Founding a Colony 1 The year is 1650 AD. You are about to leave on a three-month ocean voyage to the New World where you will begin a new life. There are 20 people in your group. Having never been to this part of the world, you will have to rely on reports of earlier explorers. In these reports to the King and Queen is listed information about: the Native Indians, the weather, the landforms, the natural resources, and if the land has been claimed by another country. This information should be useful to you, as it will help you best decide where to begin your new life. There were three primary reasons colonies were established. First, governments wanted to increase their power and wealth. The stories of unbelievable wealth and lands of paradise stimulated nations to form colonies. Second, businessmen saw colonies as a new source of wealth and power. They would pool their resources, start a new company, and set off to colonize their own part of the New World. Finally, certain people who had either religious or political beliefs that were not popular with the existing government formed groups that fled to the New World in search of personal freedom. I am a member of a colony. Our colony will be named. We are from: 1. Name three explorers who have been to the New World ahead of you. Include the dates and area they explored. Describe what they found on their explorations. This information will be useful to you so you can make the best choice for where to begin your colony. Use this link (http://www.bookunitsteacher.com/explorers/explorers.htm) to see a list of explorers you can research.
2. Where are you going to establish your colony? What area of the thirteen colonies? Give an explanation for your choice. 2 Setting up a Colony When colonists set sail for the New World, they were totally responsible for their own survival. In the wilderness there were no stores, factories or workshops available. Supply ships arrived only occasionally, after sailing for many months, with no guarantee that the cargo included needed items. Therefore, the colonists tried to plan carefully. They either carried with them everything they needed, or took the tools and supplies necessary to make or build everything they needed. Sailing ships in the 16th and 17th centuries were very small. When selecting cargo, colonists were forced to select items very carefully. The colonists took basic farm and household tools, furniture, seeds to plant, farm and draft animals, food to eat until crops could mature, cloth and their ingenuity and creativity. The following is a list of items that would have been available for colonists to take with them to the new world: 3. Choose three items from each category that your group thinks will help you survive. Be sure to explain after each item WHY your group chose that item.
Colonists Who Will You Choose? 3 Settlers came to the New World colonies for many different reasons: some sought to escape adverse living conditions some sought freedom to practice their religious faith some sought to gain wealth some sought adventure and a new life 4. Many people wanted the opportunity to begin a new life in the New World, but you can only select 20 people. Name four personal qualities your group would look for in selecting members to join your colony. Justify your choices. 5. Now list eight survival skills necessary for success in the wilderness. Explain your choices.
Colonial Rules 4 The colonists at Jamestown were starving and nearly all dead. There were very few rules that had been established for the colony, so John Smith took control and made one important rule those who do not work will not eat. When the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth eleven years later, they wanted to make sure they had a firm set of rules in place before even getting off the ship. These rules were called the Mayflower Compact. 6. As a group, examine the Mayflower Compact. Whose rights did the Mayflower Compact protect? 7. Write a list of rules that colonists must obey. Have at least 5. Colonial Location The Pilgrims had the goal of settling near Jamestown, but a storm blew them off course and they landed much further north in what is now Massachusetts. Colonists often had to decide what land was most suitable for settling on. Attached is a map of the area where your boat lands. There are a variety of geographical landforms with certain sites labeled by letters. 8. On the following page, choose which site you think would best serve the people of your colony. Explain why you picked that location. Place a circle around this area on the map.
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Colonial Expansion 6 Colonies often expanded after they were established. Colonists had to decide the means by which they would get more land for their colony. They had to decide whether they would trade for more land or whether they would attempt to take land by force. 9. Which method does your group think is more logical for expanding your colony? Write a oneparagraph action plan that your group comes up with for expanding your colony. Be specific in your planning. Colonial Flag A flag symbolizes the identity of a place. Each of the early colonies flew its own distinct and symbolic flag. The flag of the Virginia colony was quite different from the flags of New Hampshire or Pennsylvania. When the colonies joined together, they experimented with several flag designs before decided to adopt the version very similar to the flag we fly today for our country. Your colony needs a flag, a symbol of who you are and what you believe. With your fellow colonists, discuss what symbols could be placed on your colony s flag. You might design several flags before settling on your final idea. Be original and imaginative in your design. After you have a final design, your colony must choose an artist to draw your flag design on paper provided. 10. Use the space below to brainstorm and sketch ideas for your colony s flag before having the colony artist draw the final copy.
Colonial Advertisement 7 Now that you have all aspects of your colony planned, your group will need to create an advertisement to attract new settlers to your colony. This advertisement should include information from all ten questions of this simulation packet (i.e. location, rules, desired qualities for settlers, etc.) Your advertisement can be a trifold illustrated brochure (see below) or a 2-minute television commercial. ORIGIN OF COLONY (p. 1 & 3) Where did the colonists come from? What country? Why did you come here? How did you get here? LOCATION (p. 2 & 5) Where is the colony located? Type of land Map of the area SETTLERS WANTED (p. 3) What kinds of jobs are available? It must make sense with the area. What skills are needed? LAW OF THE LAND (p. 4) The rules for your colony IMAGES (Hand drawn or printed) Pictures of what your colony looks like/would look like. COVER PAGE Name of colony Flag Slogan TV Commercial: You must create a script, which you will submit. You must record the commercial, and it will be played for your peers. It must include information from your packet. The purpose of the commercial is to persuade others to move to your colony. Be creative! Include effects, props, and music. You will also turn in this packet with your advertisement to receive credit for your simulation work done in class. Due date for colonial advertisement and colonial packet: