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Complete Unit Guide Packet
Overview
The American Colonies were a group of British colonies on
the Atlantic coast of North America founded in the 17th and
18th centuries. The first English colony was founded at
Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 by investors looking to make
money. The Pilgrims, founders of Plymouth, Massachusetts,
arrived in 1620. These and many of the people who settled in
the New World came to escape religious persecution. The
Colonies came to be generally broken up into three regions:
New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies.
Between 1625 and 1775, the population of the Colonies grew
from roughly 2,000 to 2.4 million, displacing many
American Indians. This population included people,
overwhelmingly from Africa, who were enslaved. Slavery
remained legal in all the colonies prior to the Revolutionary
War.
In the 18th century, the British government operated its colonies under a policy of mercantilism, in which the central
government administered its colonies for the economic benefit of the mother country. The 13 American Colonies had a high
degree of self-governance and active local elections, and they resisted demands for more control. The French and Indian War
led to growing tensions between Britain and the Colonies. In the 1750s, the colonies began collaborating with one another
instead of dealing directly with Britain. These inter-colonial activities cultivated a sense of shared American identity and led to
calls for protection of their rights, especially the principle of “no taxation without representation”. Grievances with the British
government led to the American Revolution, in which the colonies collaborated in forming the Continental Congress. The
colonists fought the Revolutionary War in 1775 with the aid of France and win their independence in 1783.
Essential Questions
Content
Page
a) What would make you leave your home to start a new life in a new location?
b) How did explorations and settlements of the English differ from those of the
Spanish?
Vocabulary
2
Geography
3
People to Know
4
Timeline
5
c) How were the lives American Indians affected by European colonization?
d) How did the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies differ from one
another?
e) In what ways did geography affect the development of colonial America?
f) What led to the introduction of African slavery in the American Colonies?
g) How did democracy take root in the American Colonies?
Key Concepts
6-7
Visual Literacy
8-9
h) What aspects of American government today can be traced back to Colonial America?
Vocabulary
Directions: Write the definition for each word in the middle column and draw a picture to represent each in the 3rd column.
Joint Stock
Company
Virginia Company
House of Burgesses
Indentured Servant
Bacon’s Rebellion
Mayflower
Compact
Direct Democracy
Puritans
Quakers
Middle Passage
Great Awakening
Geography of the American Colonies
Directions: Complete the map of the 13 British Colonies by coloring and labelling everything listed in the key. Then
write in the name each of the colonies on the map.
Regions
 New England Colonies
 Middle Colonies
 Southern Colonies
Cities
 Jamestown
 Plymouth
 Boston
 Philadelphia
 New York
 Charleston
Additional Info
 Proclamation Line of 1763
🏔 Appalachian Mountains
People to Know
Directions: Use the bank of names below to identify the appropriate category for each person. For each person, identify the
Colonial region he or she was from and the significant contributions that person made in history.
John Winthrop
Metacom
Pocahontas
Powhatan
Roger Williams
William Penn
Anne Hutchinson
Jonathan Edwards
Important Colonial Figures
American Indians
John Smith
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Region: ______________________
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
Timeline of the American Colonies
Directions: Place the following events on the timeline. Include the date and draw in images or symbols for at least 4 of them.
Virginia Company founds Jamestown
Puritans found Massachusetts Bay Colony
Salem Witch Trials
1st Enslaved Africans Brought to Virginia
King Philip’s War Begins
France Establishes New Orleans
Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony
Bacon’s Rebellion
Georgia Founded by James Oglethorpe
Dutch Buy Manhattan from American Indians
William Penn granted charter for Pennsylvania
French and Indian War Begins
1600
1620
1640
1660
Describe how the relationship between European colonists and American
Indians changed over this time period.
1680
1700
1720
1740
1760
Which event(s) had the biggest impact on the Colonies move towards
seeing independence?
Key Concepts
Directions: For each section, either takes notes on the required topics or answer the questions in complete sentences.
Colonies
Geography
Social Aspects
Economic Activities
New England
Colonies
Middle Colonies
Southern
Colonies
What did John Winthrop mean when he said that Massachusetts Bay Colony
“shall be as a city upon a hill”?
