A.P. U.S. History – Summer Assignment
Textbook Assignment- Chapters 1-3
Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper for each chapter. Your answers must be hand written. For
identification and definition questions you need to write a brief definition of the person/event and describe their
historical significance. If the term is only briefly mentioned in the chapter, then a one sentence description should be
sufficient. If a historical term gets significant attention in a chapter, then your definition should reflect the greater
details. A longer definition should still be succinct and kept to one paragraph. For longer definitions it is okay to use
sentence fragments or bullet points (otherwise your definitions for some of the people might become mini essays). The
terms are not completely in order with the text. This will require you to read the chapter instead of skimming the
chapter.
ALL CHAPTERS ARE DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
AND STUDENTS SHOULD EXPECT A QUIZ on Chapter 1.
Chapter 1- New World Beginnings
Identify and state the historical significance of the following:
1. Marco Polo
5. Montezuma (Moctezuma)
2. Francisco Pizzarro
6. Christopher Columbus
3. Juan Ponce de Leon
7. Hernan Cortes
4. Hernando de Soto
8. Francisco Coronado
Define and state the historical significance of the following:
9. Aztecs
13. mestizos
10. Mound Builders
14. black legend
11. “three sisters” farming
15. Treaty of Tordesillas
12. conquistadores
16. Pope’s Rebellion
Short Answer Questions: These are not essays but they should be written using full
paragraphs/sentences.
17. One year before Columbus arrived(1491), Native Americans inhabited diverse regions of North
America. Using your book and internet resources, choose THREE of the following Native American
groups and write a brief response about how they interacted with the environment and how they
were unique compared to other regions of North America:
Chinook (northwest),
Pueblo (southwest),
Great Plains Tribes (midwest),
Miwok(California),
Iroquois (northeast),
Algonquin(northeast)
18. The Columbian exchange greatly influenced societies on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
(a) List at least one positive product/good that went in each direction of the exchange.
(b) List at least one negative product/good/disease that travelled in each direction.
(c)In your opinion, did Europe or the Americas benefit the most from the Columbian exchange (be
sure to include one or two specific reasons why you believe one side received the advantage in the
exchange)?
Chapter 2- The Planting of English America
Identify and state the historical significance of the following:
1. Spanish Armada (sinking)
2. Walter Raleigh
3. Virginia Company (joint
stock company)
4. starving time (Jamestown)
5. John Smith
6. Powhatan
7. Pocahontas
8. John Rolfe
9. Virginia House of Burgesses
10. Lord De La Warr
11. Lord Baltimore
12. James Oglethorpe
13. Maryland Act of Toleration
14. Barbados slave code
15. Iroquois Confederacy
Short Answer Question
16. Many individuals played a major role in the survival and success of Jamestown. Among these
notable individuals are: John Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe.
(a) Which person do you believe had the greatest impact on the long term success of Virginia (be sure
and include at least two reasons why this was the most important person).
(b) Briefly explain why one of the other persons listed is not as instrumental in the long term success
of Virginia.
Chapter 3- Settling the Northern Colonies, 1619-1700
Identify and state the historical significance of the following:
1. HENRY HUDSON
8. ROGER WILLIAMS
2. WILLIAM BRADFORD
9. ANNE HUTCHINSON
3. MILES STANDISH
10. PETER STUYVESANT
4. SQUANTO
11. KING PHILIP (METACOM)
5. MASSASOIT
12. SIR EDMUND ANDROS
6. JOHN WINTHROP
13. THOMAS HOOKER
7. JOHN COTTON
14. WILLIAM PENN
Define and state the historical significance of the following:
15. Puritans
16. Great Migration
17. Dutch West India Company
18. Mayflower Compact
19. Pequot War
AP U.S. History Summer Assignment
TEXT
The text assignment is the only mandatory work for the summer. Students may wait until they pick up their books at
SOAR or may use other references to define the terms. The textbook is not simple reading. In my experience, students who are
able to understand the text and connect the events from one chapter to another are the students who are very prepared to take the
Advanced Placement test in May.
- I have included the term sheets for the first three chapters of the book.
- Textbooks will be available at SOAR or if you would like an early start they will be available to pick up after school gets out
from 8:30 to 3:00 in the bookroom.
- If you want to start working on the terms before you get the textbook you are welcome to use encyclopedias/the internet/other
history books.
Chapter 1-3 are due on the first day. Expect a quiz on chapter one. Quizzes on chapters 2 & 3 will be later in the week.
Suggested Summer Work:
The text is the only required assignment for the summer, but students can never be too prepared for the
themes and information that will be covered in class. The following movies and books fit in very well with
major topics that will be covered in class during the first semester. There is no assignment or written work
involved. I would simply like to recommend some viewing or reading options for you during your time off.
MOVIES
The following movies show Hollywood’s take on specific events or themes in U.S. History. We will not have time to watch
many complete movies in class but I will refer to some of these movies throughout the year. If you have time, pick up a few of
these movies from the rental store to watch.
All “R” rated films are on the Modesto City Schools approved list.
Category #1
Category #2
Wars- French & Indian, Civil,
Labor, Immigration, Society and
Plains Indian and Cowboy
Government
Last of the Mohicans
Matewan
Glory
Norma Rae
Gods & Generals
Age of Innocence
Shane
Modern Times
Dances with Wolves
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Little Big Man
Far and Away
My personal favorites from the list include:
Last of the Mohicans- based upon one of the most famous novels about the French and Indian War.
Glory- about the first African American combat regiment during the Civil War
Dances With Wolves- An American officer’s experience with the Native American Culture on the Great Plains (watch
the director’s cut four hour version if you really want the full story).
Far and Away- follows the story of two immigrants from Ireland
Suggested Outside Reading:
The following four books are ones that I would highly recommend to students who want to further
their understanding of U.S. History.
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Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle
Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot