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Why the English Wanted To Colonize |
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Why the English Wanted To Colonize |
SET:
OBJECTIVES:
1. Orally explain reasons why the English wanted to colonize.
RATIONALE: Learning about English colonization of the Americas is important because it will help students understand the motivations to establish a colony in the new world. Colonizing was not new to the English because they first colonized Ireland in the late 1500's. England wanted to colonize the New World to block Spains attempt to become stronger. England and Spains are the most powerful countries in Europe and the country that could acquire the most land would increase their power. Moreover, because of the problems such as not being able to worship freely many English wanted to colonize for the chance to have more opportunities.
INVOLVEMENT OF LEARNERS: How many of you have ever lived in another city, state, country, or part of town? What were the reasons why you moved to another location?
TRANSITION: Explain to students that in many ways the settlers were risk-takers and were in search of better opportunities for themselves and their families. I will ask students to think about why people made this journey?
EXPLANATION:
1. Pass out worksheets with a blank chart. This chart is divided into two columns. First column is labeled "Why the Colonist came to America", and will contain in a listed format the following (economic reasons, religious reasons, and land ownership). The second column will contain the relevant facts why the English wanted to colonize.
2. Draw a chart on the board that is identical to the worksheets. Write "economic reasons" at the top of the column on the left.
3. Tell the students that in England during the time of colonization it was very hard for the Englishmen to find a job. Ask students since America did not have that many people what kind of jobs could they do?
4. Explain to students that many settlers earned a living by becoming farmers, hunters, and businessmen.
5. Write farmer, hunter, and businessmen on the board in the second column labeled "relevant facts" beside "economic reasons".
6. Write "religious reasons" in the column on the left below "economic reasons".
7. Tell students that many settlers came to the New World because of the chance to worship freely (i.e. pilgrims). Also settlers came to America to escape religious persecutions like the Puritans, Quakers, Roman, Catholics, Huguenots, and Jews. Put this in the chart on the board and tell the students to place it in there chart too. Ask the students do they know what religious persecution means. Tell them that it means these people were suffering or treated unfairly because they did not worship a certain way (i.e. The Church of England).
8. Write "land ownership" in the left hand column under "religious reasons". Have students do the same on their charts.
9. Tell students that land was very hard to obtain in England by most Englishmen because it was really expensive.
10. List in the right column of the chart at the bottom (beside land ownership). Settlers were given free land and land at a low cost. Land gave settlers feelings of independence. Land made one have status (i.e. freeholder) which had certain rights in the community, generally voting.
11. Go over list with students to make sure they have the chart filled correctly.
ACTIVITIES:
Give students large white pieces of construction paper, crayon, and markers. Have students draw advertisements which would make the English want to move to the New World. Remind students to use their chart as a reference.
CLOSURE:
Ask students what were some of the reasons that made the English want to colonize. Also ask students to give specific reasons why they feel as though the English would find colonizing beneficial.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bragdon, McCutchen, and Ritchie History of a Free Nation New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1996.
This book was compiled as an aid to teachers to help their students in enhancing their knowledge in historical studies. Students will have the opportunity to learn about "The New World in Transition, Prehistory to 1500's" to "Toward a New Century, 1992-Present. This book was designed to give students an overview of critical and defining moments in our world's history.
Hakim The History of the US., the First Americans New York: Oxford
University Press, 1993.
Hakim's first book gives readers an in-depth look into numerous influential groups of people throughout history. The major themes of Hakim's book one focuses on the importance of history, the importance of the New World, and the lifestyles and the ways of the the people of that world. The general purpose of this book is to show how the various influential groups became Americans.
This page was last updated on and is maintained by the UVA's Program in Social Studies Education.
URL for this page: http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu.