welcome

This web quest is designed to be used as part of a review unit on American colonial history. After completing the quest, your students should have a good understanding of colonial economic and social history. Many of the links included in the quest could also be used to extend student's learning to the causes of the American Revolution.
Learners: 11th grade United States History
Curriculum Standards: California State Framework, Connecting with Past Learnings: The Nation's Beginnings

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the difference between Indentured Servitude and Slavery.
Students will describe conditions onboard a 18th century sailing vessel.
Students will define the term mercantilism, and apply this economic policy by answering the following questions: How would this policy help the mother country? What advantages would it have for the colonists?
Students will gain an understanding of what daily life was like in the British colony of Williamsburg, Virginia.
Teacher's Guide

Student Title: A Voyage to Colonial Williamsburg Intro: Welcome aboard! Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail from England to the colonies during the 1700's? You are about to find out. The year is 1770; you are a teenager who has decided to embark on a new life for yourself in the British colony of Williamsburg, Virginia. In order to pay for your passage, you have decided to enter a contract of indentured servitude for the length of seven years. You will see many new sights and learn about life in the colonies. Prepare to sail, your new life awaits you! The Task: While an indentured servant you will keep a travel log (described in more detail under process) Essential questions: 1) What was the difference between an indentured servant and a slave? 2) What were conditions like on a 18th century sailing vessel? 3) What does the term mercantilism mean? What did it have to do with economic life in the colonies? 4) What was daily life like in colonial Williamsburg? The Process: Below is your travel itinerary, and directions for completion of your travel log. Your voyage will be composed of four parts. On the next page is a map, you will click on the following icons in the order in which they are listed below. At each icon you will be given assignments that you will research, complete, and put in your travel log.

LIFE AT SEA
CARRIBEAN PIRATES
COLONIAL LIFE
INDENTURED SERVANTS

Resources: all resources will be located at the icons
Evaluation: Each entry in your travel log is worth 10 points. Your travel log entries will be evaluated based on the following rubric: (5 points) application of research in completed assignment (3 points) historical accuracy (2 points) creativity
Conclusion: If you could travel back to the 1700's, is this the life you would have chosen? What path would your life take when your indentured servitude contract is completed in the year 1777?

Lisa Delgado
Steve Hall
Tereze Lear

Last modified 2-16-99

Teacher's Guide