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FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

Roors: Nnrrvr AmrnrcnN Culrunrs

In this section you will read how the land that was to becomethe United States was first settled by people who came fromAsia and made their wav south from Alaska.

THE FIRST AMERICANS

More than twenty thousand years ago, the first settlers came to North America from Asia, cross-ing the narrow plain that once connected Siberia and Alaska. From Alaska, these peoples spreadsouthwards into North and South America. They developed different life-sryles depending uponthe resources and climates that they found. Since these peoples were in lands geographers call theAmericas, they are now referred to as Native Americans or Indigenous Peoples.

The new arrivals were hunters and gatherers, moving from place to place in search of food. Asthey settled, some groups (sometimes known as tribes) began to grow their own food. By 1497,when Europeans first came into contact with the peoples of the Americas, about one million Na-tive Americans lived in what is now Canada and the United States. Another five million lived inpresent-day Mexico and Central America. As many as twenry million people lived in SouthAmerica. Several million more Native Americans lived in the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

\7hat do you know about the people who first settled in the lands we now call North and

South America?

Important Terms and Concepts: As you read this section, look for the following:

* Native Americans * Mayans I Aztecs /Incas

To help you find these terms, this symbol * appears in the margin where the term is firstexplained.

IFROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

THE NATIVE AMERICAN EMPIRES OFMEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICA

In present-day Mexico, Central America and South America, several Native American peoplesf had created highly developed societies. The Mayans were the earliest Native American civiliza-

tion. They were located in southern Mexico and Guatemala. The Mayans made discoveries inscience, astronomy (the study of stars ad plmets), and mathematics. They developed the use ofzero, calculated the solar year, and could accurately predict eclipses. They also created uniqueforms of sculpture and painting. Some of their pyramids and temples srill stand today. TheAztecs were a powerful people who created an empire in central Mexico about ?00 years ago.They built stoneworks, pyramids and temples. They used picture writing and a calendar. Alongthe Andes Mountains in South America, the Incas formed a large empire. They built bridgesand extensive roads to connect their territories. Like the Aztecs, they built canals and terracesto improve farming. Although the Incas had no system of writing, they kept records by a systemef n'ing knots on strings.

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FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES IN THE UNITED STATES

A great variety of Native American cultures existed in the lands that would later become theUnited States. These Native Americans spoke over 500 different languages. They grew plants likecorn, potatoes and tobacco. Each group developed its own music and rituals.

MATORI,NATIVE, AM E RICAN G ROU PS

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r10 FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

What new information can you now add about the people who first came to the Americas?

The;{irst people to settle in North and South America came from Asia,by crossing the landbridge that once'joined Alaska and Asia. They developed a variery of lifesryles. based on the

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Directions: Complete the following cards. Then answer the multiple-choice questions.

Nenvn AMrmceNrs

Define

Name

this term:

2 groups of Native Americans:

MavaNs/Azrscs/INces

Who

Name

were they?

their major accomplishments:

X OTf :,,,,,f, ih ia ugh 9'ut t:: t,

preheiiiiii;"aguess,guessing, you should never omit ,an enswer to a'multipte-ihiice quesio,i otn any,examination.

The lroquois, Navajo and Apache would mostiikely be topics discussed in an essay dealingrrithI economic conditions in America3 European explorers3 Native American tribes4 European religions

The first people to settle in the Americas wereI hunters and gatherers of food2 enslaved peoples3 industrialists and businesspeople4 miners and plantation owners

FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE 11

3 The Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas are names of1 Native American gods

2 European explorers3 Native American civilizations4 North American rivers

Which statement is most accurate?1 There were no Native American settlements

in California.2 The Apaches made their home

State.New York

the PacificThe Iroquois often settlednorthwest.Indians on the Great Plainrherds.

hunted buffalo

Tnr EunopEANs Corvrr ro rHE Amrnlcns

In this section you will read about the reasonsfor European interest in exploring and colonizing

the lands that are now called the Americas.

