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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
Early America Back to History Unit


Firearms to the Indians -- the French
George Mason University: History Matters: Many Pasts

Samuel de Champlain's 1607 Map
Library of Congress: American Treasures

Description: These paired resources give students a window into the mindset of early European explorers of the North American continent. The first text-based resource is an account of French explorer Samuel de Champlain's alliance with a war party of Montganais, Algonkaian, and Hurons, who welcomed his aid to fight their enemies, the Iroquois. The alliance met their foes upon the shores of the lake later named Lake Champlain. The French firearms caused death and consternation among the Indians, but they quickly adopted and adapted these weapons to their own conflicts.



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions
  • Students could begin by responding in their journals to a question about the characteristics of seventeenth-century French colonists, as compared to English colonists of the same period. After leading a short discussion, the teacher could help the students to create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two colonial groups, based on this reading. The teacher might encourage students to consider particularly characteristics such as each colonial group's purpose in America, their relationship with the Native Americans, and the materials and resources they most valued.
  • Students could brainstorm a list of positives and negatives associated with the use of firearms in cultural contact situations. After leading a short discussion on this topic, the teacher could share copies of the reading with the students, and after reading Champlain's account, the students could revisit their journal topics.
Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Groups of students could research different categories of information emphasized in Champlain's writing. For example, one group could research natural resources used by the French and English colonists, another could research ideas introduced by the colonists to the Native Americans, a third could research ideas introduced by the Native Americans to the colonists, and another could research particular Native American tribes. In each instance, Champlain's writing would be one source of information; the teacher could direct students to other resources. Upon completion of the research, students could share their findings with the class.

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