Kristen Wooten

Film Guide

HST 481

Background

America The Story of Us is a History Channel miniseries that covers America’s birth

story from early settlements in 1607 to the 2000’s. This exciting film was released in 2010 and

had its debut on April 25th. There are twelve episodes in the series all ranging from 43 minutes to

an hour. I have chosen the very first episode of this series, Rebels, to coincide with teaching the

“Road to Revolution” unit in class. I would use this episode to kick off teaching about the 13

Colonies because it lays a foundation for students who are not familiar with Americas split from

England. I particularly like this episode because it highlights the struggles settlers faced in their

journey to America and its settlement. This episode covers the toils early settlers faced after

arriving, and their first run ins with the native people. It explores Jamestown and Plymouth and

their unique battles with the elements and resources, along with their eventual successes that

came with tobacco farming. The film then travels to early Boston and the power struggle

between colonists and the British. It analyzes the effects of Paul Revere’s depiction of the Boston

Massacre and follows colonial unrest up to the battles of Lexington and Concord- where episode

two picks up. This film helps viewers understand the distance and tension colonists felt toward

England and investigates the widespread tensions and eventual rebelliousness of the colonies.

Citation:

America The Story of Us: Rebels [Motion Picture]. (2010). History Channel.
Az Content standards:

 8.SP2.1 Analyze multiple factors that influence the perspectives of people during

different historical eras.

 8.SP2.2 Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time

 8.C2.1 Analyze the powers of citizens in a variety of governmental and non-

governmental contexts.

Introduction to students:

In the next few weeks we will be learning about America’s birth story; when and how our

great nation became its own country. We will begin each new section of this unit with an episode

from the History Channel miniseries America The Story of Us. Today, we will be watching the

first episode in the series that explores the first two settlements in America, who was there and

what happened to them. There may be a few names you recognize, but let’s see if the story you

grew up hearing matches the one from history. I will be handing out a film guide that has some

questions to fill in as the episode plays. All the questions are in order and the first one comes

right after the intro, so be ready! I will give you a few minutes to look over the questions while I

set up the episode, and I would like for you to be thinking about how different life would be as a

person trying to settle in a foreign land. Try to understand these events through the eyes of the

people who really lived through them, let’s get started.

 America The Story of Us – Episode One – Rebels
Length: 43:57
During Questions:
Jamestown

1. How long after Christopher Columbus do the shiploads of true believers and businessmen
arrive to America?
May 1610, 120 years after Columbus.
2. How many people does Jon Rolfe find at Jamestown? What is this time called?
60 out of the 500. The Starving Time.
3. How many of the Powhatan people are surrounding Jamestown?
Twenty Thousand
4. What did John Rolfe come to plant?
Tobacco
5. Who does John Rolfe marry?
Pocahontas
6. What is America founded on for the next century and a half?
Tobacco

Plymouth

1. What boat do the pilgrims come to America on?

The Mayflower
2. What percent of all Americans can trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower?
10 percent
3. How many of the local people are wiped out by plague?
9 out of 10
4. What do the pilgrims and Pokanoket tribe do on August 14th, 1961?
Launch a surprise attack on the rival tribe
5. Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving?
The pilgrims and the Pokanoket Tribes people who defeated the rival tribe
Boston

1. How many generations removed are the people of Boston from John Rolf?
Seven
2. Boston is one, out of how many colonies?
13
3. Who is the richest man in Boston? What does he own?
John Hancock, Ships that carry wine
4. Why did the colonists not want to pay taxes to England?
They had no representation or “no voice”
5. What fuels the economy in Boston and who is their number one customer?
Timber- England’s
6. How much of Boston’s population is slaves?
10 percent
7. Who are Americas first line of defense against a British attack?
Local militia made up of citizens that volunteer: minutemen

After Questions:

1. What challenges did the settlers in Plymouth and Jamestown face? Do you think they
could have done anything to prepare more adequately?

They faced starvation, threats from surrounding tribes, the struggle to build, illness, the
lack of food and farming capabilities, low numbers of workers, low supplies. They could
have brought more food, tools, available medicine, and animals to help in the beginning
stages of settlement. They could have brought experienced farmers or agriculturists who
could provide them with information about farming and growing in different climates.

2. In what ways is the Disney story of Pocahontas different from History? Why do you
think that is?

The Disney story is very different from history, it is less of a love story and more of a
tragic story. It is more a story about how disease wiped out many native Americans who
were not immune and were taken advantage of by settlers. Many movies come from true
stories, but media can change the message to appeal to whatever audience they are trying
to reach. This is similar to propaganda and teaches the public a false story of real people.
3. Were you surprised that the people of the Pokanoket tribe helped the pilgrims even after
so many of them were wiped out by disease brought by foreigners? Do you think you
would have made the same choice and why?

Yes, after so many of them were killed by foreign diseases I would have thought they
would be wary of trusting and being close to foreigners. But they needed help fending off
another tribe and knew English or White people usually have weapons. They leveraged
their knowledge of the land to fight off their biggest treat at the time. I would have had a
difficult time choosing to help the foreigners who were known to bring death to my
people, but eventually think I would have in order to utilize their weapons and beat the
rival tribe.

4. How could the circumstances have changed if the Pokanoket people decided the pilgrims
were a threat? How could this have changed history?

They could have wiped out the pilgrims due to the number of people in the tribe. The
pilgrims would not have gained the knowledge they needed to successfully grow food
and would have probably died. The legend of Plymouth could have turned from success
to tragedy.

5. The documentary explores the truth behind the phrase “you give me a picture I’ll give
you a war”, how does Paul Revere bring this phrase to life?

He depicts Redcoats shooting down unarmed colonists in his famous engraving “The
Boston Massacre”, this image shows a crowd of people including women and children
being massacred unjustly, though the actual event had only a few deaths. This enrages the
colonists in all thirteen colonies who are seeing the crowns men killing colonists unjustly.

6. The film describes the soldiers as rugged and untrained men, yet we know they
eventually defeat the well-trained British army, what do you think will need to happen
next for the group of minute men to become a victorious army?
I think they will need more training and leadership in order to defeat the well trained and
disciplined British army. They may also need more men and a larger sect of well trained
leaders. (Setting up for next lesson).