Chapter 1

Beginnings of America

Section 1:The World Before 1600

Main Idea: Diverse cultures existed in the Americas, Europe, and Africa before 1600.

Bell ringer: How did we learn about Prehistoric people in

the America’s? Prehistoric societies-those from before the invention of writing- can be studied through archeology, the scientific study of the remains of past human life. Archeologist study evidence such as pottery, weapons, and tools they find in ancient towns and campsites. In this way, they have learned about the first people who lived in North and South America. Distinctive spear tips called clovis points have been found throughout North America, leading archeologists to develop theories about ancient migration across the continent.

Review Questions:

What is the science that is the study of the remains of past human life?

What do you think scientists can learn from examining ancient pottery and tools?

The Early Americas 10,000 years ago, during the ice age, most of the earth was covered in ice Exposed a bridge of land between Alaska and

North East Asia over the Bering Strait Known as “Beringia”

Siberian (East Asian) hunters crossed this bridge to North America These people were nomadic hunter-gatherers and had

to move when the animals moved When many of the animals died off, these people

began to plant seeds to grow crops. This allowed them to live in one place Became known as the “Agricultural Revolution”

Reading Focus Question #1:

Who were the first people in the early Americas? Nomadic hunters from Asia who crossed

a land bridge known as Beringia

Empires of Mesoamerica 2 major empires rose up in Mesoamerica

(Mexico and Central America) Mayans

Developed around 400 B.C., built pyramids, developed writing and numeric system

Aztecs Formed a large empire in Mexico with a capital

city

North American Cultures Before 1500

Different Cultures developed based on Geography, climate, and resources

Southwest People lived in many room adobe dwellings called

pueblos Culture was ruled by a council of elders

Northwest Coast Had abundant supply of resources, held potlatches

(feasts) to show off wealth California

Many plants and animals were available year round

Far North Lived in tundra, (frozen land), hunted seals, seabirds,

caribou, beaver, and bear Great Basin and Plateau

Dry land region, peoples depended heavily on hunting and gathering

Great Plains Culture depended heavily on the use of the buffalo

Eastern Woodlands Eastern U.S., plentiful animals, plants, and fish, used

forests to build permanent homes like longhouses

Southeast Supported themselves through farming

Shared Customs and Traditions Most villages and nations were organized into

clans based on kinship, or family relationships Kinship often determined social status and how

property was inherited Religion was based on a connection to the

natural world Viewed land as a gift from the Great Spirit that was

not able to be owned Different tribes traded with one another on a

barter system, an exchange of goods without the use of money

Reading Focus Question #2

In What ways were North American cultures before and after 1500 different and in what ways were they similar? Different: regional diversity according to climate,

geography, and resources Similar: social and political ideas, religion, land

use, and trade

African Trading Cultures

Ghana and Mali Earliest kingdoms, grew wealthy by taxing

traders, famous ruler Mansa Musa travelled the world and brought knowledge back to Africa

Songhai Largest kingdom, ruled by Askia Muhammed from

1493-1528, center of Islamic knowledge Benin and Kongo

2 coastal African kingdoms, became wealthy from trade with Europeans

Trade changes in West Africa

European traders were first attracted to Africa for gold and trade

Europeans began to participate in the slave trade

Began with Portuguese who set up colonies & plantations in Africa while looking for a route to India Parts of Africa suffered huge losses in population Caused divisions among different groups of

African peoples

Reading Focus Question #3:

What Characterized African cultures before 1500? West Africa trading kingdoms like Mali, Ghana,

Songhai, Benin, and Kongo emerged. Arab traders brought Islam to East Africa

European Exploration

1500’s in Europe was the “Middle Ages” Difficult time full of lawlessness, and frequent

invasions The Crusades occurred, a series of wars between

Christians and Muslims for control of Palestine Creation of nation-states as land was consolidated

from individual nobles to stronger rulers who set up strong governments

In England, nobles fought total control by

the king & forced him to sign the Magna Carta Recognized the privileges of nobles which eventually

extended to all citizens Gave townspeople rights Protected all freeman from random arrest, imprisonment, &

other legal actions King could not raise taxes without consulting his council of

Lords & clergy “No taxation without representation.”

