Essay Exam I (Cherny, Chs. 1-2 and Gastil, Chs. 1-4)

Keys for Success:
1.Explain your points simply, like you would to another student.
2.Write in short to medium-sized paragraphs.
3.Use specific examples from our readings and class discussions. Instead of footnotes, simply put the lead author and one or more page numbers in parentheses. Example: (Cherny, 42)
4.Relate your answers to major concepts and trends we have covered.
5.When you use pictures, note how the pictures help us understand the topics.

Part I. Two Essays. Write essays of about five paragraphs each on two of the following questions. Please include at least one picture with each essay. Tell how the pictures help us understand the history.

Native Cultures. What do you find most notable about the native cultures of California, before the era of European contact? Examine three specific culture groups described in your reading. How did these cultures develop in relation to their natural environments?

Era of Exploration. Explain a few of the events in the time period of the 1500s-1700s, when Spain and other countries were exploring California. Why was Spain interested in California? How much did they know about the area? Did this era have a big impact on our later history, or is it just an interesting era?

“Spanish” California. What types of people lived in Alta California in the late 1700s or early 1800s? Describe some of the challenges for people who settled here. Describe some key aspects of the lifestyle that developed in areas of California influenced by the missions, presidios and towns.

Part II. Reflection. Here you will share at least four pargaraphs of your perspectives on the readings in Connecting California, Chapters 1-4 (any of those chapters) in the Second Edition. If you use the First Edition, please use material from the Spanish Mission Era or earlier.

In your reflection, please discuss at least three selections (primary or secondary sources) from Connecting California. Please put the title of each selection you use in bold. For example, in Chapter 3 the first selection is “The Market in Tenochtitlan”. Examine each document critically, and consider how it adds to our understanding of the broader history we are studying. The strongest journals will show connections among the materials used, relating them to a common theme.