Unfinished Nation
Ch. 1-The Meeting of Cultures
1. Before Columbus, what should I know about the civilizations to the south of America? What
should I know about the civilizations to the north of America?
2. Why does Europe begin to look westward? What two changes encouraged them?
3. In the 15th century, why was Portugal the maritime power?
4. What is the story of Christopher Columbus?
5. Why did Spain initially become interested in the New World? What other reasons did Spanish
settlers have for coming to the Americas?
6. What is Hernando Cortes’ story?
7. What were the negative outcomes arising out of the exchange between European and native
cultures of the New World? What were some of the positive outcomes?
8. What do I need to know about African immigrants to the New World?
9. What did northern African civilizations look like? What did the southern civilizations look like,
especially their economies, family units, and society?
10. What do I need to know about the slave trade?
11. What do I need to know about the arrival of the English?
12. What were their reasons for colonizing?
13. What do I need to know about the French and the Dutch in America?
14. What do I need to know about the first English settlements?