Unit 2: Becoming America

Unit Description

In this unit, students explore the establishment and development of colonies in the present-day United States. People from thousands of miles away risked everything in search of freedom, riches, and adventure. Students will see that Europeans were also influenced greatly by the geography and environment of the regions in which they settled. European colonization negatively affected Native Americans, who were pushed off their land, as well as Africans, who were enslaved and brought to the colonies so the British could profit off free labor. Years of European exploration led to the establishment of the 13 colonies under British rule. Daily life for colonists was closely tied to their region’s geography and climate.

Rising from the ashes of the American Revolution, our 13 colonies were almost independent states. Our Founding Fathers, fearful of a strong central government that would resemble the monarchy they detested, created a democracy with the intention of creating freedom for all those considered to be citizens of the United States. However, even from our nation’s foundation, the oppression of non-white people stood in contrast to the fresh promises of the “land of the free.”

Studying our own history allows us to understand the people and events that shaped our society. In this unit, we will explore European colonization, the 13 colonies, the road to the American Revolution, how our government is set up, and how we can play a part in our government today as active citizens.

Essential Question

How can conflict and war define a nation?

Themes

We rely on evidence from multiple perspectives to construct accounts of the past.
Governments should protect their people, and if they do not, citizens have the right to change the government.
Nations enter conflicts to increase their power and defend their way of life.
New inventions change the world and how people live in it.

Standards Addressed

4.1.4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
4.2.1 Explain how early explorations affected the expansion of boundaries and development in the United States
4.2.2 Cite evidence to support the key contributions and influence of people in the history of the United States
4.2.3 Explain the ~~voluntary~~ migration of people and its significance in the development of the boundaries of the United States
4.2.4 Draw conclusions about the relationship of significance events in the history of the United States to the expansion of democracy in the United States
4.5.2 Analyze how physical characteristics of a region shape its economic development
4.5.3 Identify and explain how the physical characteristics of a region influenced human settlement
4.7.1 Identify and summarize significant changes that have been made to the United States Constitution through the amendment process
4.7.2 Explain the significance of key ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
4.7.3 Identify and analyze the basic purposes and necessity of government as identified in the Preamble to the United States Constitution
4.7.4 Differentiate between the structure and function of the three Branches of federal government
4.8.3 Describe the qualities of a good citizen and how good citizenship contributes to the United States’ democracy
4.8.4 Explain how good citizenship can solve a current issue
4.9.2 Identify examples of human, natural, and capital resources and explain how these resources are used to produce goods and provide services

Unit Outcomes

Students will know:

The names of early explorers, the countries they came from, and their effect on the land and people in North America.
Why Europeans were motivated to explore North America
Native Americans existed in America long before Europeans arrived.
How colonization affected Native Americans
How colonists trade, included through the Columbian Exchange
How the development of the 13 colonies was the beginning of the United States of America
How geography and climate created differences between the colonies
How the colonies made money through resources and trade
How colonists increased profits by enslaving Africans as a source of labor
The impact of the Middle Passage and the Triangular Trade on African people
How colonization creates lasting negative impacts on communities throughout the world

Students will be able to:

Historical Thinking:
- Contextualize sources

Writing:

Strong body paragraphs
- ToSEEC
- Topic Sentences
- 2 types of evidence
- Context
Strengthening evidence
- Transition Words
- Introducing Text Evidence
- Elaboration

Unit Vocabulary

Age of Exploration- period when people from Europe began exploring the Americas
trade route- a network and path over land or water used for transporting goods
economic opportunity - new way to make money
migration -to move to a new location
push factor- a negative reason for leaving your homeland
pull factor- positive reason to move to a new location
colony- land in a country that is controlled by another country
colonists- people who settle in a colony
colonization - the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area
religious freedom - ability to practice any religion
13 colonies - British colonies in North America that would later become the United States
Southern colonies- warm climate, fertile soil, and an economy based on farming and slavery
New England colonies- cold winters, economy based on fishing
Plymouth-colony that the Pilgrims began
Jamestown - the first permanent British colony created to find gold and make profit for England
Columbian Exchange - the widespread trade of crops, disease, and culture between the New World and the Old World
Triangular Trade - a pattern of trading between Africa, the colonies, and England
Middle Passage- the voyage of enslaved people from the west coast of Africa to the Americas.
Transatlantic slave trade - the forced migration of 12.5 million people from Africa to the Americas
protest - a statement or action objecting to something
rebel - standing up to a government or ruler
tax - additional money placed on certain items, paid to the government
“taxation without representation” - the reason why colonists were angry with the British; the colonists didn’t have representatives in London so they didn’t have a say in these taxes
Stamp Act - A law passed by the British Parliament in 1765 requiring colonists to pay a tax on newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and even playing cards.
Sugar Act – a law passed by the British Parliament on foreign imports
Townshend Acts - a law passed by the British Parliament that required colonists to pay taxes on British goods (glass, paint, tea, etc)
Patriots- people who wanted to separate from England and make a new country
Loyalists-people who wanted to remain a part of England
Boston Massacre: the first violent conflict between the Patriots and British soldiers
The Battle of Lexington and Concord: The first battle of the American Revolution
Declaration of Independence- document that declared America’s freedom from Great Britain
American Revolution- war for America’s independence; America won and became independent
Founding Fathers - the men who wrote the U.S. Constitution
monarchy: total rule by one person (a king or queen)
democracy- a government run by the people. Each citizen has a say (or vote) in how the government is run.
United States Constitution - America’s written plan for government
Executive Branch- The President and Vice President, enforces the laws of the United States, spends money as allowed by Congress, declares states of emergency, appoints Judges to the Supreme Court, and grants pardons for crimes.
Legislative Branch- Congress, makes the laws of the United States, controls all of the money, and has the power to declare war.
Congress- part of the Legislative Branch; includes the Senate and House of Representatives
Judicial Branch- The Supreme Court; judges the laws, judges when a law is unconstitutional, and makes arrangements for prisoners.
separation of powers - powers and responsibilities are divided among the legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch
checks and balances- ways each branch can check each other in order to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power
Bill of Rights- The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
amendment-a change to a document
citizen - a native or naturalized person of a country who has rights and responsibilities
naturalization - the process of applying to become a citizen
right - a freedom that is protected by the government
responsibility- a duty or something you should do