SUMMER READING 11TH GRADE A.P. UNITED STATES HISTORY
TEN DAYS THAT UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED AMERICA BY STEVEN GILLON
This book looks at ten specific events that occurred over the years of United
States History. Some may seem an odd choice, but each signals some significant change
that is occurring in America. When we study each period covered in the book, you will
feel so smart!
You are to complete the first 5 chapters of the book and turn in written answers to
the following questions. This assignment is due August 16th, 2013. The remaining
chapters will be assigned during the year. Just read a chapter at a time; don’t try to
complete the assignment in one day.
The answers must be in complete sentences, answered carefully, and typed. I do not
want you to copy from the book but read and understand why Gillon chose these days as
significant in the history of the United States.
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. HAPPY READING!
I.
Massacre at Mystic
1. Why did Major Mason burn the Pequot village and what was his attitude toward
the events?
2. What was the goal of the Puritan settlers in Massachusetts?
3. How did the Puritans justify taking the Indian’s land?
4. What types of weapons did the Puritans possess?
5. How did the Pequots respond to the English threat?
6. What was the attack on Mystic in retaliation for?
7. How did the battle at Mystic change the relationship between the Indians and the
English?
8. How did events in New England. help justify the movement westward?
9. What happened, eventually, to the Pequots?
II.
Shay’s Rebellion
1. What was Shay’s background?
2. What were the economic conditions in the US after the Revolution?
3. How did Massachusetts attempt to solve the problems of paying the war debts?
4. How did farmers attempt to solve their problems?
5. What were the two views of the legacy of the American Revolution and the nature
of government?
6. How did Shay’s Rebellion end?
7. What were the effects of the protest in other states?
8. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
9. How did Shay’s rebellion help lead to the Constitutional Convention?
10.What was the structure and power of the new government?
11.What instances in subsequent US history mirror Shay’s Rebellion?
III.
The Gold Rush
Who actually discovered gold at Sutter’s Creek and how?
When was the news confirmed in California, by whom and how?
What were the routes to California?
From where did the immigrants to California come?
Describe a mining camp.
How did the American treat the Californios? The Chinese?
How did the discovery of gold change the American Dream?
In what way was the Gold Rush not beneficial to the US?
How is the spirit of the Gold Rush reflected in today’s world?
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IV.
ANTIETAM
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Why could the Confederacy believe it was winning in the fall of 1862?
Why did Robert E Lee choose to fight for the Confederacy?
What was McClellan’s strategy?
How were Lee’s plans to take Maryland discovered?
Why was the battle at Antietam so important?
Why was slavery so important to the South?
What was Lincoln’s view of slavery?
What were the Union’s advantages in 1861? What were the Confederacy’s
advantages?
9. Why did the Confederacy think Britain might support them?
10. What new technology contributed to the carnage at Antietam?
11. How did Antietam change the nature of the war?
12. To whom did the Emancipation Proclamation apply?
13. How did strategy change as a result of Antietam?
14. What were the legacies of the battle?
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THE HOMESTEAD STRIKE
What was the Homestead?
Why were the Pinkerton Guards there?
Describe the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin workers.
How did Carnegie set up his business?
What did Frick announce that set off the protest?
Who won the first battle between the Union and the Pinkerton’s? Why?
Why as the Homestead Strike described as “the future of workplace democracy
hung in the balance”?
8. What changes for workers were produced by the 2nd Industrial Revolution?
9. How was the strike broken?
10. What implications for management and labor did the breaking of the strike
have?