Name: __________________________ Date: ___________

Suchopar Social Studies 7

Document-Based
Question:
English Colonization
 Document Based Question: Thirteen Colonies
This task is based on the documents included in this packet. The task is designed to test your ability to work
with historical documents. As you analyze the documents, take into account both the source of each document
and the author’s point of view.

Directions: Read the documents and answer the scaffolding questions after each document as completely as
possible. Once you have finished the scaffolding questions, read the task and write your essay.

Historical Context: During the 17th and 18th Centuries, England joined other European countries in setting
up colonies in the New World. Between 1607 and 1732, the English established thirteen colonies along the east
coast of North America.

Task:
 Discuss where and why different religious groups settled in the English colonies.
 Describe the economic opportunities available to settlers in the English colonies.

What do we already know about this topic?

 Document 1 Document 2

The edited excerpt below is from William John Winthrop was a Puritan leader who,
Penn’s Charter of Privileges granted to the along with other Puritans from England,
inhabitants of Pennsylvania in 1701. sailed to the New World for religious
freedom. The Puritans established
“Because no People can be truly Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630.
happy…if their Freedom of Thought
is taken away…I do hereby grant and “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the
declare, That no Person inhabiting eyes of all the people are upon us.”
[living] in this Province…shall be
discriminated against…nor will that - John Winthrop, 1630
person be forced to…maintain any
religious Worship…that is against
their own thoughts or against their
religious beliefs.”

1. Explain the historical circumstances (occasion) that led to the formation of Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts Bay (Why were these colonies created?).
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2. For Document 1, explain the speaker’s purpose for writing this document (Why did he create this?
What was he saying).
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_______________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________

3. Who was the intended audience for Document 2? Explain.

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

4. Explain either a similarity OR difference between Documents 1 and 2.

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 Document 3 Document 4

During the period of English colonization, many The map below shows different products and
ships sailed to America. Those who organized and resources throughout the colonies.
financed voyages to America recruited people to join
these expeditions to the New World. Below is a
[modified] English poster, published in 1609,
promoting the colonization of America.

Note:
Fruites =
Rewards

5. Based on Document 3, who might be the intended audience (who might this advertisement be meant
for?)? __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

6. According to the documents, identify ONE way that English settlers in the colonies could earn a living
in:

a. The New England Colonies: _______________________________________

b. The Middle Colonies: ___________________________________________

c. The Southern Colonies: __________________________________________

7. Identify and explain a cause and effect relationship between Documents 3 and 4.
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 DBQ Checklist

Introduction: KEEP IT SIMPLE with 3-4 sentences!

 Sentences 1 and 2: Summarize the historical context IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

 Sentence 3 (and 4, if you wrote two): Your thesis sentence. This should explain what you will
be writing about in your essay. Take the DBQ task and turn it into your ONE SENTENCE
thesis.

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

 NO specific details or documents- save those for the body paragraphs!

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

Body Paragraph 1: Answer FIRST part of task and add in relevant documents
and details!

 Sentence 1: Topic sentence- a simple sentence that explains what the paragraph is about
(use task to help write these).

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 1? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__
Body Paragraph 1 continued: Answer FIRST part of task and add in relevant
documents and details!

 Middle Sentences: Use documents and outside knowledge to answer the task. You need at
least SIX middle sentences. Each paragraph needs at two documents and outside knowledge
for each document.
 EXPLAIN the documents in your own words, and CITE them when you finish explaining that
document. Cite all documents AFTER you finish writing about them like this: (Doc. 1)

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 1? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

 Last Sentence: Closing/concluding sentence. This is a simple sentence that sums up what
your paragraph was about (re-word the topic sentence).

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 1? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

 Body Paragraph 1 should answer the FIRST part of the task or the first part of your thesis
if there is only one part to your task!

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

Body Paragraph 2: Answer SECOND part of task and add in relevant

documents and details!

 Sentence 1: Topic sentence- a simple sentence that explains what the paragraph is about
(use task to help write these).

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 2? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__
Body Paragraph 2 continued: Answer SECOND part of task and add in
relevant documents and details!

 Middle Sentences: Use documents and outside knowledge to answer the task. You need at
least SIX middle sentences. Each paragraph needs at two documents and outside knowledge
for each document.
 EXPLAIN the documents in your own words, and CITE them when you finish explaining that
document. Cite all documents AFTER you finish writing about them like this: (Doc. 1)

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 2? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

 Last Sentence: Closing/concluding sentence. This is a simple sentence that sums up what
your paragraph was about (re-word the topic sentence).

Did I do this correctly for Body Paragraph 2? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

Did I use all of the documents in my essay? Circle one and fix if necessary: _Yes_ /_ No__

 Body Paragraph 2 should answer the SECOND part of the task or the second part of your
thesis if there is only one part to your task!

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__

Conclusion: SUM IT UP!

 Sentence 1: Summarize the historical context again
 Sentence 2: Summarize body paragraph 1
 Sentence 3: Summarize body paragraph 2
 Sentence 4: Rephrase thesis statement

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__
NO-NO Words and Phrases: Don’t Write These!

 Words: “I”, “you”, “we”, “us” , “my” , “things” , “stuff”. What are those “things” or
“stuff” you are writing about? Who is “you”? Be specific!

 Phrases: “As you can see…”, “In Document 1…”, “In this paragraph…”, “In this essay…”,

“My paper is about…”, “In conclusion…”, “It would like seem like…”

 Avoid writing opinions (Don’t write “In my opinion…”). Just include the facts and your

explanation of them!

Did I do this correctly? Circle one and fix if necessary: _ Yes_ /_ No__