The Thirteen Colonies and the British Empire (1607-1754)

Learning Objective

Total Time: 5 minutesTotal Time: 5 minutes to understand the key factors that influenced the establishment of English colonies in North America, including economic motivations, religious freedoms, and geopolitical considerations.

Students will analyze the formation, governance, and cultural dynamics of the English colonies in North America during Period 2 (1607-1754).

Assessments

Total Time: 5 minutes

Students will create a collaborative timeline poster showcasing key events and themes in colonial development and rhetoric.

Key Points

Total Time: 10 minutes

• Formation of Corporate, Royal, and Proprietary colonies

• Impact of Mercantilism on colonial economies

• Role of religion and dissent in early settlement

• Representational governance examples (House of Burgesses, Mayflower Compact)

• Major conflicts affecting colonial expansion (King Philip's War, Bacon's Rebellion)

Opening

Total Time: 15 minutes

• Begin with a brief storytelling session about a fictional character from a specific colony (e.g., a Puritan farmer from Massachusetts Bay).

• Engage students with questions about their character's challenges and motivations in establishing their colony.

• Conduct a whole-class brainstorm of initial thoughts on what factors influenced colonial development.

Introduction to New Material

Total Time: 20 minutes

• Present a multimedia overview of the English colonies' diversity (video clips, maps).

• Discuss three colony types (corporate, royal, proprietary) and their implications for governance and economy.

• Introduce vocabulary terms: mercantilism, indentured servitude, the Great Migration, religious tolerance.

Guided Practice

Total Time: 30 minutes

• Organize students into small groups to research and create mini-presentations on each colony type (Corporate, Royal, Proprietary).

• Each group will identify key features, such as governance, economy, and cultural elements, using primary source excerpts (e.g., charters, letters).

• Share findings with the class through a gallery walk, encouraging class interaction and note-taking.

Independent Practice

Total Time: 25 minutes

• Assign a reflective writing prompt where students must take on the perspective of a colonist from a specific settlement and write a diary entry addressing the challenges and triumphs faced.

• Provide clear criteria: length, incorporation of specific historical facts, and varied emotions.

Closing

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Quick quiz on key terms discussed in class to assess retention (students can use notes).

• Facilitate a closing discussion on how the themes explored may have set the stage for future conflicts between the colonies and Great Britain.

Extension Activity

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Early finishers can dive deeper into a single document (like a charter or a legal document) and compare it against another colony’s charter, noting similarities and contrasts.

Homework

Total Time: 5 minutes

• Research a specific colony not deeply covered in class, focusing on unique aspects of governance, economy, or conflicts, to be presented in the next session.

Standards Aligned

Total Time: 5 minutes

• AP US History Curriculum Framework (Period 2) Standards covered: Analyze the ways European nations, rivalries and relationships with Native Americans impacted colonial societies and shaped early forms of self-government.