Journal #1 A.) In pairs brainstorm words that you think represent America. B.) Read and discuss the provided bank of quotes. 1.What is an American? Come up with a definition. 2. Why do so many people around the world want to become American? What do you know about your families journey to America?

The Nations Beginnings

Early Americans Who are the first Americans? Native American: –Indigenous people who inhabited North and South America for thousands of years before European contact. –How did they get here?

Native Creation Stories Cherokee Long ago, before there were any people, the earth was a great island floating in a sea of water, suspended by four cords hanging down from the sky vault, which was made of solid rock. It was dark and the animals could not see, so they got the sun and set it in a track to go across the island every day from east to west, just overhead. The Creator told the animals and plants to stay awake for seven nights. But only a few of the animals were able to, including owls and panthers, and they were rewarded with the power to go about in the dark. Among the plants, only the cedars, pines, spruces, and laurels stayed awake, so they were allowed to remain green year-round and to provide the best medicines. The Creator chided the other trees: "Because you have not endured to the end, you shall lose your hair every winter." People appeared last, after the animals, the sun, and the plants, but they multiplied so quickly that they threatened to overrun the world. So it was decided that each woman would have only one child a year, and it has been that way ever since.

Land Bridge Theory Somewhere between 12,000 and 30,000 years ago. Water levels drop as much as 300ft creating “Beringia” Share DNA and blood types of Japanese. Ice age ended 10,000 years ago

Developing Societies With changing climate start to develop crops. (Beans, squash, tomatoes, peppers, cocoa, potatoes, maize) Creates complex, non-nomadic societies, with social hierarchy, jobs, and gender roles. Big difference from European cultures is that there is no private ownership of the land. –The people are part of the land therefore they can’t own it! How would the development of farming, help shape and advance native societies?

Neither Barbaric or Harmonic! They weren’t the savages or “Skerlings” many viewed them as. Had Complex societies and advanced agricultural techniques. Many did practice human sacrifice and Aztec Kings were known to kill as many as 1,000 a day!

Valley of Mexico, 100 B.C.E.

Non-Nomadic Communities Mayan: Yucatan Peninsula (250 to 900 AD) Aztec: (1200 AD) –Perhaps the most powerful –Believed in white god that would come from the sea. –Capital had over 300,000 people! 5 times largest city in spain.

Chichen Itza

Tulum

Inca (1400 AD) Located in South America 2,500 mile long empire Last of great Native Communities.

How is this a good tactical location? Machu Picchu

Mississippian Huge mounds located in the Mississippi basin. Disappeared for unknown reason.

Common Village

Adaptability of Native Peoples Pueblo Indians: lived in Southwest –How would they need to adapt?

Chaco Canyon, NM

Complex Societies Iroquois: lived in Northeast –First power structures in America –Why is the cultivation of Tobacco so important? Trade routes: –What is the importance of trade?

African Communities Why do you think Africa and the America’s didn’t develop at the same rate as Europe? Why colonize North America and not Africa? Why the slave trade?

Age of Exploration Why is Europe all of sudden interested in outside world? Early Chinese and Viking Exploration

Viking Exploration Arrived 500 years before Columbus in NewFoundland. First European colony set up by Leif Eriksson. –Constantly had trouble with unfriendly Eskimo Tribes.

Christopher Columbus 1492 Not even looking for North America –Looking for passage to India! –Later explorers would try to find the “Northwest Passage” in doing so their claim to the land shaped the country we live in today! What are some of the results of him landing on the “New World”? Why is he so important?

Disease As much as 80% of native population likely died due to European diseases. –8 to 16 million Natives before. –Europeans killed an estimated 12 million!!! Small Pox, measles, chicken pox Natives became enslaved, converted, had land taken from them.

When in the Caribbean Columbus and his men actually hunted the Native Taino Indians for sport!! Columbus reports back to Spanish crown that the Natives could be enslaved, and that great riches were to be had.

Spanish mission systems

Spanish and the Indians Juniper Sierra: –Purpose in California was to convert the Natives to Catholicism. General Portola: –Didn’t want to work w/ the natives. Believed in using force to overtake lands and believed the Natives should be slaves to the Spanish.

Spanish mission systems Mestizo = mixed Spanish and Native people.

Immigrant Song Ah, ah, We come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow. The hammer of the gods Will drive our ships to new lands, To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming! On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore. Ah, ah, We come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow. How soft your fields so green, Can whisper tales of gore, Of how we calmed the tides of war. We are your overlords. On we sweep with threshing oar, Our only goal will be the western shore. So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins, For peace and trust can win the day Despite of all your losing.

Cartoon/Poem Activity: Option 1: 1.Create a cartoon that demonstrates your knowledge of the development of the Native peoples and their first encounters with European Settlers. 2.On the back write a paragraph explaining the historical context of your cartoon. Option 2: 1.Write two poems about European discovery and settlement of the Americas. One from the perspective of the Natives and one from the perspective of the European settlers. Use pages in your book for references.

One page essay: Write a one page essay where you describe native American life in America before European contact and different theories for why Europeans were able to so easily settle the America’s. Use any and all resources. Follow the essay rubric and paragraph guidelines. Due Monday.