American History I: The Founding Principles Curriculum Map 2015-2016
Unit 1: European Exploration and Colonial America (10 days)
Key Concepts: Geography, Economic Systems, Movement, Conflict, Power
Students will Understand
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Attempts to gain influence over an area can occur through political,
economic, and cultural means.
Global policies made by nations perceived to be superior may have
a positive or negative effect on nations perceived to be inferior.
Mother countries set up systems to benefit them rather than the
colony.
Religious freedom and beliefs play a large role in the founding of a
new society/colony
Geography can play a large role in the economic focus of a colony
Students will Know (Critical Content)
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Causes of the Age of Exploration
The implementation of the concept of mercantilism in the colonies.
The history of the Native Americans before Columbus
Compare and Contrast the approaches to building colonies of Spain,
England and France.
Columbian Exchange’s impact on Native Americans
Compare and Contrast the founding of Chesapeake and New England
colonies
Beginnings of African slavery in the new world.
The role of religion in the founding of the new world
The founders, purposes, economic reasons for each of the 13 colonies.
Economic policies of the British Empire towards the colonies.
Causes of the French and Indian War
Changing of the relationship between the colonies and England as a
result of French and Indian War
Structure of Colonial government
Differences between Northern, Middle, and Southern Colonies
Puritan intolerance leading to other colonies
Influence of the Great Awakening on Colonial Society
Beginnings of slavery in the colonies and how their legal status is
determined.
Creation and Effects of Triangular trade systems.
Essential Questions
1. What political, economic, and cultural conditions can cause a group of people to want to leave their homeland?
2. How does geography influence the settlement patterns of a group of people?
3. How can cultural exchange influence the development of a society?
4. What role does religion play in shaping society?
5. To what extent have the effects of European actions and policies been beneficial or detrimental to other groups?
6. What policies and laws can limit the economic possibilities for a colony while benefit a mother country?
7. What steps can a group of people take to ensure/deny religious freedom?
8. How can climate and location lead to different economic activities within the same country?
9. What factors can influence political, economic, and cultural differences between a mother country and its colonies?
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American History I: The Founding Principles Curriculum Map 2015-2016
Priority Standards
H2, H3, H4, H5, H8
Clarifying Objectives
AH.1.H.2.1 Analyze key political,
economic, and social turning points from
colonization through Reconstruction in
terms of causes and effects.
Learning Outcomes (DO)
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AH1.H.2.2 Evaluate key turning points
from colonization through Reconstruction
in terms of their lasting impact.
AH1.H.3.1 Analyze how economic,
political, social, military and religious
factors influenced European exploration
and American colonial settlement (e.g.,
Reformation, mercantilism, improvements
in navigation technology, colonization,
defeat of Spanish Armada, Great
Awakening, etc.).
AH1.H.3.2 Explain how environmental,
cultural, and economic factors influenced
the patterns of migration and settlement
within the U.S. before the Civil War.
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AH1.H.3.3 Explain the roles of various
racial and ethnic groups in settlement and
expansion through Reconstruction and the
consequences for those groups.
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AH1.H.3.4 Analyze voluntary and
involuntary immigration trends through
Reconstruction in terms of causes,
regions, of origin and destination, cultural
contributions, and public and
governmental response.
AH1.H.4.1 Analyze the political issues and
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I will analyze how economic,
religious, and cultural factors
influenced exploration and
settlement in the “New
World”.
I will compare and contrast
how explorers and colonists
justified their risks and
perseverance in exploring
and settling the ‘New
World”.
I will analyze how the
English Civil Wars and the
Glorious Revolution of the
17th Century impacted
British Economic Policy and
the economic development
of the colonies.
I will analyze how the ideals
of mercantilism guided
economic development in
the colonies.
I will analyze how the
Protestant Reformation
impacted European
Exploration and settlement
of North America.
I will examine how economic
factors influenced the
settlement and development
of the 13 English colonies in
America.
I will analyze how
environmental factors, such
as topography, climate
variations, and disease
influenced the settlement
Critical Content &
Vocabulary by Strand
Materials/Resources
* For sheg.stanford.edu you would have to create
an account in order to download the PDF’s – it is
free
https://sheg.stanford.edu/user/register?destination=nod
e%2F231
History
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This is a great opening lesson on understanding
multiple perspectives in history.
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http://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Lessons/Unit%201_Intr 
oduction/Lunchroom%20Fight.Lesson%20Plan.pdf
This lesson concerns the importance of perspective in
historiography.
http://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Lessons/Unit%201_Intr
oduction/Snapshot%20Autobiography.pdf
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Common Core Activity on English Exploration
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http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch?
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id=1544
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Common Core Activity on the Massachusetts Bay
Colony
http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Gove
rnment;jsessionid=D3C1661D99A10B52E0505ABE01
4AF094
Civics and Government
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Common Core Activity on the agriculture-based
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economy of the Southern Colonies
http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Gove 
rnment;jsessionid=D3C1661D99A10B52E0505ABE01 
4AF094
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Common Core Activity on William Penn and the Middle 
Colonies
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http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch?
