on this link: https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/the-fight-for-manhattan-0270319 (Links to an external site.))
Ch
IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THESE CHAPTERS YET, CHOOSE 3 QUESTIONS FROM EACH CHAPTER TO ANSWER.
Chapter 1: "The Spice Islands" Questions
1. What did the Europeans want that led to the Age of Exploration?
2. Explain how the desire for spices affected the exploration of the world.
3. How would you define the word "archipelago" based on the information you see on the map in the PowerPoint?
4. What conclusion can you draw about the soil on these islands because of the volcanic activity?
5. What three things make the Malay Archipelago ideal for growing spices?
6. Contrast the growing conditions in the Malay Archipelago to those in much of Europe.
7. Draw a conclusion about why Europeans couldn't simply grow spices themselves.
8. Why did the rest of Europe resent the Venetian merchants?
9. Who's book inspired other Europeans to explore?
10. The desire for what product from Asia led to the Age of Exploration?
11. Predict what will happen to shipbuilding and navigation when Europeans begin to sail further and explore more.
Chapter 2: "Motives and Means" Questions
1. What did the Europeans want to gain access to?
2. After 1453, why could Europeans no longer travel overland like Marco Polo had?3. Predict what would happen if the explorers tried to convert to Christianity a group of people who had no desire to change.
4. An infidel is someone who does not believe in what a group of people consider the "true religion." Why do the European knights and soldiers consider Muslims in the Middle East to be infidels?
5. Why did the Europeans need to develop a different type of ship?
6. How would you compare AND contrast lateen sails to square sails?
7. What were the new European ships called?
8. What are the reasons why the new ships were better than the old style?
9. Can you name 3 things sailors used to navigate?
10. How could items found floating in the water be used to determine a ship's position on the sea?
Pausing Point Questions:
1. What were the two main reasons why Europeans wanted to explore?
2. What is the term used to describe the methods of traveling from one place to another?
Chapter 3: "Portuguese Exploration" Questions
1. How did Prince Henry the Navigator encourage Portuguese exploration?
2. Why would it be useful to the explorers to have Africans along on their expeditions?
3. Can you explain in your own words how Dias knew they had sailed to the southern tip of Africa?
4. Why was it significant that they had found a route to the Indian Ocean?
5. What is the vocabulary word that meant that the Arabs had complete control over the spice trade?
6. Can you compare the first trip across the Indian ocean to the return trip?
Chapter 4: "Christopher Columbus" Questions
1. Where did Columbus explore?
2. Where did Columbus think he was exploring?
3. Why is Columbus considered important?
4. Describe the Treaty of Tordesillas.
5. Why was the Treaty of Tordesillas a better deal for Spain?
Chapter 5: "A Spanish Empire & Its Critics" Questions
1. What happened to the native population in a short period of time?
2. What did Balboa and Pizarro do in 1513?
3. What is the vocabulary word for someone that explores and establishes colonies in other places?
4. Who was Bartolome de Las Casas and what did he do?
Chapter 6: "Magellan's Voyage" Questions
1. What is a strait?
2. What does circumnavigate mean?
3. Which explorers inspired Magellan?
4. What was the most important achievement of Magellan's voyage?
5. Describe the disappointments on Magellan's expedition.
Chapter 7: "England Explores & Colonizes" Questions
1. What was John Cabot trying to find on his expedition? (Level 2)
2. What new areas did Sir Francis Drake explore? (Level 1)
3. What was an imaginative battle tactic used by Drake during the Spanish Armada? Did his tactic work? (Level 3)
4. When and where was the first English colony founded on North America, and who founded it? (Level 1)
5. Who helped colonists at Jamestown to survive, and what crop did they teach the colonists how to grow? (Level 1)
Chapter 8: "France & the Fur Trade" Questions
1. Who was the first European to sail up the Atlantic coast of America? What important area did he find?
2. Cartier made three trips to the New World. What areas did he explore?
3. What trade got France interested in building colonies in New France? Who was a key figure in the settlement of New France?
