What is meant by the
Americas? / The New World
Please turn in your Pocahontas essay & outline w/
attached rubric
Warm-Up
What does the cartoon tell us about the
discovery of the Americas?
Who really discovered Americas?
Warm-Up
What is America?
Who defined what
America is?
A Homogeneous America
At face value, the Americas seem
homogenous…
All countries share the same alphabet
All countries are ex-colonies
All countries achieved independence at roughly the
same time
All countries have Christianity as the prevailing religion
A Heterogeneous America
The reality, however, is more
complicated…
With a partner, create a list of 10
things that separate/differ between
the countries of the Americas
All of the countries of the Americas are
created equal…
True…?
False...?
Why or why not?
Case Study: Dominant Neighbors
Canada and New Zealand suffer from similar
fates: both are former British colonies that are
often compared or eclipsed by their larger
neighbors, the United States and Australia
Why then, are generalizations made about these
two countries?
Why are they seen as devoid of their own identities
by outsiders?
Are there other countries that are treated in a
similar manner?
Should the United States dominate a
regional study course?
To some the answer is
unequivocally yes…
Let’s Take a Look…
IB COMMAND TERMS
 To what extent = asks you to consider the merits or
otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and
conclusions should be presented clearly and supported
with appropriate evidence and sound argument.
QUICKWRITE:
USA! USA! USA! vs.
USA!, CANADA!, PERU!, etc.
Please fully respond to the following prompt…
To what extent should the United States dominate a
regional study course such as IB History of the
Americas?
Please underline your thesis statement
For Homework:
Complete the Map of the Americas
Be sure to include all countries, oceans, seas, and the
Mississippi and Amazon Rivers
Warm-Up:
Quickwrite
Based on what you have read, seen, and
heard, why do you believe that European
society was more likely to explore the
Americas than the other way around?
Indian
settlement
of America
Locations of Major Indian Groups
and Culture Areas
Simple map of subsistence
methods in the preColumbus Americas
hunter gatherers
simple farming
societies
complex farming
societies (tribal
chiefdoms or
civilization)
Columbus’ “New World”
Columbus’s first voyage, 1492
America Before Columbus
Columbus reaches the Americas…
Take notes on…
The “dramatized” first interaction between the
two “sides” (realistic or unrealistic?)
The notion of “give and take” between the two
“sides” (who gets the better end of the deal)
Columbian Exchange
“Columbian Exchange Contest”
 With a partner, identify the “winners” and “losers” in the
“Columbian Exchange Contest”
1. Determine which area (Africa, Europe, or the New
World) benefited most from the Columbian Exchange
2. Determine the one element (other than disease) that
had the most profound impact on Africa, Europe, and
the New World
3. Compare the experiences of these different areas of
the world in a whole-class discussion
The Invasion of America
Comparing Perspectives: Juan Gines de
Sepulveda & Bartolome de Las Casas
&
SOAPSTone: Reading Strategy Guide
SPEAKER—Who is the voice who tells the story?
OCCASION—What is the time and the place of
the piece – the context that the writing to
happen?
AUDIENCE—Who is the audience – the groups of
readers for which this piece was intended for?
PURPOSE—Why was this text written?
SUBJECT—What is the general topic, content,
and ideas contained in the text?
Tone—What is the attitude of the author?
HOMEWORK!
READ CHAPTER 6 FROM
AMERICAN PAGEANT ; Compare and
Contrast it with People’s History
Comparing Perspectives
1. Read Juan Gines Sepulveda… (1547) [pgs. 3-4]; Complete
SOAPSTone questions and answer…
2. Read Bartolome de Las Casas… (1552) [pgs. 4-6]; Complete
SOAPSTone questions and answer…
Comparing Perspectives
a. What differences does Sepulveda emphasize
between Europeans (especially Spaniards)
and the Indians?
b. On what grounds does Sepulveda assert the
superiority of European culture?
c. How are de Las Casas views of the Indians
different from those of Sepulveda?
d. What ideas did the two debaters share?
Warm-Up:
America Before Columbus
While watching, answer the guiding questions
and consider…
To what extent was the discovery/exploration of
the “New World” considered a success story?
Map Study:
Colonial vs. Modern America
Consider the two maps and
answer the related questions…
The given map shows European
colonies in the Americas around
1763
Your self-created map of the
Americas should reflect the
present day borders / countries
P.E.R.S.I.A. Notes on “The New World”
P.E.R.S.I.A.
