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Students will select two different explorers and compare and contrast the motivations for exploring Texas and their experiences as an explorer. Students will then write a short answer response explaining which explorer they feel had a greater significance on the exploration of Texas.

Step 1: ​

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• Conquistador

• Expedition

• Catholicism

Checklist:​ Be sure to include the following terms:

Guiding Questions: What motivated Spanish and French exploration of Texas? How was each explorer significant to Texas?

Task 1

​Writing from 2 perspectives - students will write a dialogue between the Spanish and French comparing the territorial claims each side made during the Age of Contact.

Step 2:

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• Fort St. Louis

• Settlement

• Colony

• La Belle

Checklist: Besure to include the following terms:

Guiding Questions: What caused the competition between the French and Spanish? How are the two perspectives similar? What is different about the two perspectives? What guidelines should countries follow when they make territorial claims? Should a country be permitted to make territorial claims on land that already has inhabitants? Why or Why not? 

Task 2

Guiding Question: What are the defining characteristics of the Age of Contact era?

Step 3:

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 Students will create a one-pager summarizing the characteristics of the Age of Contact. Students are encouraged to include at least 4 important dates, individuals, or events and explain the contribution of each to the Age of Contact era.

Task 3