Here are 3 potential sources for information on Christopher Columbus and early American history: 1. Garasan R.I. Anglo-American Countries - Ternopil: SMP "Aston", 1998.-96p. This book may contain background information on Christopher Columbus's voyage and early European exploration and colonization of North America. 2. Karpenko O.V. Focus on the USA. English student’s book.- Kharkiv. : Vesta: Vid-vo «Ranok», 2006.-80p. As the title suggests, this book focuses specifically on the history and culture of the United States and would likely cover Christopher Columbus and the early colonial period. 3. Koganov

1. Garasan Svitlana Igorivna
Sokal secondary school №2 – lyceum
2012

3. Do you agree with these words? Is
the United States an old or a young
country?
What dates and events are
meaningful in the history of
America?

4. Marco Polo Vasco da Gama Christopher
Columbus
Fernando Magellan
James Cook Fabian
Bellingshausen
David LivingstoneKhariton Laptev

5. Marco Polo
Vasco da Gama
Christopher
Columbus
Fernando Magellan
James Cook
Fabian
Bellingshausen
David Livingstone
Khariton Laptev
Travelled from Venice to China; crossing the Indian Ocean visited the
southern countries of Asia.
Travelled from Portugal along the African coast to India.
Started his journey from Spain, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, discovered
many islands near the south-eastern coast of America.
Started in Europe, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, travelled along the
southern coast of South America, crossed the Pacific and the Indian
Oceans and travelled along the western coast of Africa and came back
to Europe.
Discovered Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century and made a
round-world journey.
Travelled to the North Pole
Discovered Antarctic
Studied the central and southern part of Africa

6. Christopher Columbus discovered America in
1492. He was born in Italy. His father and
grandfather were cloth makers. Columbus was a
seaman and made many sea voyages. Most
people in Columbus’s days thought that the earth
was flat and they didn’t believe that beyond the
Atlantic Ocean lay India. In 1492 the King and the
Queen of Spain gave him money to go to India.
He decided to sail west as he was sure that our planet was round. There were 3
caravels: the Santa Maria, The Nina and the Pinta. After sailing 4000 miles he
reached some land. The crew saw something like a white cliff and cried out:‖Tierra!
Tierra!‖. Columbus thought that it must be India but it wasn’t. It was America.
Columbus named the land they had reached San Salvador (Holy Saviour). People
began to speak about the land as ―The New World‖. European people came to the
New World for many reasons. Some hoped to find gold and silver. Priests and
missionaries came to bring the Christian religion to the Indians. Among those who
came for freedom was a small group of English people called Pilgrims. They
wanted to start a new life and to have no religious problems they had in England.
They set up a colony and called that part of the country ―New England‖.

7. Finish the sentences:
Christopher Columbus discovered…………in……….
He was a seaman and………………
In 1492 the King and the Queen of Spain……………….
He decided to sail west because…………………….
After sailing 4000 miles…………………………
Columbus thought that it must be India but………………………
European people came to the New World to……………………….
A small group of English people called Pilgrims wanted to……………

8. Before the first Europeans came to North
America Native Americans, sometimes
called Indians, were living there. Modern
America was created by the early
European settlers and by many immigrants
who followed them.
The first colony in North America was
founded in 1607 at Jamestown, Virginia, by
the British. In 1620 English
Puritans, known as the Pilgrim Fathers
arrived to America on the ship Mayflower
to escape religious persecution for their
opposition to the Church of England. They
founded Plymouth Colony in what later
became Massachusetts.

9. By 1733 English settlers had founded 13
colonies along the Atlantic Coast. Over
time the colonists were unhappy about
having laws and taxes imposed by Britain
and began to want more control over their
affairs.
The War of Revolution broke out in
1775, and the following year the colonists
wrote the Declaration of
Independence, which explained their
reasons for wanting to separate from
Britain. At times it seemed that the
colonists would lose the war, but in late
1781 the British surrendered.

