Early Modern BiblioPlan

A Literature-Based Study of Early Modern History for K-12! Families learning alongside one another.

BP Year Three covers U.S., World and Church History from 1600 – 1850. Since England planted its first lasting American colony in 1607, Year Three is our first year that includes U.S. History. On the U.S. and World History side, Year Three covers England side-by-side with England’s colonies in the New World. For example, our weeks on Jamestown start with the king for whom it was named: King James I of England, who was also King James VI of Scotland. We do the same for Plymouth colony, the Massachusetts Bay colony, and every one of the Thirteen Colonies. Since the English planted the colonies, we study English history to understand colonial history.

Year Three also covers the rest of Europe side-by-side with the newborn United States. We learn of the big part France played in the Revolutionary War; how the French Revolution cast shadows on Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson; how the fall of Napoleon helped the British burn Washington D.C. during the War of 1812; and much more.

The Church History side of Year Three covers a lot of ground. The trouble between Protestants and Catholics was never worse than it was in the early 1600s, when it touched off the awful Thirty Years’ War. The same trouble led to the Gunpowder Plot, which came close to killing King James VI & I—plus his whole Parliament. Year Three also tells how disagreements in the Church of England sent countless Englishmen running to the colonies, looking for freedom of religion. Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay were just the start. We also learn how Maryland started as a haven for English Catholics, and Georgia as a second chance for English debtors. We go on to meet the great preachers of the First Great Awakening, plus some stranger preachers of the Second Great Awakening.

Year Three is our first year that includes U.S. Geography. As always, we cover the geography we need to understand our history lessons. For example, we cover the Chesapeake Bay before we study Jamestown, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence before we study the French colonies in Canada.