Ch. 1 Three Worlds Meet

Europe, Africa, The Americas

Intro

The United States of America was formed in 1776 and has since become the greatest country in the history of the world…

How did it start and what makes it so great?One of the factors that make it great is

diversity. The U.S. is a place of various people, cultures, climates and landscapes.

It all started in 1492 as three worlds collided and the result was a blending of these three major cultures and hundreds of subcultures included in those.

The First Americans

More than likely the first Americans migrated here from Asia by foot. (How?)

Beringia Land Bridge – Because of the Ice Age Water levels dropped creating a land path across the Bering Straight from Asia to Alaska.

The First Americans Cont.

Over time these people migrated south hunting large animals such as the Woolley Mammoth.

Nomads – people who move from place to place in search of food and water

From Hunters and Gatherers to Distinct Societies

As time passed Native Americans not only hunted , but also fished and gathered nuts berries and fruits

Soon, certain tribes began to grow crops and develop agriculture.

This allowed groups to settle in a certain area and not have to move in search of food.

Native American Culture develops

Three great North American Civilizations develop between 1000 B.C. and 1400 A.D. Olmec, Maya, and Aztec All in Present day Mexico

Only 1 great South American civilization developed Inca

Ancient societies in the U.S. Mound builders – Adena &

Hopewell, Missippean, Anasazi

Diversity of Native Culture in North America

Because of the differing climates of N.A. regions , there were a variety of cultures that developed

Each tribe was different and reflective of their region and its climate

Ex: Pueblo, Navajo, Apache in the Southwest Adobe houses and stone (cliff) dwellers Diet – Corn, beans, Squash (Irrigation Agriculture)

Ex: Iroquois of Eastern Woodlands (NE) Abundance of Trees & Rivers Hunting was the main source of clothing and diet : A lot of Meat ,

Hides for cold wintersEx: Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee of the Southeast.

Numerous crops &agriculture because of warm climate Also had thick woodlands for hunting

Native Tribal regions

Common Denominators of Native culture in N.A.

1. View of the land- All Natives saw the land as a source of life to be honored and respected by ppl. Could not be owned

2. Natural Spirits – Almost all Natives believed that objects, such as trees, animals, and the ground,had spirits. People could hear those spirits and interact with them.

3. Family – Many Natives lived together all their lives. Older (Elders) Tribe members were highly respected.

West African Societies

Because of the slave trade and importation of tens of millions of Africans, African culture has shaped American history.

3 African kingdoms Songhai – became wealthy by controlling and taxing the trans- Sahara

trade route. Dominated the savannah regions of West Africa with use of its military

Benin –Forest kingdoms that used the Niger river to transport goods for trade with Songhai and Portugal

Kongo – Kingdoms located along the Congo river, and were European in structure.

Family – small village culture; groups were bound by kinship and lineage. Some tribes were matrilineal - people trace lineage and ancestry through

mothers family. Oldest member represented each family.

Religion - Like Natives, Africans also believed in spirits , but most believed in a supreme creator.

Land - Land supported human livelihood, but they did believe that groups owned certain land.

West Africa Cont.

Trade networks in West Africa were usually tied to North African Muslims, but they increased their contact with other parts of the world as Europeans (Portuguese) started to explore.

Eventually, the Portuguese began exporting west Africans to work as laborers on island plantations.

Slavery was very common in Africa, and other parts of the world, but people usually were not born into it and could become free. (More on the slave trade later)

European Societies.

Christianity and the Catholic Church dominated all religious, social, and political aspects of European societies until the 1500’s.

Society – Most European societies and a king and organized each kingdom based on a Feudal system – Lords had land, wealth, and power, while peasants farmed the Noble’s land in return for protection.

All European societies were patriarchal – Lineage determined by the Fathers family lines

Only males had legal rights There was little movement among

social classes

The Protestant Reformation

Since the Crusades - , The Catholic Church status and authority had steadily weakened.

In the 1500’s a priest named Martin Luther began speaking out against corruption within the Church.

The Church then attacked Luther causing him and many to break away from the Catholic Church.

