Unit 1: Indigenous Cultures of the Americas

 

1. Evaluate the Aztec, Maya and Inca Empires, and Native American civilizations to determine how the empires exemplify the characteristics of civilization
2. Describe the social, cultural, religious, and economic characteristics of the Mayan civilization
3. Describe the major accomplishments of the Inca empire
4. Describe the innovations and products of the Aztec Empire
5. Describe the importance of Tenochtitlan’s geographic location, and explain its economic innovations
6. Explain how agricultural innovations contributed to the Aztec economic system.
7. Describe characteristics of Native American tribes before Europeans came to the Americas.
8. Compare and contrast how indigenous cultures developed in North and South America, and what likely contributed to the similarities and differences.
9. Analyze maps of Tenochtitlan to explain the importance of the causeways and roads in the city

 

Unit 2: European Exploration

 

1. Explain common motivations for European countries to fund travel/exploration to the Americas
2. Discuss the motivations, routes, and challenges of the following European explorers
3. Compare and contrast the motivations and challenges of European explorers
4. Describe the motivations and strategies of the Spanish Conquistadors in the Inca Empire, including the enslavement of Incas by the Spanish
5. Explain Spanish Conquistadors’ motivations for conquering the Aztec empire.
6. Explain the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec empire
7. Explain the differing perspectives of Europeans when interacting with Native Americans, and explain how negative perspectives influenced European treatment of Native Americans.
8. Explain the impact of Europeans on Native American populations
9. Explain why goods were traded through the Columbian Exchange from each continent
10. Explain why the Native American death rate from European disease was significantly higher than the European death rate of the same diseases.
11. Explain the impact of smallpox and other diseases on Native Americans, and explain the role diseases played in European countries conquering the Americas.
12. Explain how trade encourages the exchange of ideas and cultural diffusion
13. Explain the positive and negative cultural and economic impacts of the Columbian Exchange
14. Explain how cultural diffusion was an effect of the Columbian Exchange
15. Explain the positive and negative impacts of the convergence of European innovations on Native American cultures.
16. Describe and explain the reaction of Native Americans to Europeans and how this led to cooperation/conflict.
17. Analyze maps to explain changes in prevalence of indigenous groups and claims on land in North America
18. Explain how supply, demand, and scarcity of spices motivated European exploration to America.

 

Unit 3: Settlement of the Present-Day United States

 

1. Analyze artifacts from early American settlements and colonies to determine what they reveal about the challenges and achievements of those colonies.
2. Explain how goods traded through Columbian Exchange led to the diversifying of the world’s foods.
3. Explain why the fur trade motivated trappers/traders to move to the new world
4. Evaluate the impact of missionaries from Europe on Native American culture.
5. Explain the cooperation and conflict between Native Americans and colonists in the North American fur trade and why cooperation was essential for the fur trade to prosper.
6. Discuss theories for what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke, and what assimilation with Native American communities means.
7. Explain the cooperation and conflict between Native Americans and colonists in the North American fur trade and why cooperation was essential for the fur trade to prosper.
8. Describe the goals of Spanish, French, and Dutch colonization in the Americas.
9. Describe the characteristics of civilization for North American colonies.
10. Compare and contrast the experiences of the colonists in the Jamestown and Roanoke colonies
11. Compare and contrast the reasons the Pilgrims and Puritans settled in North America.
12. Describe the religious rights granted in the colonies that were not granted in Europe
13. Explain the motivation for establishing religious freedoms in the colonies, and the effects that religious freedom had on the colonies.
14. Compare and contrast religious freedom and religious tolerance granted in various settlements.
15. Explain why the British, Spanish, French, English, and Dutch colonized where they did in the Americas.
16. Explain the roles that trade and geography played in determining the location and economic development of European colonies.
17. Describe the role geography played in the development of colonies in North America
18. Explain how location and environment contributed to the success of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies.
19. Explain the impact of the fur trade on ecosystems and animal populations in the Northeast.
20. Explain why having a permanent colony in the Americas is beneficial to European countries using the terms supply, demand, and scarcity.
21. Explain economic motivations for colonists to leave Europe and settle in the Americas.
22. Explain why the price of fur pelts went up over time, and why prices motivated French colonists to come to North America.
23. Explain how trade contributed to the success of colonies.

 

 Unit 4: Colonial Advancements

 

1. Examine primary and secondary sources to research early American colonial history from the Age of Exploration to 1763.
2. Explain the course and consequences of the Columbian Exchange, including its cultural, ecological, economic, and political impact on Europe, the Americas, and West Africa.
3. Compare and contrast the convergence of trade, cultural diffusion, and innovation in the Western Hemisphere after 1492.
4. Describe cooperation and conflict among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans.
5. Identify the major European powers that colonized North America and explain their goals, challenges, and achievements.
6. Compare and contrast religious groups that settled colonial America and examine the role of religion in colonial communities.
7. Evaluate the motives that led to the establishment of the thirteen colonies.
8. Explain and give examples of how Native Americans, Europeans, and free and enslaved Africans adapted to living in the New England colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern colonies.
9. Analyze maps from the Age of Exploration to 1763.
10. Describe ways in which location and environment influenced the settlements and land use in colonial America.
11. Identify natural resources used by people of colonial America and describe the impact of human action on the physical environment.
12. Compare and contrast the different types of government in colonial America that influenced the development of the United States.
13. Summarize the key ideas that influenced the development of colonial governments and their influence on the growth of American democracy.
14. Cite evidence of the economic motivations for European exploration and settlement in the Americas using economic concepts such as supply and demand and scarcity.
15. Describe trade between the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa during the colonial period.
16. Analyze the differences in the economies of the New England colonies, Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies.

 

Unit 5: The French and Indian War

 

1. Examine primary and secondary sources to research early American colonial history from the Age of Exploration to 1763.
2. Describe cooperation and conflict among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans.
3. Identify the major European powers that colonized North America and explain their goals, challenges, and achievements.
4. Describe the impact of key people, ideas, and events that led to the French and Indian War.
5. Analyze maps from the Age of Exploration to 1763.
6. Explain the reasons for the French and Indian War and the economic effects of British policy on colonial America.