Political
Economic
Religious
Social
Intellectual
Artistic
Political control(lers) in the New World
 Administration and government of the British and Iberian
colonies ≈ expression of those of the motherlands
Political control(lers) in the New World:
Spaniards
 Reflected the centralized, absolutist regimes of their
home countries
 From 1516 to 1700, Spain and the Spanish Empire were ruled by
the Habsburg monarchy
Political control(lers) in the New World:
Spaniards
 Had an extensive body of laws deals with the
administration of the new world = complex bureaucratic
and legal system
Political control(lers) in the New World:
Spaniards
“Decision makers” were
Spanish-born and referred to
as peninsulares
Creoles were virtually excluded
from administrative tasks until…
Cabildo (town councils)
administrative posts began to be
sold to the highest bidder in the
late 17th century
Political control(lers) in the New World:
Portuguese
Much like the Spanish Empire, high
developed, costly bureaucracies
emerged
Thwarts local economic initiative
Thwarts political experimentation
Political control(lers) in the New World:
Portuguese
Unlike the Spanish colonies,
Portuguese rule was
relatively relaxed in Brazil
No colonial administration until the
18th century
Political control(lers) in the New World:
English
Represents an extension of
the English Parliament
Based on common law
Governance was an
administrative and judicial
system
Political control(lers) in the New World:
English
English colonies had the
power of self-government
Representative assemblies
voted in by popular support
Economic systems of the New World
Colonial economy directly tied to mercantilism
Economic systems of the New World:
English
British begin passing regulatory laws
to benefit their own economy
Colonies not allowed to compete
with Britain in manufacturing
Navigation Acts—protectionist laws
Economic systems of the New World:
English
Many colonists defied the
restrictions of the Navigation
Acts and British government
was often lax in enforcement
Leads to salutary neglect
Economic systems of the New World:
Spaniards
 Unlike the English, Spanish mercantilism was tightly
enforced…
Monopoly ports on either side of the Atlantic oversaw
the collection of taxes
Transatlantic trade mostly confined to convoys
 Low supplies of manufactured goods leads to price
inflation
Economic systems of the New World:
Spaniards
Profitability problem…
raw materials a small % of cargo
(gold/silver much higher %)
Spain sent the raw materials to
foreign countries for production of
finished goods
Economic systems of the New World:
Spaniards
 Intra-continental trade develops
Emergence of new classes of elites
but also downtrodden
Social Systems of the New World:
Push / Pull Factors
Social Systems of the New World:
English
 Usually came in family groups or
even as whole communities
 Social structure largely based on
(economic) class
Social Systems of the New World:
Spanish
Spanish emigrants did not
come as family units
Mostly single men came
over as soldiers, officials, or
laborers
Much denser indigenous
population (and lack of
family units) leads to more
intermarriage and
interracial relationships
Social Systems of the New World:
Spanish
Racial classifications
from the basis of
maintaining class and
power distinctions
Society has a highly
complex racial make-up
Social Systems of the New World:
Spanish
CASTAS
Role of Religion in the New World
Americas were colonized by
Europeans who wanted to extend
the influence of Christianity
Spanish America dominated by the
Roman Catholic Church
British colonies were mostly Protestant
Role of Religion in the New World:
Spaniards
Catholic Church played a
significant and vital role in the
colonies
Education
Culture
Evangelization of native population
Corporate owner of land, real
estate, and capital
Role of Religion in the New World:
English
Plurality of faith was the norm
What people believed depended on where
they lived
New England colonists were largely Puritans
Middle colonists were a mixture of religions including
Quakers, Catholics, Lutherans, and Jews
Southern colonists had a mixture of religions
including Baptists and Anglicans
Questions? Comments?
 Typically, after we complete a topic of study (see unit
plan), the PPT will be made available on my Weebly
following the completion of the “section”
 But…
 Take good notes during lectures utilizing techniques like
summarizing and paraphrasing to help you “get it” the first
time
Introduction to Internal Assessment
What is an IA?
A written investigation of a historical
concept(s), event(s), or situation(s) which has
been narrowed and made as specific as
possible.
Introduction to Internal Assessment
Skills which need to be understood and conveyed
in your investigation:
 How to make strong arguments.
 The tools of historiography.
 The difference between narrative data and analysis of
data.
 Should provide the reader with an understanding of your
appreciation for the limits of historical “knowledge.”
How should this investigation be organized?
A: Plan of the Investigation
(3 Marks)
B: Summary of Evidence
(6 Marks)
Narrative Information ONLY - frequently cited
C: Evaluation of Sources
(5 Marks)
Analysis of any two sources used for B
D: Analysis
(6 Marks)
Analysis of the information in section B
E: Conclusion
(2 Marks)
A clear answer to your question
List of Sources and Word Limit
TOTAL
25 Marks
(3 Marks)
History IA Title
1. Titles should start out with the general topic: “An
investigation….”
2. Titles should end with a more specific question.
Example:
An investigation into German social history: How
successfully did Hitler promote the ideal of the family in
the Third Reich?
Choosing an appropriate title
will lead to an appropriate investigation
Which title is probably easier to investigate and discuss effectively with
the 2000 word limit? Why?
TITLE A:
An investigation into African warfare:
Why did the British Army struggle Southern Africa during the 1870s?
TITLE B:
An investigation into African colonial warfare:
To what extent was the defeat of the British by the Zulu at Isandlwna in
1879 due to the mistakes made by Lord Chelmsford?
SAMPLE TITLE PAGE:
An Investigation into Soviet Domestic Policies:
To what extent was Stalin’s First Five Year Plan Successful?
John Smith
Candidate Number: 734-0134
History Internal Assessment
January 24th, 2013
Word Count:: 1956
Section A: The Plan of Investigation
(100-150 words)
Essentially there are three steps you must cover in Section A:
 Brief background/contextual information is provided about the
importance of topic or situation.
 The specific thesis question and topic of investigation are clearly
presented. (This can be presented at the top of the section!)
 The methods/strategies and/or scope of investigation are clearly
explained to the audience.
All of this in ONE paragraph!
Section A: The Plan of Investigation
Suggestions
 Be concise
 Clearly show how you are going to tackle or address the
investigation. In other words, what methods you will use
to argue your thesis effectively.
 Please don’t just say you are going to “summarize the
evidence, evaluate sources and analyze to support my
conclusion.” .
 Be objective - don’t exaggerate! For instance, don’t say
“it will be proven that….”
Phase One: Topic Selection &
Preliminary Thesis
 Narrow down your topic to a specific question/area of
investigation
 Choose a working title that may be changed/revised later
 Obtain sufficient resources for your investigation
 Read widely around the area of study and write down resources
used
 Draft a working thesis in the form of a question
 Take notes from your chosen resources, include exact references
 Due Date: 9/17 (A) & 9/18 (B)