Martha’s Class Blog

Due Tuesday March 31

Pretend you are a historian about to sit down and write a text book for this course.
Write a half-page explaining when Chapter 1 of your history begins. What year? What is the scene? Give your chapter a title. Justify your decision to your readers. You may find it helpful to skim chapter one of Making America (p. 2-22), look at the maps on pp. 2, 12, and 22 as well as do some poking around on the internet.

Due Wednesday April 1

Actively Read pp. 8-10, “The Complex World of Indian America” pp. 15-17, “The Challenges of Mutual Discoery” to “New Worlds in Africa and America” pp. 33-36 “Indian World in the Southeast” to “Indian World in the Northeast”
Write at least one paragraph that: 1) lists three reasons why American Indian populations declined along the Atlantic Coast after white contact; and, 2) explains the impact this decline had on white settlement.

Due Thursday April 2

Actively Read pp. 48-50 “Colonizers and Colonies” to “Creating a Refuge for Catholics”pp. 55-53, “Troubles on the Chesapeake” to “New England: Colonies of Dissenters”
Write two paragraphs describing in as much detail as you can the power dynamics of colonial Virginia society. Who had the most power? How did they get it? What unified the classes? What threatened them? How rigid do you think the class divisions were?  Add a visual aid if you think it will help.

Due Friday April 3

Actively Read pp. 53-63 and the first 20 pages of your novel. Please remember that this will be the first meeting of your book groups! (Get psyched.)