Indiana Social Studies 5.H.5
The Standard
Compare and contrast the religious, political, and economic reasons for the colonization of the Americas by Europe.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify why Europeans colonized parts of the Americas: to gain wealth or power, or to pursue religious goals. They compare examples from Spain and England and explain when motives overlapped.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain that a Spanish mission served religious goals and could also extend Spain’s control. They can contrast Jamestown investors’ search for profit with Plymouth settlers’ wish to worship in their own way.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think every colony began so people could practice their religion freely. They may also mistake European rulers’ goals for the goals of the Indigenous people whose lands were taken.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Label each motive as religious, political, or economic: Plymouth settlers sought a place to worship, Spanish rulers claimed land for their crown, and Jamestown investors sought profit. Then explain how two of the motives differ.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs cards about Spanish missions, crown land claims, and Jamestown investors; have them place each card on overlapping motive circles.
Ask students to write: How could a Spanish mission serve both religious goals and a ruler’s power?
Play motive bingo: read short colony descriptions aloud, and have students cover religious, political, or economic after explaining their choice.
Show a photo of a San Antonio mission today and a short caption about its founding; ask what colonial goal the building reflects.
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Printable 5.H.5 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 7.H.11
Explain the reasons for European colonization of Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific and analyze the impact that colonization, imperialism, and slavery had ...
- 8.E.1
Identify economic factors contributing to European exploration and colonization in North America, the American Revolution, and the drafting of the United States...
- 6.H.3
Identify and explain the development and organization of political, cultural, social, and economic systems in Europe and the Americas.
- 8.H.2
Compare and contrast reasons for British, French, Spanish, and Dutch colonization in the New World.
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