Crossroads: High School Curriculum
Unit III: The Founding of New Societies, 1607-1763

"Traveling between the Colonies"

Lesson 1:Geographic, economic, political, and social factors all shaped the development of the colonies

"Traveling between the Colonies"

Part A.

1. Read Keith Kennedy's article "Quaker John Bartram's Journey to Williamsburg" (Colonial Williamsburg, Vol 17, no. 1, Autumn 1994). Note the distance between Darber, Pennsylvania and Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and the number of days it took to travel it (from 25 September through 9 October 1738).

2. Assume the role of a member of the colonial American "better sort" who resides near a population center of one of the colonies around 1675-1725. You have reason to travel from your home to a population center of another colony and you are to keep a log of the journey that describes the overall life and times within the two colonies.

3. Using a well-detailed color layer relief map, trace the most logical land route you would take.

4. Describe the major geographical features of the territory through which you would travel.

5. Describe the types of workers, business people (merchants), etc., that you would likely encounter.

6. Analyze the relationship between what you have described in number 4 and 5.

7. Identify the languages, religions, dress, and other customs you would experience in the journey.

8. Describe the governance structures which you would have seen -- including, but not limited to, town or boroughs and colony.

9. Keep a time log of your travels, including days and miles.

Part B.
Summarize the above in some form which could be presented to the class as a resource of information about the two colonies.

Part C.
In a very concise statement, using the information you have gathered, explain how the geographic, economic, political, and social factors shaped the two colonies.