“Bacon had got over the [James] River with
his Forces, and hastening away into the
woods, went directly and fell upon the Indians
and killed some of them [who] were our best
Friends....Bacon’s people would not make any
distinction of Friendly Indians and Indian
Enemies, for at that time it was impossible to
distinguish one nation from another, they
being deformed with paint of many colors.
So, the common cry of the Vulgar was, away
with these distinctions, we will have war with
all Indians...we will spare none.”
The King’s Royal Commissioners Narrative,
presented to the King in Oct. 1677.
“For we must consider that we shall be as
a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people
are upon us. So that if we shall deal
falsely with our God in this work we have
undertaken, and so cause Him to
withdraw His present help from us, we
shall be made a story and a by-word
through the world.”
- John Winthrop, 1630
Bacon’s Rebellion was an armed rebellion in 1676 by 300-400 Virginian
settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor William Berkeley.
Why were Bacon and his forces rebelling?
How did their actions make matters worse for the settlers of Jamestown?
Which colonies were founded by people from other colonies?
Why do you think Georgia was founded so much later than the
other colonies?
This is a letter written by William Penn to the “King of the Indians”
after he was granted a royal charter by King Charles II.
What is the tone of Penn’s letter?
How was this different from other colonies at the time?
The Slave Trade
The Middle Passage was the stage of the
triangular trade in which millions of
Africans were forcibly transported to the
New World as part of the Atlantic slave
trade.
Where were most enslaved people brought
to? Why there?
“The king of the Country where I live hath given unto
me a great Province, but I desire to enjoy it with your
Love and Consent, that we may all always live
together as Neighbors and friends… Now I would
have you well to observe, that I am very sensible of
the unkindness and injustice that hath been too much
exercised towards you by the people of these parts of
the world, who have sought themselves, to make great
advantages by you, rather than be examples of
goodness unto you … But I am not such a man, as is
well known in my own Country. I have great love and
regard towards you, and I desire to gain your love &
friendship by a kind, just, and peaceable life… The
People I send are of the same mind & shall in all
things behave themselves accordingly.”
– William Penn, 1681
Visual Literacy
Directions: Use the included images and captions to answer each of question.
Drawing of James Fort at Jamestown Colony in 1607.
What else is seen in the drawing outside of the Fort?
Why do you think the fort was built in this shape?
In this drawing from John Smith’s “General History of Virginia”, he
shows, “King Powhatan commands C. Smith to be slain, his daughter
Pocahontas begs his life…”
Some historians believe Smith is exaggerating this story. What do you
believe and why?
Diagram of a slave ship from the Atlantic slave trade.
(From an Abstract of Evidence delivered before a
select committee of the House of Commons in 1790.)
How long do you estimate the voyage across the
Atlantic took in this ship?
Based on the sketch, how would you describe the
conditions aboard this ship?
The first Thanksgiving was a harvest
celebration held by the pilgrims of Plymouth
colony in the 17th century. Many myths
surround the first Thanksgiving.
Based on your knowledge of history, what do
you believe is accurate and inaccurate about
this image?
The Triangle of Trade
In the Triangle of Trade, ships departed Europe for African
markets with manufactured goods. These were traded for
purchased or kidnapped Africans, who were transported
across the Atlantic as slaves. The enslaved were then sold or
traded for raw materials, which would be transported back
to Europe.
Describe the impact this trade network had on:
(a) Europe:
(b) Africa:
(c) The Americas:
The Stono Rebellion (sometimes called Cato’s Rebellion) was a slave
uprising in the colony of South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in
the British mainland colonies, with 25 white people and 35 to 50 black
people killed.
What was the goal of those rebelling at Stono?
What impact do you think the rebellion had?
© Students of History – www.studentsofhistory.com
Answer Key - Vocabulary
Directions: Write the definition for each word in the middle column and draw a picture to represent each in the 3rd column.
Joint Stock Company
Business entity where company stocks can be bought
and owned by shareholders who then own a portion
of the company and can profit from it.
Virginia Company
Stock company who received a charter to establish
Jamestown Colony for a profit.
House of Burgesses
The first elected assembly of the New World. It
represented the people of Jamestown Colony.
Indentured Servant
Someone who agrees to work for a period (usually 7
years) in exchange for passage to the New World.