Stated that the king must obey the law Government cannot seize property without consent

The Renaissance & the Reformation

Increased trade led to sharing of new ideas, population growth, and improved education

Led to a period known as the “Renaissance” which means rebirth Studied Greek and Roman classics Produced great works of art Made achievements in science Encouraged people to question accepted ideas in

religion Martin Luther and the Protestants broke from the Catholic

Church during the “Reformation”

The Age of Exploration

In the 1200’s, Marco Polo travelled from Venice Italy to China to trade

In 1400’s Prince Henry of Portugal set up a school and Naval Observatory to encourage exploration Wanted to find a sea route to China for trade purposes

New advances were made in ship building and navigation

After Prince Henry’s death in 1498, explorer Vasco DeGama was successful in sailing to India

Reading Focus Question #4:

How did European exploration begin? Renaissance encouraged new ways of looking at

the world, new technologies in shipbuilding and navigation made exploration possible, desire for new trade routes was strong motivation

Columbus Reaches the Caribbean

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 Became a sailor on merchant and warships Wanted to use a westward route to sail to Asia Was unable to get Italian or Portuguese

financiers Was able to convince King Ferdinand and Queen

Isabella to sponsor the trip Started his voyage west on August 3, 1492 with

three ships: The Nina, The Pinta, and the Santa Maria

After 3 weeks the crew was close to mutiny when they spotted land

Thought they had reached Asia but had really reached the Bahamas

The Impact of Columbus

Columbus’s journey sparked the beginning of European colonization in the Americas.

Frequent clashes between natives and Europeans

First persuaded natives to work for them, eventually began enslaving them

Began trade of plants and animals between Europeans, Native Americans and Africans known as the “Columbian Exchange”

Columbian Exchange Brought horses to the Americas Native Americans caught many European

diseases

Section 2: European Colonies in America

Main Idea: Spain began colonizing America, and later, England built a diverse group of colonies on the Atlantic Seaboard

Bell RingerHow did two European sea powers carve up

the Americas? After Christopher Columbus returned

to Spain with news of the Americas, Queen Isabella

wanted to quickly secure Spain’s claims to the

continent before Portugal did. She asked Pope

Alexander VI for approval of Spain’s claims. A

Spaniard himself, Alexander agreed, and drew a

line down the globe. He gave Spain claim to

everything west of the line and Portugal everything

to the east. After Portugal protested, diplomats met

in 1494 and gave Brazil to Portugal and North America to

Spain.

Review Quetions

What event prompted Queen Isabella’s visit to Pope Alexander VI and her request for his help?

Why do you think Spain and Portugal wanted to claim the land in the Americas?

European Explorers in the America’s

Wave of exploration began after the Treaty of Tordesillas

Goal was: “God, Gold, and Glory” Wanted to spread Christianity, find wealth, and become

famous for their explorations

Juan Ponce De Leon Spanish explorer who reached Florida, claimed Florida for

Spain

Hernan Cortes Conquered the Aztec Empire and searched for gold in Mexico

Hernando De Soto Traveled throughout the Southeast and

discovered the Mississippi River Francisco Vasquez De Coronado

First expedition to travel west to Kansas and the Grand Canyon

Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Sailed north from Mexico along the coast of

California

Spain Builds an Empire Spain began developing a system of government for the lands it conquered Viceroys, were direct representatives of the monarch,

ruled the conquered provinces The Encomienda System, a system in which a wealthy

landowner had the right to control the people of a certain area.

Social standing depended on ancestry People born in Spain (Peninsulars) were superior to Spaniards

born in the Americas (Creoles) who were superior to Mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage. Lowest social standings were those of mixed Spanish and African heritage, Africans, and Indians

Spanish Missions in North America

Spain sent missionaries to spread Christianity to Native Americans

Missionaries are people who convert others to a particular religion

In 1769, the Spanish Viceroy sent Friar Junipero Serro to San Diego where he founded missions along the coast of California

Other Nations Explore

Explorers from England, France, and Netherlands began to explore the Americas and challenged Spain’s claims to the Americas

In 1558, England and Spain went to war, England defeated Spain’s famous Spanish Armada

Reading Focus Question #1

Which European nations explored the America’s and where? Spain explored North, Central and South America France, the Netherlands, & England explored

North America

The English in Virginia

After defeating the Spanish Armada, England began to establish colonies in North America

King James I issued a charter that separated North America between 2 investment companies: London Company & the Plymouth Company Both were joint-stock companies in which investors

pooled their money to finance the colony, governed and maintained the colony, an shared the profits

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

In 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh founded a colony in Virginia named Roanoke

Leader of the Colony went back to England When he returned the entire colony was

empty The colonists disappearance has never been

solved

Jamestown

Settled in 1607, Jamestown was the first English colony to survive

Encountered problems such as disease from contaminated water,& starvation

Colony survived because of John Smith who established discipline in the colony and John Rolfe who discovered how to plant tobacco & the strong relationship he developed with the Native Americans

