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OVERVIEW
Advanced Placement U.S. History is a college-level course that students may take to fulfill the
11th grade Social Studies requirement for graduation. The AP U.S. History course is designed to
provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with
the problems and materials in U.S. history. These summer assignments should give you an
idea of what to expect at the start of the school year.
1. To get your juices flowing about American history, particularly our first topic of Colonial
America.
2. To accelerate our movement through this topic. As students, you all have briefly covered
Colonial America at some point, therefore, we will move quickly through this topic.
3. To orient you to the workload and variety you will have this year. Reading is your primary
“homework” all year long. What you do with this information is to analyze and respond to it.
These assignments will give you a taste of these processes.
4. To help you start thinking like a historian. How do we know what we know about the past?
What evidence do we use to understand history, and how reliable is that evidence?
CLASS BLOG
Any information or updates will be posted be posted on our class blog. Please check for
updates regularly. Stay informed! http://hghsAPUSHistory.blogspot.com/
REQUIRED READING
The following book may be purchased at a local bookstore (Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.) or at
an online store (Amazon, B&N, Half.com, etc.) The book may be new or used. You may also
check the book out from a local library if available, but purchasing your own copy is highly
recommended.
American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The Penguin History of the United States,
Volume1), By Alan Taylor, ISBN: 0142002100
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
As with all units of study, learning objectives will help focus your thinking and confirm your
understanding. As you work through these assignments, think about answers to the following
questions:
1. How did English motivations for settlement differ from Spanish motivations for settlement?
Were there similarities?
2. What were the differences in Spanish and English patterns of settlement and colonial
administration?
3. How did the Protestant Reformation influence migration to the American colonies?
4. How did Chesapeake, Virginia, Massachusetts, and the Middle Colonies (PA) vary in their
settlement patterns?
5. The origins of slavery.
ASSIGNMENTS
Assignment # 1: Purchase and read American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The
Penguin History of the United States, Volume1), By Alan Taylor, ISBN: 0142002100
This book will serve as an introduction to colonial America. As with all readings this year, keep
in mind the learning objectives as you read; these are some of the essential things you must
know. Also, you have been given a list of key terms for this unit. Look for them as you read,
and get to know them (note that they may not all be in the summer reading). The key terms
must be hand written on notebook paper. Typed key terms will not be accepted.
Assignment # 2: After reading, it’s time to do some writing. Instructions for this assignment are
noted on the attached sheet entitled “BOATS-R-US COLONIAL RELOCATION SERVICES,
INC.” You are to write a fictitious letter describing a colonial region; either Chesapeake Virginia,
Massachusetts, or Pennsylvania. Do not be overly concerned about the timeframe of this letter-
it may be as broad as you need (within the rough confines of 1607 – 1720) to convey some
sense of the region. Your goal is to describe the region in a way that your client, Lord Walker,
will find helpful. All the background you should need is contained in the pages you have read
and your current understanding. You may also use an additional outside source of your choice if
necessary. Be creative! Have fun!
* Readings and assignments must be completed by the first day of class, August 24, 2009.
KEY TERMS
• Physical geography
• Type of people in the colony
• Social structure
• Key colonial leaders
• Economic pursuits/opportunities
• Religious climate
• Organization of the colony (towns, etc.)
• Hardships, problems
Your letter should be 300-500 words in length and it may be “dropped” within any
timeframe of colonial America. (Obviously, colonies had different founding dates
and your “window” may be as open or closed as you would like) Remember, be
creative!
MAP WORK
Directions: Using the map below to fill in the listed locations. Use colored pencils for all of the
coloring, unless otherwise noted. Include a map key. This map will be used as a resource
periodically throughout the year. *Note: two maps may be used to complete the assignment:
States:
• Outline the states with a dark pen
• Label each state using CAPITAL LETTERS and your best handwriting or type them out
and glue them in place on the map
• Color each state a different color from those bordering it
Capitals:
• Label each state’s capital and mark it with a star
• Use a dark pen when writing them in (you may type the capitals as well)
Lakes:
• The Great Lakes and the Great Salt Lake
• Label and color them blue
Rivers:
• Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado, Rio Grande, Ohio, Columbia
• Label and outline them in blue
Other:
• Use a purple pen to indicate the borders of the original 13 colonies
• Use a green pen to indicate the area acquired from France in 1803 (the Louisiana
Purchase)
• Use a pink pen to indicate the area acquired by the 1848 Mexican Cession
• Use a yellow pen to indicate the borders of the Oregon Country
• Use a brown pen to indicate the area acquired in the Gadsden Purchase
• Use an orange pen to indicate the borders of the Independent Republic of Texas
• Use a blue pen to indicate the Union states during the Civil War
• Use a red pen to indicate the Southern states during the Civil War
**Outline the areas then lightly shade them in with the same colored color pencil**