Bacon’s Rebellion
Uprising by former indentured servants and lower
classes against Jamestown Colony over lack of
protection and other injustices they felt.
Mayflower Compact
First governing document of Plymouth Colony which
was written aboard the Mayflower by the Pilgrims
before settling the colony.
Direct Democracy
Form of democracy where each person votes on
issues and was used in Plymouth.
Puritans
Strict religious group who fled England and settled in
Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Quakers
Peaceful religious group who settled in Pennsylvania
after William Penn established the colony.
Middle Passage
The sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West
Africa to the West Indies as part of the Triangle of
Trade between the Old World and New World.
Great Awakening
Religious revival movement in the American Colonies
during the 1700’s when travelling preachers reached
thousands with fiery sermons.
Pictures for each
Geography of the American Colonies
Directions: It is difficult to color and label a map key here on Word. However, a good map can be found here in
addition to the items marked below.
Regions
 New England Colonies
 Middle Colonies
 Southern Colonies
Cities
 Jamestown
 Plymouth
 Boston
 Philadelphia
 New York
 Charleston
Additional Info
 Proclamation Line of 1763
🏔 Appalachian Mountains
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
🏔
People to Know
Directions: Use the word bank below to identify the appropriate category for each person. For each person, identify the
significant contributions that person made in history.
John Winthrop
Metacom
Pocahontas
Powhatan
Roger Williams
William Penn
Anne Hutchinson
Jonathan Edwards
Important Colonial Figures
American Indians
John Smith
Name: _ Powhatan__
Name: _ Pocahontas___
Name: _ Metacom___
Region: _Virginia / Southern___
Region: _Virginia / Southern___
Region: _New England___
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
• Wampanoag Chief & Sachem
• Also known as King Philip At
first he promoted peace with
the colonies
• After English expansion, he
made alliance to fight the
English in King Philip’s War
• Chief of the Powhatan
Confederacy
• Dominant American Indian
tribe in Virginia in the 1600’s
• Made peace with the
Jamestown settlers after many
initial conflicts
• Daughter of Powhatan
• Young girl at the time of
Jamestown’s early years
• Legend says she saved John
Smith from being killed
• Married John Rolfe and
helped bring peace
Name: _ John Smith__
Name: __ William Penn____
Name: __ John Winthrop___
Region: _Virginia / Southern___
Region: _Pennsylvania / Middle___
Region: _ New England ___
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
• Colonist at Jamestown
• Took over the colony after the
“starving time”
• Forced everyone to work for
the success of the colony
• Wealthy English nobleman and
Quaker
• Founder of Pennsylvania
• Sought to live in harmony with
local American Indians
• Puritan minister
• Founder of the Massachusetts
Bay Colony
• Called the colony a “city upon
a hill” that the eyes of the
world were on
Name: __ Anne Hutchinson____
Name: __ Roger Williams ___
Name: _ Jonathan Edwards ___
Region: _ New England ___
Region: _ New England ___
Region: _ New England___
Contributions:
Contributions:
Contributions:
• Puritan reformer and
religious advisor
• Banished from Massachusetts
Bay Colony for conflicts with
the local ministers
• Established the settlement of
Portsmouth in what became
Rhode Island
• Puritan minister
• Banished from Massachusetts
Bay Colony for spreading
“new and dangerous ideas”
• Established the colony of
Rhode Island
• advocate for religious freedom,
separation of church and state,
and fair dealings with
American Indians
• Leader at Northampton,
Massachusetts
• Oversaw some of the first
revivals
• Critical in shaping the First
Great Awakening
• Gave the famous “Sinners in
the Hands of an Angry God”
sermon
Timeline of the American Colonies
Directions: Place the following events on the timeline. Include the date and draw in images or symbols for at least 4 of them.
