Unit I: Conquest and Colonization in the Americas
Guiding Questions:
 What were the political and economic motivations behind the colonization of the Americas by Britain,
France, Spain, and Portugal?
 Compare and contrast the colonial institutions in the New World.
 What was the role of religion in the New World?
 What were the interactions between the indigenous peoples and the colonizers?
 Describe the origins of slavery.
Tentative Schedule:
Monday, August 24th
Intro to Mr. O’Connor and History of the Americas
Pre-Quiz on the Americas
Tuesday, August 25th
Assign seats-Go over pre-quiz- Assign Zinn “The Use and Abuse of History” One
page reflection due for class tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 26th
Discussion on Zinn reading
Hand-out Countries Presentation Project
Thursday, August 27th
Please read Mann-1491 for MondayGroups meet
Friday, August 28th
Current Events and Debate set up
The Speech- 50 years after ‘I Have a Dream’
Please read Zinn Chapter 1 for Thursday.
Monday, August 31st
Quiz/Discussion on Mann 1491
Groups meet
Tuesday, September 1st
Country Presentations
Wednesday, September 2nd Finish Country Presentations
Thursday, September 3rd
Quiz/Discussion on Zinn Ch 1 reading.
Friday, September 4th
Current Events/Debate
“Howard Zinn, like other revisionists, writes history that is invalid and unAmerican.”
Please read Skidmore/Smith “Why Latin America” for
Monday.
Monday, September 7th
Quiz/Discussion on Skid/Smith reading
Tuesday, September 8th
Lecture: Patterns of Indigenous Life
Please read Intro chapters from Chasteen, Burns and Crow
for Thursday (please do a bit of research about your author)
Wednesday, September 9th Counselors are here!
Thursday, September 10th Quiz/Discussion of introductory chapters
Friday, September 11th
Current Events/Debate
“16th-18th Century European culture was superior to Native
American culture.”
Please Skid/Smith Colonial foundations for Monday.
Monday, September 14th
Quiz/Discussion on Skid/Smith
Tuesday, September 15th
Intro to debate-Black Legends-Destruction of the Indies
excerpts-Americas Anthology 2.1
Wednesday, September 16th Prep for Valladolid Debate- Resolved: ‘Indigenous
People of the Americas are naturally inferior, therefore it is
justified they are enslaved.’
Thursday, September 17th Valladolid Debate
Friday, September 18th
Current Events/Debate
“The Spanish Monarchy is responsible for the atrocities against indigenous people
in its colonies.”
Please read three articles on slavery in the Americas for
Tuesday.
Monday, September 21st
Excerpts from “The Mission”
Tuesday, September 22nd
Quiz/Discussion of three slavery articles
Brazil- an inconvenient history
Wednesday, September 23rd Reading day- Zinn Ch 2
Thursday, September 24th Quiz/Discussion on Zinn Ch 2
Friday, September 25th
Current Events/Debate
“Iberian and English colonial success was based upon the
slave system.”
Monday, September 28th
British Religion and colonization
Nash excerpt 88-94
Winthrop 12-16
Spanish Religion and colonization
Skidmore/Smith 14-20
Burns 52-58
Tuesday, September 29th
Wednesday, September 30th Exam Review
Thursday, October 1st
Exam Review
Friday, October 2nd
Unit Exam
Remember that the topics of daily lessons may be altered. However, quiz dates are firm. If you must miss a
quiz, it is up to you to reschedule a time outside of class. Please remember that you have one week to makeup a quiz.
Read daily, and incrementally. There will be no time for absorption of the information or reflection on the
material if you cram your readings in the night before the quiz/exam.