Stono Rebellion + Bacon's Rebellion: Colonial Strife

One thing not to be missed during the colonial era of America is the mixture of three distinct cultures: Europeans, Native Americans and Africans. Two of those groups, natives and Africans, did not ask or volunteer to "learn to live with" the other groups. Africans were forced to North America as slaves and natives were essentially invaded by the Europeans.

So, it should be no surprise that conflict arose in the colonies. Two of the most famous examples of colonial conflict, in the Southern colonies at least, were Bacon's Rebellion and the Stono Rebellion.

For this week, visit these two websites for Bacon's Rebellion (one and two) and these two sites for the Stono Rebellion (one and two). In the comments section, list TEN FACTS FOR EACH rebellion. Then discuss your thoughts on ONE of the rebellions from this week. What did you learn that you did not know before this week?

Indentured Servants: Enslaving Yourself (For Only A Few Years)

Many, many Europeans came to the thirteen colonies on the Atlantic Coast of North America during the 17th and 18th centuries. People came for all sorts of reasons: adventure, gold, glory, God etc.

One of the most fascinating methods of obtaining passage to the colonies was indentured servitude. Rather than tell you what that means, I've got three websites for you: one, two and three. The third link is particularly interesting because it is a firsthand account of the mistreatment of indentured servants.

For the comment section, please explain what indentured servitude was AND decide whether or not you would have become an indentured servant for the chance to come to the colonies.

Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca: Lost in the "New World"

One of the more interesting, but often overlooked, Spanish conquistador stories is that of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca. He and his men landed in Florida (Tampa Bay), wandered throughout Texas and eventually found fellow Spaniards years later in Mexico. All the while, their numbers dwindled from disease and the harsh conditions.

Read this article, this article and watch this video to get a more complete picture of this story. In the comments section, pretend you are De Vaca after finally finding fellow Spaniards after years of wandering. Write a letter home to your family describing the "New World" and your adventures. Be sure to use actual details from his story.

Magellan: The First Man (well, his crew actually) to Circumnavigate The Globe

We begin cracking the code of exactly how "America", as we know it, came to be. It starts with curiosity! And greed! And adventure! And greed! And better sailing ships! And greed!

Ferdinand Magellan, from Portugal, was the first man to circumnavigate the globe. Technically...he didn't make it the whole way, but you'll read about that later.

He may not have influenced America as much as Ponce de Leon, Columbus and De Soto, but Magellan certainly played a role in the expansion of navigational technology. His bravery and tenacity perfectly blended with the Age of Exploration he is now known for today.

For this week, read this website, this website and watch this video. In the comments section, touch on these three topics:
1) What hardships did Magellan face in his lifetime?
2) What impressed you about his (and his crews') journey?
3) What is Magellan's legacy?