AP U.S. History
Mr. Silva
Discussion Questions
Unit 1: American Beginnings
1. How did the realities of the New World affect the plans of colonizers?
2. What kinds of conditions caused Europeans to undertake a dangerous voyage and settle in an unknown and dangerous
wilderness? How does their decision reflect on life in Europe?
3. Reflect on the impact of the Columbian Exchange.
4. To what extent and why did religious toleration increase in the American colonies during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries? Answer with reference to THREE individuals, events, or movements in American religion during
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
5. From 1600 to 1763, several European nations vied for control of the North American continent. Why did England win
the struggle?
6. Was mercantilism mutually beneficial to the parent country and to the colonies? Under what circumstances might their
interests diverge?
7. Throughout the Colonial period, economic concerns had more to do with the settling of British North America than did
religious concerns. Assess the validity of this statement with specific reference to economic and religious concerns.
8. Although many Northerners and Southerners later came to think of themselves as having separate civilizations, the
Northern and Southern colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were in fact more similar than different.
Agree? Disagree? Explain.
9. In the seventeenth century, New England Puritans tried to create a model society. What were their aspirations, and to
what extent were those aspirations fulfilled during the 17th Century?
10. Did slavery produce race prejudice in America, or did prejudice lead to slavery?
11. The Great Awakening was the first truly national event in American history. Discuss how this statement is true.
12. The French and Indian War was a turning point in Colonial American history. Agree or disagree and explain why.
13. Discuss the causes and effects of the shift in British colonial policies from salutary neglect to rigorous enforcement.
14. Propaganda is a powerful tool of persuasion in advertising. How did the colonists employ this tactic and how
effectively?