Susan Whitehurst

Summary:
In this 4th grade level book the author gives a history of the land that is now New York. New York started out as belonging to the Algonquian and Iroquois Indians and was then settled Henry Hudson a Dutch trader who called it New Netherlands in 1609. Henry bought Man-a-hat-ta for $24 in beads, knives, and cloths. By 1640 people from all over England had come to New Netherland. Then in 1647 the Dutch made the city of New Amsterdam which had laws and the first police department called “rattle watch”. In 1665 the Swedish came and took over the colony only to lose it to the England in 1686. The war over this land was not over and was continued by the English and French from 1689-1763, when the French finally were forced to withdraw. The last war over this land was again with England, but not from another country, instead it was from its own citizens in 1776. After eight years of fighting American was born and New York was the first capitol.

Personal Reaction:
I liked this book and that it reminded me that there were other settlers in America before the English. In history classes the settlers before the English are touched on, but not really explored. I love that this book also states what was traded to the Indians for their land and what the actual monetary value was. The price of the land compared to what they received seams mind-blowing and unfair to the Algonquian and Iroquois Indians.

Classroom Extensions:
1. I would use this book for our aloud reading selection and tie it into our history lessons to reinforce the student’s knowledge.
2. I would choose unknown words from the text to create a word wall in the classroom.
3. I would have my students write a page on if they thought the price the Algonquian and Iroquois Indians received was fair value (keeping in mind currency from then was worth more than today.).… (mehr)