10. Listen to the text” American Independence”. Put “+” next to the true sentences
and “–“ next to the false ones.
1.At the beginning of the 18th century the whole of the Eastern coast of North
America had been colonized by the British.
2.The main task was to supply the mother country with raw materials and not
compete in manufacturing.
3.The British Government reduce its pressure on the colonies.
4.The British Government granted the East India Company the right of tax-free
export of tea to the colonies.
5.The first cargoes of this tea arrived in Boston harbour.
6.The American Patriots boarded the ships on the night of 16 September 1770 and
threw the tea into the sea.
(False)
(True)
(False)
(True)
(True)
(False)

11. 7. Representatives from every colony met in Philadelphia in September 1774 and
replied a trade embargo on Britain.
8. After the second meeting the colonists made George Washington their
commander-in-chief.
9. The formal Declaration of Independence was made on 4 July 1776.
10. The American War of Independence lasted over seven years.
11. The Americans won the Battle of Saratoga in October 1778.
12. The peace settlement was signed in 1783 and recognized the
independence, freedom and sovereignty of 13 colonies.
(False)
(True)
(True)
(False)
(False)
(True)

12. The Boston Tea Party
The Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Saratoga
The Declaration of Independence
The colonists’ first meeting in Philadelphia
Put the following events in their correct chronological order:
1
2
3
4
5

13. Creating a single government for the 13 colonies was not easy, as each was afraid of
giving the others too much power. A Constitutional Convention was held, and in
1787 the Founding Fathers, among them Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and
Benjamin Franklin, wrote the Constitution, which set out how the US would be
governed.
At first people believed that the US was meant to extend its influence over the
whole continent. Sometimes the US
bought land, as it happened with Louisiana
Purchase of 1803, when France sold its
territory in North America.
But the US fought a war against Mexico to
win land in the South-west, and took land by
force from Native Americans.

14. Pioneers moved west to find new land to farm and lived a hard life. Away from
centers of government, there was little law enforcement. This led to the famous
image of the Wild West end stories of sheriffs involved in gun battles with violent
criminals. During the gold rush, many people moved to California and later to the
Klondike in Canada. Some went as prospectors, but many others found that they
could make smaller but safer profits selling supplies.

15. As new lands were settled and became states, the issue of slavery became
important. In the southern states slaves worked on the cotton plantations.
In the North slavery was illegal. After Abraham Lincoln, a foe of slavery, was elected
President in 1860, 11 states left the Union and proclaimed themselves an
independent state, the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War, a
war between the North and the South, had begun. But in 1865 the North won. The
Civil War put an end to slavery. The South again became part of the US and slavery
was made illegal everywhere.

16. Answer the questions:
1.Who was living in North America before the first Europeans came there?
2.Who founded the first colony? Where did it happen?
3.Who came on the Mayflower?
4.Why were the colonies unhappy?
5.What was the aim of the Declaration of Independence?
6.Who were the Founding Fathers and why were they called so?
7.What was the golden rush?
8.What was the reason of the Civil War? When did it happen? Who won?

17. Industrial development had helped the North to
win the Civil War, and after the war industry
continued to grow. Many factory workers were
immigrants who came there looking for a better
life. Working conditions were often hard and
dangerous. In the early 1900s labour unions tried
to change the law so that employers paid the
decent wage and factories were safer.
The wealthy now had the opportunity to buy
cars. There were a wide choice of makers by
David Buick, Henry Ford and Walter Chrysler.
The early 1900s was also a time of building. In
Chicago and New York skyscrapers were
constructed. The Chrysler Corporation built its
new headquarters, the now famous Chrysler
Building, and soon after, in 1929, just before the
beginning of the Great Depression, work began
on the Empire State Building, for many years the
tallest in the world.

18. The next decades were difficult ones for the US. Americans had long believed they
should not become involved in foreign wars, though they had entered World War I.
As the Depression was ending, the US became involved in World War II. After the
war, soldiers returned home to a very different America. Factories were producing
many more goods to buy. Women who had worked during the war wanted to keep
their jobs. African Americans and Native Americans, who had fought alongside white
soldiers, began to demand equal rights. Soon, America was opposing the USSR in the
Cold War. America was also becoming involved in Vietnam. In 1963, the
assassination of President Kennedy shocked the world.

19. In the 1960s there were many social changes. Laws allow African Americans to use
restaurants, schools, etc. previously reserved for the white. Clothing also changed:
women’s skirts became very short, also both men and women began to wear
jeans, once considered appropriate only for heavy work. In the 1980s there was a
reaction to these liberal ideas, but the changes of the 1960s and 1970s have had a
lasting effect, and now almost everyone accepts the principles of equal rights and
opportunity, and considerable personal freedom.

20. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences:
1. ---------------------had helped the North to win the Civil War.
a) Native Americans
b) Industrial development
c) Immigrants from Europe
2. Many factory workers were immigrants who came to the US---------------
a) looking for a better life.
b) trying to escape from police.
c) looking for an easy life.
3. The wealthy people now had the opportunity------------
a) to travel all over the world.
b) to send their children to universities.
c) to buy cars.
4. --------------------for many years used to be the tallest building in the world.
a) The Chrysler Building
b) The Empire State Building
c) The Capitol
5. In the 1960s there were many -----------------------changes.
a) political
b) cultural
c) social
6. People began to wear jeans, once considered appropriate only for-------------
a) heavy work.
b) schools and colleges.
c) ceremonial events.

