Introduction
Essential Questions: What was life like for the colonist living in a Colonial American society?
The discovery of the Americas by the Spanish in the late 1400s was the beginning of Europe's fascination with the New World. As you have learned, Spain and France established several colonies in the Americas during the 1500s and 1600s. At the same time, England began its own attempt at colonization along the eastern seaboard of the present day United States. The first attempt was not successful; however, the British did not give up. The second attempt at settlement in 1607 would lay the groundwork for the rest of American history. Imagine what life was like for the first English settlers in the New World.
In this you unit will use your historical imagination, creativity, writing skills, and research skills to create a Colonial Magazine. Do not worry; you will not be working alone. You will collaborate, or work jointly with others in an assigned group, to create your Colonial Magazine Project.
Watch Colonial Life (3:21) to learn how life in the colonies revolved around three classes: the upper class landowners, lawyers, and government officials; middle class farmers and merchants; and enslaved Africans and indentured servants. (Discovery Education)
Don't forget the Colonial Settlement Interactive Timeline. Take a minute to roll your mouse over the timeline to learn when major events concerning early American history took place.
The Interactive Timeline has buttons for Events in Europe and Other European Colonization.
Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Collaborate to create a Colonial Magazine
- Examine the social, political an cultural condition of life in Colonial America.
- Describe the impact of the Great Awakening on colonial society.
The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: United States History I: Objective: 1, 1.2, 2, and 2.2.
This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R4, R6, R7, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W6, W9 and W10
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