8th Grade Social Studies Summer Reading Packet:
A Young People’s History of the United States
Volume 1: Columbus to the Spanish American War
By Howard Zinn
Welcome to 8th grade American History. To prepare for the course, we are asking that you read A Young
People’s History: Volume 1, and that you complete the activities in this packet. Before you begin to read, it is
important that you understand why this book was chosen for you. History is not just about the story; it is also
about the story teller. Every one of us has a different point of view, and may tell the same story in a different
way. The author of this book Howard Zinn, has a very different and distinct point of view on the stories that you
will read. It is important for you to read varying viewpoints of a historical event. Zinn says on page 10 of his
book, “A historian must pick and choose among facts, deciding which ones to put into his or her work, which ones to leave out,
and which ones to place at the center of the story. Every historian’s own ideas and beliefs go into the way he or she writes history.”
Being a historian is much like being a detective. A historian must gather evidence and analyze it. Many times
they must form a hypothesis on what they think happened. This year you will study a variety of documents. We
will read through varying viewpoints, and you will act as the historian to form your own hypothesis on what you
think happened.
PRE-READING ACTIVITY:
Before you read, think about the 2 quotes below. Respond to each quote by giving your interpretation of their
meanings. Think about how they apply to history.
1. “In seeking the truth, you have to get both sides of the story.”- Walter Cronkite
Response:
2. “Until lions have their historians, tales from the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”- African Proverb
Response:
DURING READING ACTIVITY:
Most things in history can be classified as being a social issue/event, political issue/event or an economic
issue/event. Classifying historical events into these 3 categories will be something that we work on this year.
Sometimes an event/issue may fit into more than one category. Below are some things that may be considered
social, political or economic.
SOCIAL - GENDER , RURAL , URBAN, DEMOGRAPHICS , WOMEN, SLAVES , PEASANTS , ETC.
ECONOMIC - AGRICULTURE , TRADE , BARTER , ECONOMY, CAPITALISM, MONEY, TAXES , ETC.
POLITICAL - MILITARY, LAWS, BUREAUCRACY, CITY-STATES , COLONIES , NATION , ETC.
As you read each chapter of the book, try to find 1 economic, 1 social, and 1 political thing from each chapter.
Chapter 1 has been completed in the chart for you. Use that as a guide to complete the rest of the chart.
CHAPTER
SOCIAL
Columbus and the Indians
Columbus’s harsh treatment of
the Native Americans.
Black and White
Who were the Colonists?
Tyranny is Tyranny
Revolutions
The Women of Early
America
As Long as Grass Grows or
Water Runs
War with Mexico
Slavery and Emancipation
The Other Civil War
Robber Barons and Rebels
The American Empire
POLITICAL
Columbus’s reward of being
made governor of new found
lands.
ECONOMIC
The Spaniards seeking gold
and riches.
POST-READING ACTIVITY:
NOW THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR READING , ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS :
1. PRIOR TO READING YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A FEW OF THE STORIES IN THE
BOOK . DID YOU MAKE ANY NEW OR DIFFERENT DISCOVERIES ABOUT A STORY YOU WERE FAMILIAR
WITH? W HAT WAS THE NEW DISCOVERY?
2. IN YOUR OPINION , WHICH OF THESE EVENTS DO YOU FEEL PLAYED THE LARGEST ROLE IN SHAPING
AMERICA TODAY? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
3. W HICH EVENTS /CHAPTERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT? W HY DO THESE EVENTS
INTEREST YOU THE MOST? W HAT ABOUT THEM APPEALS TO YOU ?