By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify regions where the English, French, and Dutch explored and established settlementsDescribe the differences among the early coloniesExplain the role of the American colonies in European nations’ struggles for domination

How do you create a successful colony in the New World? Well, you gotta have faith, Puritan faith.

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize the many contributions the first Americans have made to this country. It’s also a good time to take a critical look at some popular myths about the first interactions between the European pilgrims and the Native American peoples they found living in the “new world.”

On Thursday, people across the country will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The lesson plan that follows explores historical facts, myths and perspectives about Thanksgiving Day, including both the happiness and the sorrow associated with this tradition.

 U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.Senior Contributing AuthorsP. Scott Corbett, Ventura CollegeVolker Janssen, California State University, FullertonJohn M. Lund, Keene State CollegeTodd Pfannestiel, Clarion UniversityPaul Vickery, Oral Roberts UniversitySylvie Waskiewicz

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify regions where the English, French, and Dutch explored and established settlementsDescribe the differences among the early coloniesExplain the role of the American colonies in European nations’ struggles for domination

In which John Green teaches you about the (English) colonies in what is now the United States. He covers the first permanent English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the various theocracies in Massachusetts, the feudal kingdom in Maryland, and even a bit about the spooky lost colony at Roanoke Island. What were the English doing in America, anyway? Lots of stuff. In Virginia, the colonists were largely there to make money. In Maryland, the idea was to create a colony for Catholics who wanted to be serfs of the Lords Baltimore. In Massachusetts, the Pilgrims and Puritans came to America to find a place where they could freely persecute those who didn't share their beliefs. But there was a healthy profit motive in Massachusetts as well. Profits were thin at first, and so were the colonists. Trouble growing food and trouble with the Natives kept the early colonies from success. Before long though, the colonists started cultivating tobacco, which was a win for everyone involved if you ignore the lung cancer angle. So kick back, light up a smoke, and learn how America became profitable. DON'T SMOKE, THOUGH! THAT WAS A JOKE!

Chapters:
Introduction
Jamestown, Virginia: The First Successful English Colony
The Headright System, Indentured Servants, and Slavery in Jamestown
Tobacco Plantations in the Virginia Colony
Class Structure in the Virginia Colony
The Maryland Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony
Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and the First Thanksgiving
Governance in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Mystery Document
"City on a Hill"
Equality and Representation in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Credits