Lesson 2.1 Packet (PDF) — THE FIRST AFRICANS IN AMERICA

Introduce students to the often-overlooked history of the first Africans in the Americas through this class-ready worksheet packet for Unit 2 of the AP African American Studies course. Lesson 2.1 examines the different roles Africans played in early America, including enslaved laborers, conquistadors, and other participants in European colonization. Students explore the experiences of Ladinos, Bozales, Juan Garrido, and Estevanico, analyze data about the transatlantic slave trade, respond to video questions, and work directly with Juan Garrido’s 1538 petition.

📝 What’s Included:

• 📄 5-Page Printable Worksheet Packet (PDF)
• 🖥️ Link to Editable version (Google Doc)
• 🌎 Reading + comprehension questions on Africans in early America
• 👤 Biographical profiles of Juan Garrido and Estevanico
• 🧩 Vocabulary + concept practice on Ladinos and Bozales
• 📊 Data chart + analysis questions on selected Black conquistadors
• 🎥 Video questions for “The Beginning of Black History: Juan Garrido”
• 📜 Required Source Analysis: Juan Garrido’s 1538 petition to King Charles V
• ✍🏽 Short-answer, evidence-based, and claim-building questions
• 🎟️ Exit ticket using a primary source

📚 Students Will Learn About:

• 🌎 The presence and roles of Africans in the Americas during the 1500s and early 1600s
• ⚔️ The ways Africans participated in Spanish exploration, conquest, and settlement
• ⛏️ How enslaved Africans were used for mining, plantation agriculture, and other demanding labor
• 🧭 Ladinos — Africans who had lived in Spain or Portugal and were adapted to European languages and culture
• ⛓️ Bozales — African-born enslaved people brought directly from Africa who became a major part of the enslaved population in the New World
• 👤 Juan Garrido — a free Black conquistador who participated in Spanish expeditions and the conquest of Mexico
• 🗺️ Estevanico / Esteban de Dorantes — an enslaved African who traveled extensively through the Southwest and served as a translator
• 📈 Patterns among early Black conquistadors, including their status, cultural backgrounds, places of conquest, and compensation
• 📜 Juan Garrido’s 1538 petition and what it reveals about his service, experiences, and contributions

🎯 Perfect For:

• ✔ AP African American Studies (Topic 2.1)
• ✔ 9th–12th Ethnic Studies, African American History, and U.S. History enrichment
• ✔ Black History Month or African American history lessons
• ✔ Classwork, homework, and/or sub plans
• ✔ Primary-source analysis and evidence-based writing
• ✔ Introducing students to the history of the first Africans in the Americas

📎 Formats:

• Ready-to-print PDF
• Includes link to EDITABLE Google Doc
• Class-ready in 15 minutes or less

✅ Download once. Use every year.

Editable + printable. Built for teachers, homeschoolers, and learners seeking a deeper understanding of early African history in the Americas.

📄 LESSON 2.1 WORKSHEET PREVIEW:

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