What do you think motivated Europeans to come to the Americas?

Important Terms and Concepts: As you read this section, look for the following:

* Mayflower Compact i Atlantic Slave Trade* Indentured Servants * Democracv

THE SPANISH AND PORTUGESE REACH AMERICA

About 600 years ago, life in Europe underwent great changes. Better navigational skills and tech-nological advances made it possible to sail farther than ever before. Gunpowder made it possiblefor Europeans to create strong armies. The travels of European missionaries and traders likeMarco Polo stimulated an interest in goods from East Asia. Spices from Asia and gold from Afri-ca brought high prices in Europe. These factors led Europeans to find and explore other lands.Two European countries, Portugal and Spain, sought to control trade with these new lands.They began by sending out explorers to seek new routes to Asia and Africa.

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12 FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

I Prince Henry of Portugal (1394-1460) established a school of navigation for sailors

and mapmakers. He collected information about stars, tides, and ocean currents. Underhis direction, the Portuguese began sailing southward, exploring the west coast of Africa.

I Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), an Italian navigator sailing for Spain, believedthat he could reach the Far East by going westward. In 1492, Columbus set sail. No oneknew if he would find land or how far he would have to sail to find it. \7hen Columbussighted land in the Caribbean he believed he had arrived in the East Indies, and hecalled the inhabitants "lndians." Columbus made several later voyages to the Americas,establishing the first Spanish settlements there.

I Ferdinand Mageltan (1480-t 571), a Portugese sailor, led the first expedition of shipsaround the world in 1519. He took his crew of 265 sailors across the Atlantic, around

South America, and across the Pacific. Only t8 sailors lived to complete the three-yearvoyage. Magellan's voyages finally proved that the world was round.

Spanish and Portuguese conquerors, missionaries and colonists followed the explorers. They came

to the Americas (which the Europeans named the "New World") for a variety of reasons. Manywere in search of gold and silver. Others hoped to convert the Native Americans to Christiani-ry. Spanish soldiers quickly conquered the great Aztec and Inca empires and seized their land.

The Spaniards set up plantations and used the Native Americans for forced labor. How was it

possible for so few Europeans to conquer so many Native Americans - especially fierce warriorslike the Aztecs and Incas?

Both Spain and Portugal wanted control over what they called the "New \7orld." To prevent aconflict between these two countries, the Pope (the religious leader of all Roman Catholics) divid'ed rhe New World between Spain and Portugal, As a result, Brazil was seftled by the Portuguese,u'hile the rest of South America, Central America, and Mexico were settled by the Spanish.

EuropeanTechnology

The Europeans hadsuperior weapons: cross-bows, steel swords, andiron-tipped lances. Mostimportant, they hadhorses, cannons andgunpowder, which wereunknown to NativeAmericans.

Divisions withinlndian Societ ies

The Aztecs were bitterlvhated by other NativeAmerican groups, whowere forced to send themgif ts and humans forsacrifice. These groupshelped the Spaniardsto overthrow the Aztecs.

Spread ofDisease

Europeans broughtdisea.es such as smal l-pox and measles withthem. Since the NativeAmericans had noresistance to these newdiseases, mi l l ions ofthem died.

FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE 13

THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONIES

Spain's vast empire in the New World increased the interest of Spain's rivals, England andFrance. England thought it necessary to develop its own colonies (Iands ruledby urother country)ro avoid being overwhelmed by Spanish power. As a result, English colonies were founded.

JAMESTOWN (1607)The first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. The firstcolonists at Jamestown hoped to make money by finding gold, and were not interested in growingcrops. About two-thirds of the original settlers died in the first year. Others wanted to return toEngland. However, with the help of Native Americans, the settlers survived, learning to growcom and to fish. Jamestown soon grew rich by growing tobacco for sale in England.

