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Native American-European Contact in Colonial Times
Native American-European Contact is a cross-curricular lesson plan that explores the nature of the first encounters between Native Americans and Europeans in colonial Pennsylvania. Drawing on the concept of worldview, students learn to think critically about the cultural differences between Europeans and Native Americans, and how those differences shaped interaction and potential misunderstandings between the groups as they negotiated trade and diplomatic relationships.
Topics
17th century
18th century
Colonial period
Native American
Big Ideas
Historical Context
Pennsylvania History
Essential Questions
How has social disagreement and collaboration been beneficial to Pennsylvania society?
What role does analysis have in historical construction?
Concepts
Textual evidence, material artifacts, the built environment, and historic sites are central to understanding the history of Pennsylvania.
Conflict and cooperation among social groups, organizations, and nation-states are critical to comprehending society in the Pennsylvania. Domestic instability, ethnic and racial relations, labor relation, immigration, and wars and revolutions are examples of social disagreement and collaboration.
Artists often address social issues or concerns in their artwork.
People use analytic processes to understand and evaluate works of art.
Competencies
Summarize how conflict and compromise in Pennsylvania history impact contemporary society.
Analyze and interpret the work of a contemporary artist who addresses social issues or concerns.
Background Material for Teacher
Barre Toelken, “Cultural Worldview.” Dynamics of Folklore(revised and expanded edition), Logan: Utah State University Press, 1996.
The significance of wampum to seventeenth century Indians in New England. By Lois Scozzari. Originally published inThe Connecticut Review.
Jane T. Merritt, “Quakers and the Language of Indian Diplomacy," in At the Crossroads: Indians and Empires on a Mid-Atlantic Frontier, 1700-1763. Copyright (c) 2003 The University of North Carolina Press, pps. 210-218. Used by permission of the publisher.
Karim M. Tiro, "'Introduction to Words and Deeds: Native, Europeans, and Writing in Eastern North America, 1500-1850'"
Native American Religion in Early America.Christine Leigh Heyrman. Teacher Serve, National Humanities Center.
End of Unit Assessment
Have students create a presentation or write an essay comparing and contrasting how artwork and literature depict the relationships between the Native Americans and Colonists. Students should use the engravings and pictures from the unit as well as the letters and journals.
Links
William Penn to the Kings of the Indians in Pennsylvania, October 18, 1681
Deed between William Penn and the Delaware Indians, July 15-August 1, 1682
#43
Plans in this Unit
Imaging and Imagining Encounter between Europeans and Native Americans
Worldviews in Action: Diplomacy
Grade Level
High School
Standards/Eligible Content
8.1.12.B
8.1.12.C
8.2.12.B
8.2.12.D
9.2.12.D
9.3.12.A
PA Core Standards
CC.8.5.11-12.G CC.8.6.11-12.A
Funder
This unit plan was created with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Lindback Foundation, the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, William Penn Foundation, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.
About the Author
This unit was created by Kathryn Wilson. Updated for SAS by Elizabeth Fox and Kendl Hommel, Education Interns, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
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William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania
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