Virginia Company founds Jamestown
Puritans found Massachusetts Bay Colony
Salem Witch Trials
1st Enslaved Africans Brought to Virginia
King Philip’s War Begins
France establishes New Orleans
Pilgrims found Plymouth Colony
Bacon's Rebellion
Georgia Founded by James Oglethorpe
Dutch Buy Manhattan from American Indians
William Penn granted charter for Pennsylvania
French and Indian War Begins
Virginia
Company
founds
Jamestown
Pilgrims
found
Plymouth
Colony
1600
1st
Enslaved
Africans
Brought to
Virginia
1620
Puritans
found
Massachusetts
Bay Colony
1640
Dutch Buy
Manhattan
from
American
Indians
William
Penn granted
charter for
Pennsylvania
Bacon's
Rebellion
1660
1680
King
Philip’s War
Begins
1700
Salem
Witch
Trials
France
establishes
New Orleans
1720
Georgia
Founded by
James
Oglethorpe
1740
1760
French and
Indian War
Begins
Describe how the relationship between European colonists and American
Indians changed over this time period.
Which event(s) had the biggest impact on the Colonies move towards
seeing independence?
Open to various student responses. They could note how there was an
uneasy peace at first when the colonists’ numbers were small and
American Indians were unsure of what they might have planned.
However, as their population grew, conflicts arose like King Philips War.
The French and Indian War saw tribes ally with both sides based on
their interests.
Open to many possible student responses. The French and Indian War
might be an obvious choice based on how the result (higher taxes,
Proclamation of 1763) of the war led to more colonists seeking
independence. Students could also select King Philip’s War as an
option based on how it led to the English dominating New England as
opposed to American Indians.
Key Concepts
Directions: For each section, either takes notes on the required topics or answer the questions in complete sentences.
Colonies
Geography
Social Aspects
New England
Colonies
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Colder climate with
rocky soil that was not
good for farming. Good
ports and access to
fishing & whaling.
Close-knit religious
communities that
met in town meetings
Small farms, shipbuilding,
lumber, fishing,
merchants
Middle Colonies
Delaware
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Maryland*
Temperate climate with
good rivers and
seaports for trade.
Heterogeneous
society with diverse
cultures, languages,
and religions.
Small farms and commercial
economy based on merchants
and craftsmen
Southern
Colonies
Virginia
Maryland*
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Warmer climate with
great soil for farms.
Access to rivers and sea
ports for trade
Traditionally English
society with Anglican
roots. Sociallystratified
What did John Winthrop mean when he said that Massachusetts Bay Colony
“shall be as a city upon a hill”?
Winthrop refers to a quote from the Bible and means that the eyes of the
world will be on their colony to see if they succeed or fail. A city high up on
a hill can be seen by those all around. This was the New World and many
people in Europe were likely curious to know if it could be settled and if
these Puritans could govern themselves there.
“Bacon had got over the [James] River with
his Forces, and hastening away into the
woods, went directly and fell upon the Indians
and killed some of them [who] were our best
Friends....Bacon’s people would not make any
distinction of Friendly Indians and Indian
Enemies, for at that time it was impossible to
distinguish one nation from another, they
being deformed with paint of many colors.
So, the common cry of the Vulgar was, away
with these distinctions, we will have war with
all Indians...we will spare none.”
The King’s Royal Commissioners Narrative,
presented to the King in Oct. 1677.
Economic Activities
Plantation-based
economy based on large,
single crop farms of tobacco,
rice, and cotton. Labor
provided by enslaved people
and indentured servants.
“For we must consider that we shall be as
a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people
are upon us. So that if we shall deal
falsely with our God in this work we have
undertaken, and so cause Him to
withdraw His present help from us, we
shall be made a story and a by-word
through the world.”
- John Winthrop, 1630
Bacon’s Rebellion was an armed rebellion in 1676 by 300-400 Virginian
settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor William Berkeley.
Why were Bacon and his forces rebelling?
They were rebelling because they did not feel the Governor was
protecting those on the frontier from Indian attacks. They also had the
less attractive farmland and were mostly former indentured servants
and newer residents as opposed to the older, more established residents
in Jamestown.
How did their actions make matters worse for the settlers of Jamestown?
Their attacks on American Indians made relations worse. They attacked
and killed friendly tribes and made no effort to distinguish them from
other tribes who they had conflicts with.
Which colonies were founded by people from other colonies?
Students should note NC for sure, however Thomas Hooker
and Roger Williams both founded their colonies (CT and RI)
after being banished from Massachusetts.
Why do you think Georgia was founded so much later than the
other colonies?
Open to various student responses. Georgia was the furthest
Southern colony and bordered Spanish Florida. With the
English and Spanish often at war and some of this colony
being conflicted between the 2 nations it made sense that it
was the last to be founded.
This is a letter written by William Penn to the “King of the Indians”
after he was granted a royal charter by King Charles II.
What is the tone of Penn’s letter?
His letter is very warm and friendly. He makes outward gestures
of kindness and respect and speaks in a way to treat the
American Indians as equals as opposed to others.
How was this different from other colonies at the time?
There was great conflict between English colonists and
American Indians in most other colonies at this time.
The Slave Trade
The Middle Passage was the stage of the
triangular trade in which millions of
Africans were forcibly transported to the
New World as part of the Atlantic slave
trade.
Where were most enslaved people brought
to? Why there?
Most were brought to South America
and the Caribbean. This was because of
how labor intensive the sugar plantations
were in these regions. Slavery was
outlawed sooner in the Northern British
colonies which is why those numbers are
smaller.
“The king of the Country where I live hath given unto
me a great Province, but I desire to enjoy it with your
Love and Consent, that we may all always live
together as Neighbors and friends… Now I would
have you well to observe, that I am very sensible of
the unkindness and injustice that hath been too much
exercised towards you by the people of these parts of
the world, who have sought themselves, to make great
advantages by you, rather than be examples of
goodness unto you … But I am not such a man, as is
well known in my own Country. I have great love and
regard towards you, and I desire to gain your love &
friendship by a kind, just, and peaceable life… The
People I send are of the same mind & shall in all
things behave themselves accordingly.”
– William Penn, 1681
Visual Literacy
Directions: Use the included images and captions to answer each of question.
Drawing of James Fort at Jamestown Colony in 1607.
What else is seen in the drawing outside of the Fort?
There are ships, wild, and a large American Indian.
Why do you think the fort was built in this shape?
Open to various student responses. The triangle shape made
for an easier defense against attacks from American Indians
or the Spanish, with 3 sides to defend instead of 4 with a
square fort.
In this drawing from John Smith’s “General History of Virginia”, he
shows, “King Powhatan commands C. Smith to be slain, his daughter
Pocahontas begs his life…”
Some historians believe Smith is exaggerating this story. What do you
believe and why?
Open to many possible student responses. Students might note that
this was an adventurous, exciting tale and might have been
entertaining for him to tell. In earlier versions of Smith’s journals
and writing, he does not mention Pocahontas saving his life.
Diagram of a slave ship from the Atlantic slave trade.
(From an Abstract of Evidence delivered before a
select committee of the House of Commons in 1790.)
How long do you estimate the voyage across the
Atlantic took in this ship?
Open to various student responses. The journey
usually lasted between 6 weeks and 3 months.
Based on the sketch, how would you describe the
conditions aboard this ship?
Open to many possible student responses. They
should note the extremely cramped quarters the
men and women were kept in with almost no room
to move.
The first Thanksgiving was a harvest
celebration held by the pilgrims of Plymouth
colony in the 17th century. Many myths
surround the first Thanksgiving.
Based on your knowledge of history, what do
you believe is accurate and inaccurate about
this image?
Open to many possible student responses.
American Indians in this region di not
wear the feathered headdress as seen here.
The outside table and chairs might be
fancier than they had available.
The Triangle of Trade
In the Triangle of Trade, ships departed Europe for African
markets with manufactured goods. These were traded for
purchased or kidnapped Africans, who were transported
across the Atlantic as slaves. The enslaved were then sold or
traded for raw materials, which would be transported back
to Europe.
Describe the impact this trade network had on:
(a) Europe:
(b) Africa:
(c) The Americas:
The Stono Rebellion (sometimes called Cato’s Rebellion) was a slave
uprising in the colony of South Carolina. It was the largest slave uprising in
the British mainland colonies, with 25 white people and 35 to 50 black
people killed.
What was the goal of those rebelling at Stono?
They were promised freedom by the Spanish in Florida after rising up
against enslavement in South Carolina.
What impact do you think the rebellion had?
Open to various student responses. However, they could note that the
uprising was unsuccessful and there was an immediate crackdown on
those enslaved by the white plantation owners in SC.
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