THE PTLGRTMS (1620)In England, religious disagreements led a small group called the Pilgrims to decide to sail to theAmericas, where they could worship God in their own way. They chose to leave England ratherthan to face persecution by the king for their religious beliefs. After a ten-week voyage, 102 men,\\'omen and children arrived at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts in 1620. Before going ashore,they signed an agreement known as

* thte Mayflower Compact. In it theypledged themselves to self-govern-ment - all laws would need com-mon approval and consent. Thefirst year they faced many hard-ships. The Pilgrims survived be-cause of the help they receivedfrom the Native Americans, whotaught them how to hunt animals.fish, and grow crops.

Tr{E PURTTANS (1630)The Puritans were another. muchlarger religious group in England.They arrived in Massachusetts in 1630 and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony. lTithin afew years, over 10,000 more sailed to America. The Puritans believed they were establishingGod's kingdom on earth and had no need to tolerate other views or opinions. Attendance atchurch was required by Puritans. They sought to "purifii" their religion by making services andlife as simple and plain as possible; dancing and other amusements were forbidden.

WHY SETTLERS CAME

The Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact

their religion without in-be practiced. As a result,

ESCAPE FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONPeople went to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Maryland to practiceterference. Massachusetts was a colony that allowed onlv Puritanism to

I14 FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE

in 1636, Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, the first American colony to allow freedom formost religions. Maryland became a haven for Catholics, while Quakers went to Pennsylvania.

DESIRE FOR LANDPeople went to Virginia so that they could eventually own their own land. Many of them came

as indentured servants. A colonial landowner paid for their passage, and the new arrival prom- |ised to work on the landowner's plantation or farm, usually for seven years. Once the debt waspaid off, these "servants" obtained their freedom and began saving to buy land of their own.

A BETTER LIFELife in Europe was hard for most people. Frequent wars between European powers had destroyedmany farms and damaged trade. Also, many who had been imprisoned for nonpayment of debts

saw the colonies as a place to start over. The promise of a better life in the Americas attractedpeople to move to the English colonies.

THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADEAfricans were brought to the Americas by force. Starting in the 1500s, ship captains went to thecoast of West Africa to buy captured Africans and transport them to the Americas as slaves.Slaves were used to work the mines and plantations of the Spanish coionies, and the practice wasimitated in Virginia and the other Southern colonies. The first Africans arrived in Jamestown in1619. Despite the hardships of slavery, African Americans managed to preserye elements of theirheritage and developed a unique culture with a strong sense of community.

ATLANTIC OCEAN

FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO INDEPENDENCE 15

THE ENGLISH COLONIES EXPAND

English settlements quickly extended up and down the Atlantic coast. By the 1730s, all of thecoast between present-day Florida and present-day Canada was divided into English colonies.Geographic, religious and social differences soon created differing patterns of life in the colonies.

NEW ENGLANDNew England's population grew quickly. New England had less fertile land and was colder thanthe other colonies. People usually lived in towns and villages. The New England colonists hadsmall farms where they primarily grew crops for their own use. Others became sailors, shipbuild-ers and fishermen. New England also developed into a center for making finished goods.

MIDDLE COLONIESFertile soil and uncleared forest drew settlers to the "Middle Colonies" - Delaware, Pennsylva-nia, New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Farming was the major occupation of the area. Smalland large farms grew wheat, oats, corn and other grains that were sold to the other colonies. TheMiddle Colonies also benefited from trade berween New England and the Southern colonies. TheMiddle Colonies had several groups with differing religious beliefs. For example, the Quakers,who settled in Pennsylvania, believed everyone was equal before God. Catholics started a colonyin Maryland. This religious diversity (existence of differences) led the Middle Colonies to followpolicies of religious toleration.

SOUTI{ERN COLONIESVirginia was the oldest English colony in the New World. The Carolinas were settled by a char-tered company formed by English nobles in the 1660s. Georgia was originally founded as a placefor imprisoned debtors and other convicts sent from England. The plantations of the SouthernColonies (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) produced tobacco, rice and in-digo for shipment to England, in exchange for manufactured goods. On the larger plantations, thelabor force consisted of indentured servants and enslaved peoples from Africa.

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