Therefore new protestant denominations were formed.

This split and the persecution that followed would later lead many groups such as Puritans to migrate to the America’s

The Renaissance

With The church weakening, and intellectual movement referred to as the Renaissance began

Renaissance - means rebirth and refers to the rebirth of art and learning in Europe from 1300 to 1600.

During this time there was an explosion of creativity and knowledge unsurpassed by any period in the history of the world.

The effects caused many Europeans to desire exploration in order to gain more knowledge and wealth.

Exploration

The Goal of European exploration was reaching Asia to establish trade.

Five major nations led exploration Portugal Spain England France Netherlands (Dutch)

Early on the Portuguese were the most effective, sailing many expeditions around Africa and successfully reaching Asia

Columbus’ Voyages

An explorer named Christopher Columbus, asked the Spanish King and Queen to sponsor (pay for) an exploratory expedition to find a western route to Asia

He believed it could possibly be shorter and less dangerous.

In 1492 Columbus’ ships – Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria - set sail

First Contact

After months at sea Columbus’ crew finally reached land.

The Europeans encountered a native tribe called Taino in present day San Salvador

Since Columbus assumed he was in Asia, he called the people Indians.

Columbus was intrigued by the people, but his main interest was finding the source of gold that he was seeing around the Island.

Columbus spent three months exploring various Caribbean Islands before returning to Spain.

Columbus return to the America’s

In later 1493 Columbus set sail again, but this time with 17 ships, hundreds of soldiers, priests, and thousands of colonists (Why?)

Colonization – the establishment of distant settlements controlled by a parent country.

Natives fought colonization but were overmatched by Spanish weapons and deadly diseases spread Measles, mumps, Small Pox, Chicken Pox, and Typhus

Slave Trade is established

Because the Native Population was dying so rapidly, Spaniards looked to Africa to supply slaves to work the large plantations.

For over 300 years Europeans imported millions of Africans as slaves.

Impact of the Encounters

1. Native Population Decline – Result of disease, and warfare

2. Massive Migration - Europe to America, Africa to America

3. Columbian Exchange – The introduction of new plants and animals to America, Europe and Africa that took place as a result of Columbus’ voyages

1. New World – America2. Old World – Europe and

Africa

Conclusions

“The story of the United States, thus begins with a meeting of Native American, European, and African peoples that radically changed all three worlds”

“The New nations that emerged would blend elements of these three worlds… into a distinctly multicultural society.” p. 31 The Americans

Chapter 1 Day 1

Opener Trivia - How did America get its name? Explain.

In-Class Schedule Syllabus Issue Text books & U.S. / World Trivia Discussion of Trivia Ch. 1 Study Guide

Homework – Complete Sect. 1 & 2 Vocab On Study guide

Day 2

Opener Discussion Question - Is the U.S. the greatest nation in

the world? In the history of the world? Why or Why not?

In-Class Schedule Section 1 & 2 Notes (Sl 1-9) Anasazi + Iroquois Constitution Reading Patterns of Native Groups - Chart North American Culture Map (p. 11)

Homework Sect 3 & 4 Vocab + Finish Map.

Day 3

Opener “ You cannot discover new oceans, unless you have the

courage to leave the shore” Andre Gide

In-Class Schedule Notes (sl. 10 - 15) Web Diagram of causes of European exploration (RSG

p.11) Chart explaining each (section 4 guided reading)

Homework Section 5 Vocab

Day 4

Opener At 98.5 % white what state has the lowest % of

nonwhite residents? Why (your best guess)?In-Class Schedule

Notes 16-21(18?) (Col. Exchange chart) Columbus Journal Reading Columbus Political Cartoon – Handout Pol. Cartoon project – Relationships between the 3

cultures.Homework

Study for Chapter 1 test

Day 5

Opener DQ: Should Columbus be remembered as a hero or a

villain? Why? (What is the position of the U.S. Government?)

In-Class Schedule Finish Political Cartoon project Chapter 1 Test Intro ch. 2 + Study guides

Homework None …Enjoy your weekend!!!!