Assignment 1

from The Walam Olum, Delaware, pp. 20-25 of Prentice Hall American Experience text

1. List five of the great Manito's creations.

2. What did the evil Manito create?

3. What six troubles did a "mighty magician" bring to the earth?

4. Examine the pictographs carefully. What evidence is there that the "evil Manito" and the "evil being, a mighty magician" might be the same spirit?

Inferring Cultural Values

Creation stories like The Walam Olum reveal the ideals and values of the people who created them. These ideals and values may not be stated directly, but by reading closely, you can infer them.

What can you infer that the Delaware valued from each of the following statements?

5. ". . . all had cheerful knowledge, all had leisure, all thought in gladness."

6. "He gave the fish, he gave the turtles, he gave the beasts, he gave the birds. . . . All beings were then friendly."

Assignment 2

from The Navajo Origin Legend, pp. 26-27

1. What items do the gods place on the ground?

What brings First Man and First Woman to life?

3. What do the gods direct First Man and First Woman to build?

4. Why do the Navaho associate the skin at the tips of the fingers with the trail of the wind?

6. State two ways in which the wind affects the animals or plants living on the earth.

Assignment 3

A. Read "The Earth on Turtle's Back" and Genesis 1-3 (Handout)

B. After completing ALL readings included on this Study Guide so far, do the following exercise on the Cultural Values of Native and European Americans.

Directions: Read each of the statements below, keeping in mind the creation stories you have read and other information you have been given regarding Native Americans and European colonists. Write E beside each of those values associated more with European Americans and N beside each of those values associated more with Native Americans. Note after each statement specific references to the readings that support your choice.

_____There exists a spirit of cooperation between Humans and Nature.

_____There exists a hierarchy of God over Man and Man over Woman.

_____Woman is part of Man.

_____Man is master over Woman.

_____Humans have a kinship with Animals and Nature in general.

_____Women's roles and functions are as important as those of Men.

_____Man owns Nature.

_____Humans should dominate the World.

_____Man must obey God or be punished.

_____Man was created separately from Nature.

_____Man's existence is dependent upon working with other Animals.

_____Man must work constantly to obey God's commands.

_____Knowledge may be Evil.

Assignment 4

from The General History of Virginia by John Smith, pp. 42-48

1. (a) What hardships do the colonists face during their first several months in the New World?

(b) What assistance do they receive?

2. (a) What criticisms does Smith make of the new president and colonist Martin?

(b) What does Smith praise?

3. (a) What happens to Smith during his expedition on the Chickahominy River?

(b) How is he saved from death?

4. What does Smith discover when he returns to Jamestown after his release?

5. What impression of Smith do you get from this account?

6. What seems to be Smith's attitude toward the Native Americans? (Think of the terms he uses to refer to them.)

7. Why does Smith write in the third person, referring to himself as "he" instead of "I"?

Understanding a History

A history is a nonfiction account of events that occurred to a people, nation, institution, or culture. Histories may be either firsthand accounts, written by someone who was involved with the events, or secondhand accounts, written by someone who was not involved in the events. Firsthand accounts, which sometimes lack factual accuracy, tend to be subjective, but they often capture the flavor of the time. For example, while The General History of Virginia conveys a sense of life in the Jamestown settlement, most historians consider Smith's account of his rescue by Pocahontas to be greatly exaggerated.

8. Find two examples in which Smith displays subjectivity in recounting events.

9. List three details that capture the flavor of life in Jamestown.

Assignment 5

from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford, pp. 52-56

1. What hardships do the Pilgrims endure during their trip across the Atlantic?

2. What is the Pilgrims' first act when they are "brought safe to land?"

3. (a) Explain the situation between the sick and the healthy crew members (i.e., the sailors, not the Pilgrims) during the first winter.

(b) How does the crew members' behavior compare to that of the Pilgrims?

(c) What moral point is Bradford making through his descriptions?

4. What are the terms of the peace agreement between the Pilgrims and Native Americans?

5. How would you characterize the Pilgrims' reactions to the hardships they encountered during their first winter in Plymouth?

6. Find two statements by Bradford that convey the Pilgrims' belief that they were being guided and protected by God.

7. (a) What change occurs in Bradford's attitude toward the Native Americans?

(b) How does the Native Americans' attitude toward the Pilgrims change?

(c) Based on Bradford's descriptions, what do you think brought about these changes in attitude?

8. Do you feel that the changing attitudes of the settlers toward the Native Americans and the Native Americans toward the settlers reflect typical experiences with newcomers? Why or why not?