Teacher's Guide for Cobblestone: Famous Dates

MAY 14, 1607: DROPPING ANCHOR: THE SETTLING OF JAMESTOWN (page 5)

1. Why does the author of this article believe that the settling of Jamestown was one of the most important events in American history?
2. Why did the Virginia Company of London want to start a colony in the New World?
3. When did settlers arrive at Jamestown Island to establish the new settlement?
4. What tribe of Native Americans did they encounter?
5. Why was Jamestown Island chosen for the settlement?
6. Why were the settlers unable to grow much food for themselves?
7. Why was Captain John Smith chosen to establish trade with the Indians?
8. Describe the problems the settlement faced during the period called the "starving time."
9. What unsuccessful industries did the colonists try to develop during the first two years?
10. Who introduced tobacco to Jamestown?
11. What was the Virginia Company forced to do to pay its investors?
12. When did the first legislative assembly meet in Jamestown?
13. Under what terms were the first African Americans brought to Virginia? When was slavery as an institution legalized?
14. Why did Opechancanough go to war with the settlers? How many English died in the initial uprising? How long did the war last?
15. At the end of the war, what did the settlers force on the Native Americans?

1. Why couldn't Congress enforce any of its decisions under the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union?
2. What was the purpose of the Annapolis Convention? What suggestion did Alexander Hamilton and James Madison make?
3. How many representatives attended the convention held in Philadelphia? Why did Patrick Henry refuse to attend?
4. Who was chosen to preside over the convention? When did the Constitutional Convention officially begin?
5. What were the provisions of the Virginia Plan? How did it differ from the New Jersey Plan?
6. How were the basic ideas of both plans combined in what was known as the Great Compromise?
7. When was the U.S. Constitution adopted by the convention? What rules does it provide? Why are the provisions for separation of powers important?
8. What had to happen before the Constitution could be ratified?
9. Following ratification of the Constitution, who became the first president of the United States?

1. Where was the first Women's Rights Convention held?
2. After what document was the Declaration of Sentiments modeled? With what were men charged, and what rights did it state women had been denied?
3. How many resolutions did the convention adopt on its second day? What was the content of the third and ninth resolutions? Because the third was adopted unanimously, do you find it unusual that the ninth barely passed? Why or why not?
4. What was the general reaction of the nation to the convention? What two newspapers offered some support?
5. How long was it between this convention and the creation of a national organization? How many years passed until the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote?
6. When did the National Women's Hall of Fame open? Where is it located? Who are some of the famous women featured?
7. This article also mentions lesser-known women featured in the National Women's Hall of Fame. Research one of these women and write a brief report on her.

1. Why is the author convinced that the "new history" about the Emancipation Proclamation is wrong?
2. Why did many white Americans complain that it changed the goal of the Civil War?
3. What is the complaint of many African Americans today?
4. Why do some people believe that the Emancipation Proclamation offered too little, too late?
5. Why did President Abraham Lincoln wait nearly two years into the Civil War to issue the Emancipation Proclamation?
6. Why did he have the authority to free the slaves in the Confederacy but not everywhere in the United States?
7. To continue the work of freeing the slaves, Lincoln encouraged the passage of what amendment to the Constitution?

This is an excellent opportunity to create a time line of events in your own life.

1. Describe the defenses that German general Erwin Rommel helped develop to prevent the Allied invasion of Europe.
2. Why did the Germans believe that the attack would occur near Calais, France?
3. How many soldiers were sent against the Normandy coast in Operation Overlord?
4. What two things did U.S. general Dwight D. Eisenhower hope would be on his side?
5. Briefly describe the D-day invasion of "Utah," "Juno," "Gold," and "Sword" beaches.
6. Describe the Allied landing on "Omaha" beach. Why was the German resistance more successful there than on the other beaches?
7. Despite the confusion and savage fire, how far back had the Americans driven the Germans at Omaha beach by nightfall?
8. How many Allied men and vehicles were sent against Hitler's defenses within two weeks of D-day?
9. What French city had been recaptured by late August?

1. The 1955 - 56 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott revealed what two things about Martin Luther King, Jr., that helped bring about change?
2. What principles did King want to put into practice to help African Americans win their rights?
3. Why were ministers in the forefront of the civil rights movement?
4. What world event helped make the time right for the civil rights movement?
5. How do you think African Americans who had fought in World War II felt when they came back to America and were discriminated against?
6. What change did President Harry Truman introduce?
7. What was established by the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education?
8. What role did television play in encouraging change?
9. What acts passed by Congress furthered the cause of civil rights?
10. What was King's position on the Vietnam War?

1. Describe the Apollo 11/Saturn V space vehicle. Who were the crew members?
2. What did Armstrong say to let Houston know that they had landed? Where had they landed?
3. Who was the first person to step onto the moon? What famous statement did he make? How did he describe his surroundings?
4. What did the plaque placed on the moon say?
5. Why do you think these early astronauts were placed in quarantine when they returned?
6. Assume that Apollo 11 could have carried four instead of three and that you went along as one of the crew. Write diary entries to describe your experiences on the journey. How do you think it would have felt to be among the first people to walk on the moon?

In the library, find information on one of the protest demonstrations organized and led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Write an essay describing the demonstration.

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Updated: 6/18/13 06:45 pm
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