US I Honors Summer Reading Assignment
Niemczak
Directions: Type the assignment, size 12 font, Times New Roman, your name at the top & 1 ½ spacing.
Part I: Author’s Background
 Research the life of Howard Fast
o List other books that he has written.
o What were his political views?
o How could his political views influence the story portrayed in the book April Morning?
Part II: Character Identifications
 All students MUST identify Adam Cooper and 4 of the additional characters. Be sure to
include…
o A Description of the characters background and life
o Roles the Characters played
o Personalities of Characters
o Major actions completed by characters throughout the novel
1. Adam Cooper
2. Moses Cooper
3. Granny Cooper
4. Levi Cooper
5. Sarah Cooper
6. Ruth Simmons
7. Joseph Simmons
8. The Reverend
9. Solomon Chandler
Part III: Major Events Identifications
 Identify THREE of the following events in detail. Be sure to include…
o A detailed description of what occurred during the event
o What major characters were involved in the event
o Why the event was important to the story April Morning?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Committee Meeting
The Assembly on the Village Green
The meeting of Solomon Chandler
The meeting of the Reverend
The meeting house/church after the Battle
Part IV: Essay
 In a well developed 5 paragraph essay answer the following questions.
o After reading the novel April Morning what aspects of colonial life seem alien
to us today, what aspects remain the same, what did you learn about the Battle
of Lexington and Concord, and how did the growth to manhood of Adam
Cooper compare to the growth of the United States as a nation?
The Declaration of Independence
US I Honors Summer Reading Assignment
Part 1: Define 20 of the following terms that you are unfamiliar with (or other ones from the document).
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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13.
Dissolve
Decent
Impel
Endowed
Consent
Prudence
Transient
Disposed
Usurpations
Despotism
Relinquish
Annihilation
Convulsions
14.
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26.
Tenure
Quartering
Deprive
Abolish
Abdicated
Mercenaries
Perfidy
Brethren
Insurrection
Petition
Consanguinity
Rectitude
Allegiance
Part 2: Free Response
Directions: Use the Declaration of Independence and other educational resources to respond to the
questions. Responses should be typed and between 1 and 5 sentences long. (Be sure to answer all parts of
the question)
1. What organized Colonial body approved the writing of the Declaration of Independence?
2. List the men that worked in committee to compose the document and explain why each was selected.
3. What Enlightenment philosopher(s) ideas were incorporated into the document? (person & ideas)
4. What line in the document “makes you think”? Explain why!
5. What type of government do the Colonists want?
6. List Three grievances the colonists make against the King AND identify the historic events that led to their
inclusion in the Declaration of Independence.
7. What does the Declaration say the new, independent states have the “Right” to do?
8. List three references to God, found in the Declaration of Independence.
9. When was the document really signed, who was the first to sign it, how many total men signed it, and what
were these men actually committing by signing this document (against England)?
Excellent Resource Site: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html