History 1301 U.S. History to 1877 Central Texas College Fort Knox, Kentucky Bruce A. McKain

Class Information Meeting Time and Place – Room 208 Army Ed Center 5:00-10:00 p.m. Mondays. Text – The American Nation: A History of the United States (2008), 14 th edition. Instructor – Bruce McKain (cell)

Course Requirements Be in Class and participate Weekly Quizzes (25% of the course grade) Final (25% of course grade) Student Project – Oral Presentation or Exhibition (25% of course grade) Class Participation (25% of course grade)

Grade Scale A 80-89B 70-79C 60-69D 59 and below F Your effort to earn a failing grade will be far greater than the effort it takes to earn an A or B.

Course Content

Three Worlds Meet Pre-Columbian America Theories on settlement Land-bridge Theory – 12,000-15,000 year ago – Dry land path from Siberia to Alaska – Most accepted of the theories.

Other Theories Ancient Mariners Asia Africa

Scandinavia

America Prior to Columbus

Christopher Columbus 1492 Italian Explorer Sailed for Spain Never sets foot on the American Continents “Discovers” San Salvador Starts the period of exploration of the New World.

Columbus Supported by Spain Isabella of Castile Ferdinand of Aragon

Christopher Columbus His Ships Landing at San Salvador

Other Early Explorers Hernando Cortes 600 Men Horses Burned his ships Defeated the Aztec Empire with help from Indian Allies

Francisco Pizarro 130 Men Explored much of the Andes Mountains Defeated the Inca Empire, with help from Indian Allies

Juan Ponce de Leon Explored South- eastern North America Looking for Fountain of Youth He did not find it – He is DEAD.

St. Augustine FL. – Oldest European City in America

Hernando de Soto Explored Southern North America “Discovered” Mississippi River Explored into Oklahoma and Texas Died and buried in Mississippi River

Effect on Native People Slavery Death due to disease Forced conversion to Christianity Near depopulation of much of the Americas New Animals and crops introduced by Europeans

Effects on Europeans Importation of vast wealth Land made available Improved diet due to corn, beans, & potatoes Comfort products: Sugar, Coffee, Tobacco, & Chocolate

Motivation of Colonizing Powers Spain – God and Gold France – God, Furs, and Trade England – Religious Freedom and Land