Virginia Grows and Changes Over 15 years, population grew Developed a House of Burgess, America’s

first Legislative, law-making body Began the practice of indentured servitude,

servant who agree to work for a certain number of years in exchange for food, shelter, and paid trip

By late 1600’s plantation owners began to use slave labor

Reading Focus Question #2

Did the English succeed in creating settlements? Yes; Jamestown colony survived diseases and

food shortages; growing tobacco helped economy to survive

The Northern Colonies Some Protestants (Puritans) did not feel the

Reformation went far enough & wanted Religious freedom

Set sail for America in 1620 on the Mayflower to establish a colony where they could practie their religion freely

Landed in Massachusetts Signed the Mayflower Compact, a legal

contract in which they agreed to make laws to protect the general good

First attempt at self-government in the colonies

Pilgrims sailed nearby and established the Plymouth Colony

Built homes and grew their own food By Spring half of the group died of hunger,

cold, and sickness

Massachusetts Bay Company

Puritan settlers set up The Massachusetts Bay Company

Goals were to make a profit and create a religious haven

Over 20 years, 16,000 people migrated to Massachusetts

Reading Focus Question #3

What were the Characteristics of the northern colonies? Settled by the Puritans, goals were to make a

profit and establish a religious haven, beginnings of self-government

New Colonies Connecticut

Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts to set up a more democratic government

Rhode Island Established by Roger Williams because he believed that

church and state should be separate, befriended the Native Americans and paid them for their land

New Hampshire Established by Anne Hutchinson’s brother-in-law

The Middle and Southern Colonies

Because Knig Charles had debts, he began to give charter to individuals he owed

These colonies were ruled by their owners

New Netherlands Becomes New York

After the English captured New Netherlands from the Dutch, King James gave it to his bother, James, Duke of York

Was renamed New York Was diverse in ethnicities and religions (English,

Dutch, Scandinavians, Germans, French, Native Americans, and Africans)

James later gave a large piece of land south of the Hudson river to two individuals, it became known as New Jersey

The Carolina’s and Georgia

Charles gave the land that became the Carolinas to a group of eight men

Southern Carolina became rice plantations along the river, economy relied on slave labor

Northern Carolina consisted of small farms Eventually the two parts resented each other

so much, the King separated them

Spanish still controlled the southeast (Florida) and west

English created Georgia as a colony as a buffer

Quakers Settle Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania was given to William Penn as a payment for debt

Set up PA as a “Holy Experiment”, a haven for religious diversity, payment to Native Americans for their land

Maryland

Set up as a colony for Catholics

Reading Focus Question #4

What were the characteristics of the middle and Southern Colonies? Typified by large plantations, such as South

Carolina, or small farms, such as North Carolina

Section 3: Colonial Life

Main Idea: The American colonies developed politically, culturally, and economically

Bell Ringer

Why did Molasses matter? To American colonists, Molasses was a vital item. The sticky, sweet syrup,byproduct of sugar processing was used as a sweetener incakes and pies, and was used to make rum, the most popular drink in the colonies. Most of the colonies’ sugar and molasses came from the Caribbean. With the Molasses Act of 1733, Parliament imposed stiff taxes on “foreign” sugar to force the colonists to buy from the British West Indies. Instead, colonists bought from smugglers. Smuggling of sugar and molasses was so successful that tax collection actually dropped after the passage of the Molasses Act.

Review Questions

Why was Molasses an important import for the America Colonies?

Why did Parliament impose tax on sugar from islands not controlled by Britain?

The Beginning of Self-Government

Britain had started colonies to make money, so it made sense to tax the colonists

Great Britain passed a series of laws that angered American colonists Mercantilism: the idea that a nation’s power was

directly related to its wealth (however, colonists wanted to make money for themselves, not the king)

The Navigation Acts: a series of laws to restrict colonial trade

Role of Royal Governors: The king merged colonies together and appointed a governor in an attempt to gain greater control of the colonies

Colonial Self-Government

Initially, American colonists claimed the same rights as British citizens

Began to take small steps toward self-government In 1643, several colonies formed the New

England Confederation British did not rule the colonies very closely

“salutary neglect” The colonies benefitted from being left alone

In daily life, local officials were more important than faraway British officials New England colonies were rule by town

meetings or other local governments Each colony also had a Governor appointed by

the king Colonial assemblies were modeled after British

Parliament Bi-cameral (two houses)

Governor’s council held executive and legislative powers, and was the supreme court of the colony

Elected assembly was similar to the House of Commons, had freedom of speech, and the right to pass laws about money