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id=1264&bhcp=1
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Common Core Activity on economic differences
between the colonies
http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Gove
rnment;jsessionid=D3C1661D99A10B52E0505ABE01
4AF094
European colonization of
the New World
Explorers
Conquistadors
Roanoke
Role of disease in
colonization
Political/Religious issues
in Europe
Bacon’s Rebellion
King William’s War
Queen Anne’s War
King Philip’s War
French and Indian War
Town Meetings
Jamestown
Mayflower Compact
House of Burgesses
Theocracy
Salutary Neglect
Maryland Toleration Act
Treaty of Paris 1763
Colonial Government
Dominion of New England
Economics
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Common Core Activity on women’s issues and
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religious issues during colonial times
http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch? 
id=29
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Plantations
Tobacco
Mercantilism
Indentured servant
Slave Trade
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American History I: The Founding Principles Curriculum Map 2015-2016
conflicts that impacted the U.S. through
Reconstruction and the compromises that
resulted.
AH1.H.4.3 Analyze the social and
religious conflicts, movements, and
reforms that affected the U.S. from
colonization through Reconstruction in
terms of participants, strategies,
opposition, and results.
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AH.1.H.4.4 Analyze the cultural conflicts
that impacted the U.S. through
Reconstruction and the compromises that
resulted.
AH.1.H.5.1 Summarize how the
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philosophical, ideological, and religious
views on freedom and equality contributed
to the development of American political
economic systems through
Reconstruction.
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AH1. H.5.2 Explain how judicial,
legislative, and executive actions have
affected the distribution of power between
levels of government from colonization
through Reconstruction
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AH1.H.8.1 Analyze the relationship
between innovation, economic
development, progress, and various
perceptions of the ‘American Dream”
through Reconstruction.
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AH1.H.8.3 Evaluate the extent to which a
variety of groups and individuals have had
opportunity to attain their perception of the
‘American Dream” through
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Reconstruction.
and development of the 13
English colonies.
I will compare and contrast
the cultural influences and
development of the 13
English colonies.
I will analyze how the ideas
of mercantilism guided the
economic development of
the 13 English colonies.
I will examine how British,
French, and Spanish
attempts at empire in North
America led to cultural
diffusion and conflict
between various groups.
I will examine how the
cultural development of the
British colonies varied
according to the region lived
in.
I will analyze how British
colonists persevered in the
face of harsh conditions to
colonize North America.
I will examine how European
colonists and enslaved
Africans adapted their
cultures and institutions to
define a new American
culture.
I will analyze how and to
what extent colonial
expansion and various
frontier wars with American
Indians affected the political
development of the British
colonies.
I will examine how and to
what extent colonial rights
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Common Core Activity on Pocahontas and relations
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with Native Americans in Virginia.
http://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Lessons/Unit%202_Col 
onial/Pocahontas%20Lesson%20Plan%202.pdf
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Primary Source Activity on the Salem Witch Trials
http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Gove
rnment;jsessionid=844FE27BA37E66D883C3947941C
B63AC
Common Core Activity on Jamestown
http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch?
id=201
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Common Core Activity on differences between the
colonies.
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http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch? 
id=1494
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Common Core Activity on the “Middle Passage”
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http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/Launch? 
id=607
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Common Core Activities on the Great Awakening
#1
http://www.hippocampus.org/History%20%26%20Gove
rnment;jsessionid=D3C1661D99A10B52E0505ABE01
4AF094
Geography
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#2
http://sheg.stanford.edu/upload/Lessons/Unit%203_Re 
volution%20and%20Early%20America/First%20Great
%20Awakening1.pdf
Triangular Trade
Middle Passage
Columbian Exchange
Economics
Fur trade
Mercantilism
Joint-Stock Companies
Proprietary/Royal
Colonies
Enclosure movement
Triangular Trade
Virginia Company
Headright System
Slavery
Encomienda system
Navigation Act of 1660
Navigation Act of 1663
Navigation Act of 1673
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Thirteen Colonies
Plymouth
Locations of European
Empires
Locations of Native
American societies
Culture
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Native Americans
Protestant
Catholic
Pilgrims
Puritans
Quakers
Salem Witch Trials
1st Great Awakening
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American History I: The Founding Principles Curriculum Map 2015-2016
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and privileges as
Englishmen led to the
development of colonial
political institutions.
I will analyze how the
political organization of the
royal colonies around a
royal governor, councils,
and assemblies affected the
distribution of power
between the colonists and
Great Britain.
I will compare and contrast
the rules on religious
freedom and toleration
among the 13 British
colonies.
I will analyze how the Great
Awakening encouraged
individualism and personal
judgment, revivalism, and
religious tolerance.
I will analyze how, why and
to what extent the English
colonies relied on slave
labor.
I will analyze how the growth
of commerce shipbuilding
and commercial agriculture
encouraged economic
development in New
England.
I will compare and contrast
how the development of
cash crops, land policies,
and labor led to the
development of the
plantation system in the
South.
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Puritanism
Separatists
“Holy Experiment”
Old Lights vs. New Lights
“City on a Hill”
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