4. How did fur traders interact with Native Americans?
5. What did Jolliet and Marquette do to build colonies in New France?
Chapter 9: "Dutch Trade" Questions
1. Whose death brought about Dutch control over the spice trade?2. Where did the Dutch set up their main trade center? Why is this location significant?
3. What sneaky tactics did the Dutch use to control the spice trade?
4. What area did Henry Hudson explore?
5. How did Peter Minuit acquire Manhattan? (To answer this question, you need to watch the short video on this link: https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/the-fight-for-manhattan-0270319 (Links to an external site.))
Chapter 10: "Slavery" Questions
1. When did slaves first appear in present-day America?
2. Why wasn't slavery as popular in the colonies in the Northeast as in the South?
3. What were conditions like on slave ships?
4. Explain what an indentured servant is.
5. What were the cash crops the American colonies grew?
2. Where did the Dutch set up their main trade center? Why is this location significant?
3. What sneaky tactics did the Dutch use to control the spice trade?
4. What area did Henry Hudson explore?
5. How did Peter Minuit acquire Manhattan? (To answer this question, you need to watch the short video on this link: https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/the-fight-for-manhattan-0270319 (Links to an external site.))
Ch
IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THESE CHAPTERS YET, CHOOSE 3 QUESTIONS FROM EACH CHAPTER TO ANSWER.
Chapter 1: "The Spice Islands" Questions
1. What did the Europeans want that led to the Age of Exploration?
2. Explain how the desire for spices affected the exploration of the world.
3. How would you define the word "archipelago" based on the information you see on the map in the PowerPoint?
4. What conclusion can you draw about the soil on these islands because of the volcanic activity?
5. What three things make the Malay Archipelago ideal for growing spices?
6. Contrast the growing conditions in the Malay Archipelago to those in much of Europe.
7. Draw a conclusion about why Europeans couldn't simply grow spices themselves.
8. Why did the rest of Europe resent the Venetian merchants?
9. Who's book inspired other Europeans to explore?
10. The desire for what product from Asia led to the Age of Exploration?
11. Predict what will happen to shipbuilding and navigation when Europeans begin to sail further and explore more.
Chapter 2: "Motives and Means" Questions
1. What did the Europeans want to gain access to?
2. After 1453, why could Europeans no longer travel overland like Marco Polo had?3. Predict what would happen if the explorers tried to convert to Christianity a group of people who had no desire to change.
4. An infidel is someone who does not believe in what a group of people consider the "true religion." Why do the European knights and soldiers consider Muslims in the Middle East to be infidels?
5. Why did the Europeans need to develop a different type of ship?
6. How would you compare AND contrast lateen sails to square sails?
7. What were the new European ships called?
8. What are the reasons why the new ships were better than the old style?
9. Can you name 3 things sailors used to navigate?
10. How could items found floating in the water be used to determine a ship's position on the sea?
Pausing Point Questions:
