FACT: Each of the five main countries involved with colonizing the New World had different strengths and weaknesses associated with them.  Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and England all were able to capitalize on these characteristics in pursuit of North American wealth.  Obviously we know the end of the story…England was able to dominate enough of North America to be able to wrestle away the majority of the resources from the other countries.

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 3 QUESTIONS IN ONE MAIN POST USING AT LEAST 200 WORDS.

QUESTION #1: What specifically did England do well that these other countries did not?

QUESTION #2: What political, economic, and social reasons allowed the other countries to compete for New World resources?

QUESTION #3: Is it a given that England was going to “win” the battle for the New World, or could history have turned out differently?

• EXAMPLE: England chose to focus on making colonies good for families, and not just on crops and slaves. The French were really good at mapping out which Native tribes lived where. Italy could have done better with colonizing if they had put their government behind their own explorers.  (Then expand on your reasons until you reach at least 200 words.)

STEP 2: PICK 2 CLASSMATES TO WHOM YOU WILL LEAVE RESPONSE POSTS USING THE SANDWICH FORMAT (EXPLAINED BELOW).  RESPOND TO EACH CLASSMATE WITH A MINIMUM OF 75 WORDS PER RESPONSE.

(AGAIN, each of you are required to make a total of THREE posts…ONE main post at least 200 words long, and TWO additional posts of at least 75 words each responding to two of your classmates.)

• Remember that the word count for your Main Post must be at least 200 words.
• Remember that your word count for the responses is at least 75 words per post.  Also, remember the three-part “sandwich” format:

1. Start with a compliment to the classmate who left the Main Post
2. Add in some new facts/observations of your own
3. End with a question or two back to the original classmate