21. 1607 -
1620 -
1733 –
1775 -
1781 –
1787 -
1803 -
1861 – 1865 –
1929 -
1963 -
the first colony was founded
the Pilgrims arrived to America
by that time 13 colonies had been found
the war of Revolution broke out
the British surrendered
the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution
France sold its territory (Louisiana Purchase) in North America
the American Civil War between the North and the South
the Empire State Building has been built
the President Kennedy was shot
Write which events took place at this period of time:

22. Agree or disagree with the words:
―Those who forget the past, have no
future.‖
I think ...
To my mind …
In my opinion …
It seems to me …
I agree with …
I share your point of view ...
I’m of the same opinion …
I disagree with …
I’m against …

23. American Independence
By the end of the 18th century, the whole of the Eastern coast of North America had been
colonized, largely by the British. The guiding principle for these colonies was that they should
supply the mother country with raw materials and not compete in manufacturing. The British
Government increased its pressure on the colonies and put all possible obstacles in the way of
their independent industrial development and trade. The British Government granted the East
India Company the right of tax-free export of tea to the colonies. It caused indignation among the
colonists so, when the first cargoes of this tea arrived in Boston harbour, the American Patriots
boarded the three ships on the night of 16 December 1773 and threw the tea into the sea—the
famous Boston Tea Party.
Parliament closed Boston harbour. Representatives from every colony except Georgia met in
Philadelphia in September 1774 and replied a trade embargo on Britain. As war became
inevitable, the colonists met for a second time in Philadelphia in May 1776 and made George
Washington their commander-in-chief. The formal Declaration of Independence was made on 4
July 1776.
The American War of Independence lasted over 6 years. The French entered the war,
providing military and economic help, after the American victory in the Battle of Saratoga in
October 1777. The fighting ended when Washington, aided by the French army and navy,
surrounded the British forces at Yorktown in October 1781. The peace settlement signed two
years later recognized the independence, freedom and sovereignty of the thirteen colonies.

24. The first settlers
In November, 1620, a small ship, the Mayflower, left England. There were about one hundred people abroad
the ship who were running away from the cruelty of the king. For 7 long weeks the Mayflower was in the
waves and storms of the Atlantic Ocean, and at last the people saw land. It was America.
It was already autumn. It was raining, and a cold wind was blowing. 16 men left the Mayflower and went
ashore. In the evening they came back to the ship and brought some corn with them. They found the corn on
the beach where the Indians had left it. Nobody in Europe had seen corn then, but when the people on board
the Mayflower tried it, they liked it very much.
During the next 5 weeks the men from the Mayflower left the ship every day. They were looking for a good
place to live. The weather was very cold, more and more men fell ill, but at last they found a good place. There
was a good harbour for ships there, some fields and forests near it and even a small river. The people began to
build a village there. By January, 1621, there were already two streets in this village, and they called it ―New
Plymouth‖. But in winter the people were cold, they didn’t have enough to eat. Many of them died. When the
houses were ready, the life became easier.
One day the people of the village suddenly saw a tall Indian walking along the street. He smiled and
said, ―Hallo,Yankee!‖ This Indian could speak English a little. He had learnt it from the sailors of a ship which
had come to this part of America a few years before.
Few days later this Indian came to the village again together with some other Indians. They came as friends
and helped the white men very much. But white men forgot about his help very quickly. A few years
later, when many people from Europe came to America, they began to take the land away from the Indians
and to kill them.
Many thousands of people from different countries in the world come to new Plymouth to see the rock which
reaches the sea. They take off the hats, stand there and think about the brave men and women who more than
300 years ago came here to begin a new life. American people say that out of this small village they had built
grew a big country-the United States of America.

25. 1. Гарасюк Р.І. Англо-мовні країни - Тернопіль: СМП «Астон»,1998.-96с.
2. Гужва Т.М. Англійські розмовні теми:67 тем: Навчальний посібник для студентів - Харків;
Фоліо, 2005.-191с.
3. Каверіна В., Бойко В., Жидких Н.100 тем з англійської мови – Донецьк: ВКФ « БАО»,1998.-
208с.
4. Карпенко О.В. Focus on the USA. English student’s book.- Харків. : Веста: Вид-во
«Ранок», 2006.-80с.
5. Коганов А.Б. Сучасна англійська мова: Розмовні теми – К.: А.С.К., 2000-352с.