1. What were the two main reasons why Europeans wanted to explore?
2. What is the term used to describe the methods of traveling from one place to another?
Chapter 3: "Portuguese Exploration" Questions
1. How did Prince Henry the Navigator encourage Portuguese exploration?
2. Why would it be useful to the explorers to have Africans along on their expeditions?
3. Can you explain in your own words how Dias knew they had sailed to the southern tip of Africa?
4. Why was it significant that they had found a route to the Indian Ocean?
5. What is the vocabulary word that meant that the Arabs had complete control over the spice trade?
6. Can you compare the first trip across the Indian ocean to the return trip?
Chapter 4: "Christopher Columbus" Questions
1. Where did Columbus explore?
2. Where did Columbus think he was exploring?
3. Why is Columbus considered important?
4. Describe the Treaty of Tordesillas.
5. Why was the Treaty of Tordesillas a better deal for Spain?
Chapter 5: "A Spanish Empire & Its Critics" Questions
1. What happened to the native population in a short period of time?
2. What did Balboa and Pizarro do in 1513?
3. What is the vocabulary word for someone that explores and establishes colonies in other places?
4. Who was Bartolome de Las Casas and what did he do?
Chapter 6: "Magellan's Voyage" Questions
1. What is a strait?
2. What does circumnavigate mean?
3. Which explorers inspired Magellan?
4. What was the most important achievement of Magellan's voyage?
5. Describe the disappointments on Magellan's expedition.
Chapter 7: "England Explores & Colonizes" Questions
1. What was John Cabot trying to find on his expedition? (Level 2)
2. What new areas did Sir Francis Drake explore? (Level 1)
3. What was an imaginative battle tactic used by Drake during the Spanish Armada? Did his tactic work? (Level 3)
4. When and where was the first English colony founded on North America, and who founded it? (Level 1)
5. Who helped colonists at Jamestown to survive, and what crop did they teach the colonists how to grow? (Level 1)
Chapter 8: "France & the Fur Trade" Questions
1. Who was the first European to sail up the Atlantic coast of America? What important area did he find?
2. Cartier made three trips to the New World. What areas did he explore?
3. What trade got France interested in building colonies in New France? Who was a key figure in the settlement of New France?
4. How did fur traders interact with Native Americans?
5. What did Jolliet and Marquette do to build colonies in New France?
Chapter 9: "Dutch Trade" Questions
1. Whose death brought about Dutch control over the spice trade?2. Where did the Dutch set up their main trade center? Why is this location significant?
3. What sneaky tactics did the Dutch use to control the spice trade?
4. What area did Henry Hudson explore?
5. How did Peter Minuit acquire Manhattan? (To answer this question, you need to watch the short video on this link: https://www.travelchannel.com/videos/the-fight-for-manhattan-0270319 (Links to an external site.))
Chapter 10: "Slavery" Questions
1. When did slaves first appear in present-day America?
2. Why wasn't slavery as popular in the colonies in the Northeast as in the South?
3. What were conditions like on slave ships?
4. Explain what an indentured servant is.
5. What were the cash crops the American colonies grew?
Online Video Lessons:
Here are the videos:
The Spice Islands: Lesson 1: See button to the left. Means & Motives: Lesson 2: See button to the left. Portuguese Exploration: Lesson 3: See button to the left. Christopher Columbus: Lesson 4: youtu.be/e1Kl4plz2XY Spanish Empire: Lesson 5: https://youtu.be/YO9y-LcJcI8 Magellan: Lesson 6: https://youtu.be/JiT9nfDIZYI England Explores: Lesson 7: https://youtu.be/Y5U4GlUMQ88 Please also have them watch this video after Lesson 7. https://youtu.be/THqZ8r2Vr2M France & the Fur Trade: Lesson 8: https://youtu.be/KMV8kObUnr4 Dutch Trade: Lesson 9: https://youtu.be/1LKYuDmD9Mk Slavery: Lesson 10: https://youtu.be/E1_qEcioewQ Song of the Explorers (Review): https://youtu.be/MKY_jOW1QjU |
Tests and Quizzes
Main Units:
- European Exploration and Colonization
- The American Revolution
- Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Westward Expansion
- American Civil War
- The United States' Emergence as a World Power
Online Resources:
CLICK HERE for the World War 2 Escape Room!
CLICK HERE to read eyewitness accounts from the Civil War!
CLICK HERE for Mr. Donn's Civil War games!
CLICK HERE for Mr. Nussbaum's Interactive Civil War!
CLICK HERE to tour the Gettysburg Battlefield!
CLICK HERE to go to PBS Westward Expansion!
CLICK HERE to take a virtual tour of Mount Vernon!
CLICK HERE to play Oregon Trail online!
CLICK HERE for the World War 2 Escape Room!
CLICK HERE to read eyewitness accounts from the Civil War!
CLICK HERE for Mr. Donn's Civil War games!
CLICK HERE for Mr. Nussbaum's Interactive Civil War!
CLICK HERE to tour the Gettysburg Battlefield!
CLICK HERE to go to PBS Westward Expansion!
CLICK HERE to take a virtual tour of Mount Vernon!
CLICK HERE to play Oregon Trail online!