Reading Focus Question #1

How did the political and economic events lead to the beginnings of self-government in the colonies? Tensions between America and England made

colonists long for self-rule; royal governors and salutary neglect made it necessary for colonists to take steps toward self-government

The Northeast Colonial Economy

Colonists in the Northeast practiced subsistence farming (producing only enough to support one family)

Most valuable resource in the northeast was lumber

Exported lumber and became the center for ship building

Good harbors, and shipbuilding centers made the northeast become important trading centers

Southern Colonial Economies Economy was based on agrarianism, many small farms

and some large plantations Plantations produced cash crops, agricultural products

grown to be sold Crops included tobacco, rice, tar, and indigo On Plantations:

Large farm that grows one cash crop such as sugar or tobacco Depended largely on slavery for labor Plantations created a wealth class in the south

On small farms: Raised livestock and exported beef and pork Grew corn, wheat, fruit and vegetables to sell at a local markets

The Impact of Slavery

As settlers established plantations and farms they needed more workers

Stopped using Native Americans and indentured servants and began to rely on slaves instead

Triangular Trade Whale oil, lumber, fur, rice, silk, indigo, sugar,

molasses to England Slaves from Africa to Americas, gold, ivory, spices and

hardwoods from Africa to England Guns, cloth, iron, beer, rum, iron, gunpowder, and tools

to Africa

Middle Passage: the trip across the Atlantic Kidnapped Africans were chained together, in

overcrowded conditions and shipped overseas Many died during the trip

The number of slaves dramatically increased in the Americas within 50 years of the slave trade

Although there was slavery in both the North & South, most was in the south

African slaves maintained extended family structure, African beliefs, music, and dance

America’s Emerging Culture

The Enlightenment Period of time in which some thinkers in Europe

thought that logic & reason could be used to improve society law and government

John Locke wrote The Two Treatises of Government in which he argued that it was the duty of the government to protect citizen’s natural rights of life, liberty, and prosperity

Baron de Montesquieu believed in separating the powers of the government to prevent any person or group from becoming too powerful

Ideas of Montesquieu and Locke were read by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and other drafters of the constitution.

Ideas were used in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

The Great Awakening

Enlightenment thinkers saw humans as essentially good. This challenged traditional religious ideas that people were wicked

People began to question religion The Great Awakening was a major religious

revival attempting to bring people back to the church Jonathan Edwards used sermons featuring the

suffering of sinners who did not repent George Whitefield travelled to the Americas from

Britain and held open air meetings intended to move audiences to feel the religious spirit (revivals)

Life in the Colonies

Immigrants from new places began to arrive Colonial cities were exciting places

Paved streets, lit by streetlamps, had libraries, bookshops, and impressive public buildings

Residents went to concerts, plays, and shopped Printers printed newspapers, books,

advertisements, and political announements

Reading Focus #3

How did the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening contribute to America’s emerging culture? The Enlightenment encouraged scientific, rational

thinking The Great Awakening made religion more

accessible to Americans and caused church membership & attendance to grow

The French & Indian War

France and Spain had colonies in the

Americas as well Britain, France, and Spain had conflicts over

land which led to the French & Indian War French joined with the Indians had a history of fur

trading & joined together to fight the British

The Course of the War The French & Indian War broke out in 1754 Beginning of the war was bad for the British William Pitt took control of the British Army

Forced colonists to fight, seized supplies, forced colonists to house British soldiers

Resulted in the recapture of previously seized British forts

Britain attacked and captured Quebec in 1759 France surrendered the following year Treaty of Paris officially ended the war

The Impact of the French & Indian War

Colonial Unity Set the stage for the American Revolution Benjamin Franklin created the Albany Plan of Union

in which a grand council would deal with military issues, Native Americans, and western settlement while colonies maintained their own constitution

New Boundaries Great Britain gained all of France’s lands east of the

Mississippi including Canada and Florida from Spain which was France’s ally during the war

Spain got Louisiana from France

War debt The war was costly for Great Britain King George III believed the colonists should

have to pay for some of the costs and raised taxes

Effects on Native Americans Chief Pontiac creates an alliance of Midwest

Native Americans to drive the British out Pontiac’s rebellion lasted several years and

ended in 1766 in a peace treaty

To avoid further conflicts with Native Americans, British officials issued the Proclamation of 1763 Reserved lands west of the Appalachian

mountains for the Native Americans Colonists resented the ban and moved westward

anyway

Reading Focus Question #4

What were the causes and effects of the French and Indian War? Causes: territorial disputes among Britain,

France, and Spain Effects: France lost territory in North America,

Britain gained territory, Britain lost money, the colonies were more united, the Native Americans suffered