Name:________________________________  Date:_______________________  Class:  ________________        

Topic:  The  13  Colonies    Theme  How  do  issues  of  power,  wealth  and  morality  influence  exploration?  

 Background                                  European  exploration  of  the  New  World  resulted  in  various  interactions  with  Native  Americans  and  in  colonization.  The  American  colonies  were  established  for  a  variety  of  reasons  and  developed  differently  based  on  economic,  social,  and  geographic  factors.  Colonial  America  had  a  variety  of  social  structures.        Inquiry  Question    How  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?    Task  This  performance  task  is  divided  into  two  parts.  In  the  first  part  of  the  task,  you  will  read  the  documents  that  follow  and  answer  questions  about  each  document  (Part  I).  The  second  part  of  the  task  asks  you  to  respond  to  the  Inquiry  Question  above  in  an  argument  essay  (Part  II).    Part  I:  Document  Analysis  Directions:  Review  and  read  each  of  the  following  documents,  including  the  provided  context  and  source  information.  After  each  document,  answer  the  questions  using  the  space  provided.  Write  the  answer  in  complete  sentences.        Common  Core  Standards  RH.  6-­‐8.1  Cite  specific  textual  evidence  to  support  analysis  of  primary  and  secondary  sources.  RH.  6-­‐8.2-­‐  Integrate  visual  information  (e.g.,  in  charts,  graphs,  photographs,  videos,  or  maps)  with  other  information  in  print  and  digital  texts.  WHST.  6-­‐8.2-­‐  Write  informative/explanatory  texts,  including  the  narration  of  historical  events,  scientific  procedures/  experiments,  or  technical  processes.  WHST.  6-­‐8.4-­‐  Produce  clear  and  coherent  writing  in  which  the  development,  organization,  and  style  are  appropriate  to  task,  purpose,  and  audience.  WHST.  6-­‐8.9-­‐  Draw  evidence  from  informational  texts  to  support  analysis,  reflection,  and  research.  

 

   

 1. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Document 1

To be sure that future generations would have educated ministers, communities established town schools. In

1647 the General Court of Massachusetts issued an order that a school be founded in every township of 50

families.

Schoolchildren often used the New England Primer, which had characters and stories from the Bible. They

learned to read at the same time that they learned about the community’s religious values.

The availability of schooling varied in the colonies. There were more schools in New England than in the

other colonies where most children lived far from towns. These children had to be taught by their parents or by

private tutors. Most colonial children stopped their education after the elementary grades. Many went to work,

either on their family farm or away from home.

Source: Holt McDougal

2. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Document 2

Context:    English  colonists  in  North  America  faced  a  challenging  life.  They  had  carved  towns  and  villages  out  of  the  wilderness.  Only  a  few  roads  linked  these  communities.  People  usually  traveled  on  horseback  or  by  wagon.  They  faced  bad  weather,  raging  rivers,  and  wild  animals.  In  1704  Mrs.  Knight  traveled  from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  to  New  York  City,  New  York.  It  took  her  two  weeks  to  make  this  trip.  The  same  trip  today  takes  only  a  few  hours.    

3. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Document  3    

  I  got  up  very  early,  in  order  to  hire  somebody  to  go  with  me  to  New  Haven,  being  in  great  perplexity  at  the  thought  of  proceeding  alone;  which  my  most  hospitable  entertainer  observing,  himself  went,  and  soon  returned  with  a  young  gentleman  of  the  town,  who  he  could  confide  in  to  go  with  me;  and  about  eight  this  morning,  with  Mr.  Joshua  Wheeler  my  new  guide,  taking  leave  of  this  worthy  gentleman,  we  advanced  towards  Seabrook.  The  roads  all  along  this  way  are  very  bad,  encumbered  with  rocks  and  mountainous  passages,  which  were  very  disagreeable  to  my  tired  carcass;  But  we  went  on  with  a  moderate  pace  which  made  the  journey  more  pleasant.  But  after  about  eight  miles  riding,  in  going  over  a  bridge  under  which  the  river  run  very  swift,  my  horse  stumbled,  and  very  narrowly  escaped  falling  over  into  the  water;  which  extremely  frightened  me.  But  through  God’s  goodness  I  met  with  no  harm,  and  mounting  again,  in  about  half  a  mile’s  riding,  come  to  an  ordinary,  were  well  entertained  by  a  woman  of  about  seventy.  .  .  From  hence  we  went  pretty  briskly  forward,  and  arrived  at  Saybrook  ferry  about  two  of  the  afternoon;  and  crossing  it,  we  called  at  an  inn  to  bait  (foreseeing  we  should  not  have  such  another  opportunity  ‘til  we  come  to  Killingsworth).  

 Source:  Holt,  Rinehart  &  Wisnton    

 

4. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Document 4

PEOPLE  AND  POLITICS  IN  THE  COLONIES  

In  colonial  society,  white  men  had  far  more  freedom  than  their  wives,  daughters,  or  sisters.  Women  

had  few  opportunities  for  education  and  could  not  enter  most  fields  of  work.  When  women  became  

wives  they  lost  many  of  the  rights  we  take  for  granted  today.  They  could  not  sue  or  be  sued,  keep  

the  money  they  earned,  or  purchase  or  sell  property.  They  were  considered  dependents  of  their  

husbands.  Married  or  single,  women  could  not  vote  or  participate  in  colonial  government.  

Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute

Context:  The  Maryland  Toleration  Act,  also  known  as  the  Act  Concerning  Religion,  was  a  law  requiring  religious  tolerance  for  Christians.  Passed  on  April  21,  1649  by  the  assembly  of  the  Maryland  colony,  in  St.  Mary's  City.  

 1. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Document 5 Maryland Act of Toleration I….only propose this case; There goes many a ship to sea, with many hundred souls in one

ship, which is a true picture of a commonwealth…..It hath fallen out some times, that both

Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Turks, may be embarked in one ship; upon which

supposal, I affirm….. that none of the Catholics, Protestants, Jews or Turks be forced to come

to the ship’s prayers or worship or compelled from their own particular prayers or worship.

 1. Based  on  the  document  above,  how  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    2.  What  evidence  did  you  use  from  the  document,  context  and/or  source  to  make  your  claim?  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Document 6

Part 1 continued

Directions: Use the space below to write a sentence in response to the Inquiry Question that captures your main

argument or thesis. You may use this sentence along with the document integration table to help you to organize the

essay you will write in Part II.

INQUIRY QUESTION: How  was  life  in  the  English  colonies?

Argument : __________________________________________________________________________

Part II

Writing a Historical Argument Essay

Inquiry Question

How was life in the English colonies?

Directions: Using evidence from the documents as well as the background, context and source information

provided in the task, and any relevant historical knowledge you already have, you will not write an argument essay.

Be sure your essay directly answers the inquiry question. You may also refer to the Sample outline to help you

organize your argument essay.

GUIDELINES

In your essay, be sure to:

● Provide a thorough response to the Task. Answer all parts of the assignment.

● Include specific information from at least four of the sources in Part A.

● Incorporate relevant information from your textbook and class work.

● Support your statements with facts and information that address the topic.

● Write a conclusion that sums up your ideas.

● Write ALL your body paragraphs in MEAL format

Note: Do not simply restate the Task or Historical Context. Your essay should include more information.

Sample Outline:

Introduction ● Provide background for the reader ● Clearly state your argument in response to the Inquiry Question

Presentation ● Clearly state claim(s) and opposing claim(s) ● Provide supporting evidence and include document citations ● Use reasoning to explain how your evidence supports your claims

Conclusion ● Provide a concluding statement or section that supports your argument