Dear A.P. US History Students:
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you into the A.P. US History course at William Penn High
School for 2013 - 2014. To be successful in this course you will need to take advantage of the time off
this summer and do some outside reading.
A.P. US History will cover the time periods from the discovery of America to the present date. The course
will demand a sizeable amount of reading, both from the text as well as from primary and secondary
sources.
It is expected that all students enrolled in the course will take the College Board’s A.P. Exam. This course
is designed to be equivalent to a college level course. It is impossible to cover every aspect of United
History in detail. As a means of gaining a better understanding of U.S. history, you are encouraged to
read from Howard Zinn’s, A People’s History of the United States. I would recommend purchasing the
Zinn text but it is available online at the following link:
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html
Summer Assignment: DUE AUGUST 27th
This assignment should be typed and saved to a file.
1. Read chapters 1 and 2 from Howard Zinn's, A People’s History of the United States and complete
the attached study questions. You can use the above link to read the first two chapters.
2. All answers to Zinn questions must be typed (12; Times New Roman)
3. Be prepared for a class debate/discussion on chapters 1 and 2 the first week of school.
4. Follow me (@wnuneville) on Twitter for articles/videos to view for the summer and as a way to
get to know me better!! #pennapush13
Have a great summer!!
If you have any questions, please e-mail me at wnuneville@gmail.com or Twitter @wnuneville
(#pennapush13)
Sincerely,
Mr. Nuneville
A.P. U.S. History Summer Reading Assignment
DIRECTIONS:
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Answers must be typed; Times New Roman 12 Font
All responses should be in complete sentences with specific evidence from the text.
DO NOT COPY MORE THAN A SENTENCE OR PHRASE FROM THE TEXT.
Cite the text with quotes and do your best to summarize the text and put responses in your own
words.
Zinn Chapter 1- Study questions
1. According to Zinn, what is his main purpose for writing A People’s History of the United States?
2. What is Zinn’s thesis for pages 1-11?
3. According to Zinn, how is Columbus portrayed in traditional history books?
4. Why does Zinn dispute Henry Kissinger’s statement: “History is the memory of states?”
5. Identify one early and one subsequent motive that drove Columbus to oppress indigenous peoples.
6. What was the ultimate fate of the Arawak Indians?
7. Explain Governor John Winthrop’s legal and biblical justification for seizing Indian land.
8. Explain the main tactic of warfare used by the English against the Indians.
9. According to Roger Williams, how did the English usually justify their attacks on the Indians?
10. What ultimately happened to the estimated 10 million Indians living in North America at the time of Columbus’ arrival?
11. How does Zinn attempt to prove that the Indians were not inferior? Provide examples.
Zinn Chapter 2- Study questions
1. According to Zinn, what is the root of racism in America?
2. Why were Africans considered “better” slaves than Indians in Virginia?
3. How did 16th century Africa compare to 16th century Europe politically, economically, and militarily?
4. How did slavery in Africa differ from slavery in Europe and the Americas?
5. Describe the conditions that slaves on ships coming to America (“Middle Passage”).
6. How did the slave trade begin in North America?
7. In terms of mortality, what was the cost of slavery? How was Africa impacted over that 300 year time period?
8. What evidence exists that America’s slaves did not accept their fate easily?
9. Why did slave owners fear poor whites?