Embedded Files
American History
Featuring
A People's History of the United States
By Howard Zinn
and
by Jill Lepore
"We Are Our History" is a quote by the renowned author and intellectual James Baldwin. In this class we will investigate how the triumphs and challenges of the past shape the world we must face today.
When considering the stories passed down to us as history we must allow for the perspective of the storyteller. The same events may look different from the viewpoint of royalty and that of a serf, from victor and conquered, from intellectual and uneducated. There is a natural bias in the storytellers recounting of facts. In this class we will discuss and analyze American history while trying to understand the point of view of the tellers and the way our own viewpoint affects the way we interpret what we hear or read.
The class will address crucial turning points in American history, using both firsthand accounts by people who were there and later analyses by historians who studied them. After reading about these events we will write and debate about them, always considering the causes - governmental action, individual action, environmental imperatives, or inevitability.
This trimester, we'll consider whose land ours was (and should be), the nature of the equality promised in the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, and the compromises and rights that make up the Constitution, which is the framework of our government. This trimester will take the story of our nation up to about 1798. This class will not only help you become an active historian, but it is a great class for those of you concerned about the essay, punctuation, reading comprehension and the U.S. History sections of the competency exam because we'll be working on those skills. Students will read an article, answer questions, join a class discussion, take careful notes and write and revise an essay. We will watch excerpts from the video series 500 Nations (about Native American history), Africans in America and Liberty and read selections from assorted texts. We’ll identify historic patterns and examine the seeds of our modern society from its pre-colonial and colonial foundation.
You must submit original work, NO AI responses are permitted and will result in NO CREDIT on your evaluation.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR VIDEOS AND RELATED CONTENT
Watch this and comment:
North Sentinel Island: Home to the World’s Most Isolated People
American Affairs Zinn 1 Due Wednesday 9/10/2025
Chapter 1: Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress
From A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Please answer these questions as you read this chapter from Zinn. Carefully consider your answers before you write. Write in complete sentences and thoughts. Cite examples from the text in your answers (with page numbers in parentheses). See me if you have any questions or need help.
Please copy and paste the questions or go to “File” and “Make a copy” to create your own Google doc. When finished, share the doc with Lonp@school-one.org and make sure I have editing access to make comments.
Who sponsored Columbus’s trip and what did they hope to get in return? What did Columbus stand to gain by undertaking this journey?
What was Columbus’s first impression of the native people he “discovered” in the New World? How did these first impressions influence his decisions?
Discuss Columbus’s policies toward the Arawak. What were the results of his policies?
Who was Bartolome de las Casas? Why is he important?
Who were Hernando Cortes, Montezuma and Pizarro? (Specifically identify each of these men and their importance to this time period.)
What methods did the English use to establish colonies? Discuss their encounters with the native peoples of the New World. What were the results of some of these encounters?
How does Zinn describe the indigenous peoples of the Americas? What conclusions can we draw from his description?
List what you think are the three most important points of this chapter. Choose one item from your list and briefly discuss why it is important.
American Affairs Zinn 2 Due Wednesday 9/17/25
Chapter 2: Drawing the Color Line
From A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Please answer these questions as you read this chapter from Zinn. Carefully consider your answers before you write. Write in complete sentences and thoughts. Cite examples from the text in your answers (with page numbers in parentheses). See me if you have any questions or need help.
Please copy and paste the questions or go to “File” and “Make a copy” to create your own Google doc. When finished, share the doc with Lonp@school-one.org and make sure I have editing access to make comments.
What is significant and important about the Dutch ship that arrives in Virginia in 1619?
Describe African Civilization. Include in your description the elements that you feel are the most important.
Compare the law and government of the African with that of the European and include in your comparison the system of slavery in Africa and the colonies.
Discuss the factors that lead to the development of slavery in the colonies. From the point of view of the colonist, how are these factors justified?
Make a list of methods Africans used to resist their captivity. Choose the methods that you think were the most effective and explain why you think they were effective.
Discuss the methods used by slave owners to control their slaves. What legal means were instituted to control slaves? Why did owners go to such lengths to control their slaves?
American Affairs Essay: Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
You have now gained a lot of information about Native Americans and their initial contacts with Europeans. Write an essay of at least four paragraphs discussing whether Columbus Day is an appropriate holiday or should Indigenous peoples be celebrated as well or instead. Be sure to fully discuss both sides of the issue and to give your opinion, backed up by lots of evidence, and cite your sources. Each paragraph should be a minimum of 6 sentences, though you are highly encouraged to include more detail.
Paragraph 1: Introduce the main topic of the essay. Provide considerable background about pre-Columbian America and Columbus himself. Conclude with a thesis statement explaining what you think about the Columbus Day holiday.
Paragraph 2: Introduce your paragraph's theme in its first line. Explain the point of view with which you disagree in this paragraph. You can distance yourself from this opinion by beginning the first line with “Some people believe . . .” In this paragraph, you are going to be giving the best reasons why people (not you) support this point of view. Give specific details. This paragraph needs to cite specific evidence from readings with specific parenthetical notes showing the page number. You may cite videos as well, but be sure to use quotations from readings. A parenthetical note contains the author’s last name and the page number. (Zinn 22) indicates the information comes from page 22 of Zinn’s book. If the information comes from a video, put the video’s title in parentheses. (500 Nations: Clash of Cultures). Notes follow closing quotation marks but come before the period ending the sentence. Be sure to conclude your paragraph with a summary sentence.
Paragraph 3: Follow structure of paragraph 2, but with evidence supporting your point of view. You can begin this paragraph with “On the other hand, . . .” Give specific details.
Paragraph 4: Summarize the main arguments on both sides of this issue. To what extent if any should Columbus Day be celebrated? To begin the paragraph, summarize the best points made by both sides of the debate. Then explain what you think and your reasons. Be sure that you explain your reasoning carefully. Conclude the paragraph with a sentence that sums up the main point of your essay: your opinion about Columbus Day based on what you now know about him.
*Include a Works Cited list at the end that lists your sources using MLA format. Refer back to the Columbus research assignment on how to do this.
*The essay should be typed in double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font with an original title, page numbers, and header including your name, class (American Affairs), assignment (Columbus Day Essay), and date.
Due: Wednesday, September 24th.
*Revisions will be required if essay does not meet guidelines.*
Organizing your essay
Gather quotations and facts from the reading and videos and list them in these columns. Once you have done this, it will be easy to write your essay. Write down source and page number next to the quote.
Basic Facts About Columbus:
Pro-Columbus
Pro-Columbus
Anti-Columbus
Anti-Columbus
Your thesis statement:
American Affairs Zinn 3 Due Wednesday 10/01/2025
Chapter 3: Persons of Mean and Vile Condition
From A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Please answer these questions as you read this chapter from Zinn. Carefully consider your answers before you write. Write in complete sentences and thoughts. Cite examples from the text in your answers (with page numbers in parentheses). See me if you have any questions or need help.
Please copy and paste the questions or go to “File” and “Make a copy” to create your own Google doc. When finished, share the doc with lonp@school-one.org and make sure I have editing access to make comments.
1. What was Bacon's Rebellion? Why do you think it was important?
2. What kinds of people were coming to the colonies? What does "indenture" mean?
3. What happened to the indentured servants once they arrived in the colonies? In your opinion was indentured servitude worthwhile?
4. Describe, in as much detail as you can, what life was like in the colonies? What role does social/economic class play in the colonies?
5. What were some of the fears the rich landed class had in colonial America? What policies did they institute to help them deal with their fears?
Google Sites
Report abuse