The first unit of my AP US History course begins with an examination of pre-Columbian cultures and continues through the start of the French and Indian War.
Lessons and Assignments |
Click on a topic to go directly to resources and assignments.
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1.1 - Native American Cultures (1491-1607)
As Native Americans spread across the North American continent, they developed diverse and complex societies adapted to the environments in which they found themselves. Students should be able to identify and compare the main tribal groups by geographical region and compare their cultures and methods of food production (e.g., hunting, gathering, and agriculture).
Video Lecture on YouTube |
Readings & Notes |
PowerPoint PresentationVisit my PowerPoints Page to download this PowerPoint.
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1.2 - European Discovery and the Columbian Exchange
Video Lecture PendingDiscussion Board PostPlease post a response to the discussion board prompt about Columbus on the Canvas site.
Your Canvas login is the same as your login for school district computers (only the username - don't try to login with an e-mail address). Please contact me prior to class time if you have problems accessing Canvas.
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Readings & NotesAMSCO
1-8, 13-14 Students should be ready to discuss the primary and secondary readings in class. My 2016 students have not been issued an AMSCO text yet (waiting for some to arrive next week).
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PowerPoint PresentationVisit my PowerPoints Page to download this PowerPoint.
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1.3 - European Colonization (Spanish, French, Dutch, English)
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AP US History students are expected to be familiar with the non-English European nations that colonized the Americas (Key Concepts 1.2 & 2.1) and be able to describe the way that each colonizing nation interactive with the Native Americans they encountered. The Spanish built a colonial empire based on the encomienda system of forced labor, while the French and the Dutch were more reliant on trade networks.
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New SpainBartolome de las Casas describes Spanish treatment of the Indians.
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New FranceFr. Paul Le Jeune of the Jesuit Order lived among the Indians in French Canada.
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New NetherlandMatthew Dennis presents a scholarly account of Dutch / Iroquois trade.
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English ColoniesSince I address the English colonies in several other videos, this one is simply here to help students complete the graphic organizer.
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European Colonizers ComparedGeneral George S. Patton summed up the attitudes of the colonizers toward Native Americans when he said, "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way!"
General Patton's words can be used to compare the approaches of Spanish, French, Dutch, and English colonists in dealing with the Indian tribes they encountered. |
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1.4 - The Thirteen Colonies
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For a general introduction to the Thirteen Colonies, including a comparison of the religious, economic, and social landscape of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, this introductory lecture on the Thirteen Colonies (targeted toward a general US History audience) should be sufficient.
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The Virginia Colony |
Religion in New England |
The Quakers and Pennsylvania |
Note that these videos have multiple parts and that students are expected to be familiar with all material.
1.5 - 18th Century Religious and Intellectual Movements
During the 18th century, two divergent cultural movements swept through the Thirteen Colonies: The Enlightenment and the [First] Great Awakening. These two movements, with their differing views concerning the nature of God and the human condition, have both had a profound influence on the shaping of American ways of thinking.
Readings and NotesAMSCO, Chapter 3
Colonial Society in the 18th Century Primary sources for this lesson include works by Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Paine, and Benjamin Franklin.
This chapter from Richard Hofstadter's Anti-Intellectualism in American Life is not an easy read, but will be rewarding for those who can handle it. This copyrighted reading is password-protected.
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The EnlightenmentDeism is a religious outlook that was popular among those who subscribed to Enlightenment ideals. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine were all Deists.
Visit my PowerPoints Page to
download this PowerPoint. |
The [First] Great AwakeningVisit my PowerPoints Page to
download this PowerPoint. This Need to Know handout focuses on key content and concepts that you will need in order to answer questions on the APUSH exam.
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