APUSH - PERIOD 1 VOCAB

Maize

Indiginous peoples version of corn

American Southwest

Region populated by "Pueblo" peoples. Relied on irrigation farming techniques.

Eastern Woodlands

Area of pre-Columbian North America with the greatest stockpile of food. Many of these tribes relied on hunting and gathering, but mostly obtained food surpluses by way of farming.

Great Basin

Region of pre-Columbian North America bounded by the Rockies on the east and the Sierra and Cascade ranges on the west. Peoples here relied heavily on hunting and gathering.

Great Plains

Region of pre-Columbian North America in which the people relied heavily on sedentary farming. However, some tribes did rely on hunting, but hunting of large game like the Buffalo was not widespread until the 1700 and 1800s.

Mississippi River Valley

Region of pre-Columbian North America that relied heavily on the Mississippi River. Peoples here relied on corn and other grains.

Columbian Exchange

The process by which items were exchanged between the New World and Old World. Most important of these items were Sugar (from Old to New), Smallpox (from Old to New), Potatoes (from New to Old)

Feudalism

A political and economic system that situated Kings at the top and laborers (serfs) at the bottom.

Capitalism

An economic system in which a country's economic industries are controlled by private enterprises.

Mercantilism

An economic system in which the government controls all aspects of that country's economy. Desires a favorable balance of trade and is heavily contingent upon colonies

Joint stock companies

A company made up of a group of shareholders. Each shareholder contributes some money to the company and receives some share of the company's profits and debts.

Spanish Empire

Spain's holdings in the New World; Focus on making gold and conversions.

Encomienda system

forced labor system in which Spaniards were given access to Natives as a labor force.

Cahokia

A civilization in modern day Illinois that constructed massive mounds to commemorate their gods.

Pueblo

Native group in the North American southwest that lived in structures called 'pueblos.'

Algonquian

Native Americans found living over a large area from the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes. Bound together by the complex language they spoke (Algonquin)

Iroquoian

Native Americans found living in the present-day northeastern United States. Known for a complex alliance system between each other.

Conquistadores

Spanish men in search of gold that usually conquered vast areas of the New World.

Coureurs de bois

Equivalent of a Spanish conquistador. French word for settlers involved in fur trapping.

Don Juan de Onate

Spanish conquistador/explorer that introduced the encomienda system to the New World.

Matrilineal

Societal organization that stresses power of the mother as opposed to the father.

Mestizos

People in the New World that were comprised of native and Spanish blood.

Roanoke

An English colonial endeavor that mysteriously failed when, upon return, English settlers found the colony entirely wiped out.

Smallpox

A disease responsible for the most devastation of the Native population.

Bartolome de Las Casas

1484-1566; Spanish historian, social reformer, and Dominican friar; sympathetic to natives and fought against people who thought the Natives should be slaves; inadvertently supported African slavery; author of the Destruction of the Indies.

Spanish Armada

Spanish navy fleet tasked with destroying Great Britain's Navy. Was defeated by Britain in 1588, allowing for Britain to take command of the seas and colonization.