Castillo de San Marcos

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/castillo-de-san-marcos

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?St. Augustine, Florida, on the western shore of Matanzas Bay
2. What is the scientific name?Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
3. Why was Castillo de San Marcos built?It was built to protect against attacks after earlier wooden defenses failed, like the 1668 raid by Robert Searles.
4. How does coquina stone protect the fort?Coquina is a porous shell-stone that can absorb the energy of cannonballs, so the walls stay strong and the balls embed instead of breaking through.

Masonry Fortification: A defensive structure built primarily from stone, brick, or concrete.
Bastion System: A type of fortification design featuring projecting structures (bastions) that allow for enfilading fire.
Adams–Onís Treaty: A 1819 treaty where Spain ceded Florida to the United States.
Ledger Art: A Native American art form created on paper or canvas, often depicting historical events or daily life.