Both of these adult ESL lessons features warm-up questions and a timeline of American history, followed by comprehension questions and discussion questions.
Early American History Timeline
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- What is a timeline?
- Who was Christopher Columbus?
- What is a colony?
- Who colonized America?
- What was the American Revolutionary War?
- Who was the first president of the United States?
- What do you know about him?
Read the timeline of early American history:
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- 1492 – Christopher Columbus sails from Spain and discovers the New World.
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- 1607 – The English settle Jamestown, Virginia.
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- 1619 – A Dutch ship transports 20 Africans to Jamestown. From here, African slavery would eventually spread in the Southern colonies.
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- 1620 – English citizens, searching for religious freedom and reform, leave England and settle at the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.
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- 1765 – The first direct tax, the Stamp Act, is imposed on the colonists by the British government.
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- 1770 – The Boston Massacre occurs on March 5th.
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- 1773 – The Sons of Liberty carry out the Boston Tea Party on December 16th.
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- 1775 – The American Revolutionary War begins.
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- 1776 – The thirteen colonies declare independence from Britain. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin write a draft for a Declaration of Independence.
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- 1776 – George Washington is placed in command of the Continental Army.
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- 1781 – The final battle of the Revolutionary War is fought at Yorktown, Virginia. The British army surrenders and the Revolutionary War ends.
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- 1783 – The Peace of Paris officially ends the Revolutionary War. The U.S. is officially recognized as a free and independent country around the world.
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- 1788 – The Constitution becomes law in the United States and creates a new form of government, based on individual rights and representation.
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- 1789 – George Washington is sworn in as the first president of the United States.
Comprehension Questions:
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- What did Christopher Columbus discover?
- Who settled Jamestown, Virginia?
- What early event eventually led to slavery and to the Civil War?
- Who settled the Plymouth colony?
- What were they seeking?
- What was the first direct tax passed on the colonists?
- When did the Boston Massacre occur?
- When did the American Revolution begin?
- Who worked on a draft for the Declaration of Independence?
- Who was placed in command of the Continental Army?
- When was the final battle of the Revolutionary War?
- Who surrendered?
- What officially ended the Revolutionary War?
- What also happened at The Peace of Paris?
- When did The Constitution become law in the United States?
- Who was the first president of the United States?
- When was he sworn in?
Discussion Questions:
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- Why did people leave their home and sail to the New World?
- Why do you think so many people choose to move to America?
- Would you want to move to America? Why?
- If you immigrated to another country what things would you probably miss about your home country? What things would you take with you?
- What kinds of crops are grown in your country?
- What kinds of things are imported into your country?
- What kinds of things are exported from your country?
- Why are imported items usually more expensive than domestic items?
- What imported things do you like to buy?
- What is religious freedom? What religions exist in your country?
- What is your religion? Are you a religious person?
- Do you think it is interesting to talk about religion and politics? Why?
- What is a revolution? Do you know about any famous revolutions?
- What is colonization? Which countries have been colonized?
- What kind of government exists in your country? What are the political parties?
- Do you vote? Do you think your vote really matters? Why?
- If you could be the president of your country, what is the first thing you would do?
Complete this sentence:
If I were president I would _______________________________________.
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- What other changes would you make if you were president of your country?
- If you could meet anyone from the past, whom would you choose? Why?
Lesson 2: American History Timeline II
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- Are you interested in history? Why?
- What do you know about American history?
- Name some famous explorers. Where did they go? What did they do?
- What do you know about World War II?
- Do you know anyone who was alive during World War II? Who?
- Do you have any stocks? Which ones?
- Are stocks a good investment? Why?
Read the timeline of American history:
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- 1800 – Thomas Jefferson is elected president.
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- 1803 – Jefferson negotiates the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon from France.
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- 1804- 1806 – The Lewis and Clark expedition across the new Louisiana lands is a success.
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- 1849 – Gold is discovered in California.
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- 1860 – Abraham Lincoln is elected president.
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- 1861 – The American Civil War begins.
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- 1863 – The Emancipation Proclamation becomes law. Slavery is abolished and slaves are legally declared free.
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- 1865 – The American Civil War ends and the Union is preserved.
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- 1917 – The United States joins Britain and France in World War I.
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- 1929 – The stock market crashes and Great Depression begins.
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- 1941 – Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and the United States enters World War II.
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- 1948 – The Cold War begins.
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- 1950 – The United States enters the Korean War.
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- 1961 – The United States officially commits to the Vietnam War.
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- 1963 – President John F. Kennedy is assassinated.
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- 1979 – The Iran hostage crisis begins.
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- 1991 – The Cold War officially ends as the Soviet Union breaks apart.
Comprehension Questions:
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- Who was elected president in 1800?
- Who did Jefferson negotiate the Louisiana Purchase with?
- Who were Lewis and Clark?
- What happened in California in 1849?
- When was Lincoln elected president?
- What happened in 1861?
- When did slaves become legally free?
- When did the Civil War end?
- When did the US enter World War One?
- What happened after the stock market crash of 1929?
- Why did the US enter World War Two?
- When did the Cold War begin?
- What happened in 1950?
- What happened in 1961?
- What happened to President Kennedy?
- When did the Iran hostage crisis begin?
- When did the Cold War officially end?
- Why did it end at this time?
Discussion Questions:
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- How many leaders has your country had? Which ones did you like? Dislike?
- What responsibilities do presidents have? What problems do they have to face?
- Has gold or silver ever been discovered in your country?
- Would you like to be a gold miner? Why?
- Do you like to wear gold? Do you have any diamonds?
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- Have you ever been to the United States? Where?
- Why do people want to immigrate to America?
- Would you like to move to America? Why?
- What was the Cold War about? Who was involved?
- What is communism? Which countries are communist today?
- Do you think communism works better than democracy? Why or why not?
- Can you name some well-known communist leaders?
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- What is the voting age in your country? Are you old enough to vote?
- Do you ever vote in elections? Why?
- How do you feel about the United States getting involved in foreign wars?
- If your country went to war, which other countries would help you? Why?
- For what reasons would your country fight a war?
Timeline: Draw a timeline of some important events in your country’s history.
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000