The History of California 4 th Grade CA History – Lesson 3

In the beginning… The Native Americans were the first people to live in what is now California. Many different tribes settled in California because the land was rich with resources and the weather was nice. The tribes had different languages, beliefs, and practices, yet they all lived peacefully and called California home.

Where did the tribes live?

How did the tribes modify or adapt to their environment? Native Americans were very careful to change the environment as little as possible. The tribes modified the environment by using once open land for farmland and by cutting down trees to build homes and for firewood. Otherwise, they left much of the land the way it had been since the beginning of time. When the tribes settled in California, the people had to adapt to their new environment. –The tribes in the Northwest adjusted to living in the forest by using the large trees to make homes and canoes for travel. –In the desert areas, the Ute-Chemehuevi and others adapted to their dry climate by moving around in order to get the resources they needed. –In some cases, the tribes changed their diets and hunted the animals that lived in their area, which sometimes included lizards.

What did the tribes eat? Although each Californian tribe had its own practices and beliefs, all of the tribes in California used the acorn as a food source. The tribes would pick or gather the acorn. Acorns were then mashed, boiled, and added to different food dishes. Other food sources changed depending on the area in which the tribe lived. Tribes that lived on the coast often ate fish and other seafood. Tribes that were able to farm grew some of their food. Deer, rabbits, and other game could be found most of the regions. If necessary, some desert tribes ate lizards.

What were the tribes' economies based on? The economy of the tribe often changed based on where the tribe lived. –Tribes in the Southeast often grew much of their food, which meant that these tribes had agricultural based economies. –Some other tribes had economies that were based on money systems. –The Chumash and other coastal tribes often used seashells as money.

Were the tribes warlike or peaceful? Most of the tribes in California were spread out from each other. The geography of the land helped keep the tribes separate. For example, the Sierra Nevada Mountains were too hard to travel over or through, which caused many tribes to stay in their own area. The plentiful amount of natural resources was another reason the tribes of California rarely fought. Most of the tribes had plenty of resources in their area to provide for their needs. As a result there was little to cause a major war.

What were the tribes' economies based on?