U.S. History

Columbus and his party

False; they were not the first Europeans to land on North America.

Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde islands

They became staging points for later American colonization.

Sugar

The crop first cultivated using European managers and non-European slave labor.

Sugar cultivation

It was difficult due to the labor-intensive nature of the crop.

Native American population decline

Approximately 90 percent died within the first 150 years of European contact.

Columbus's belief

He thought travel from Spain to Asia was possible due to miscalculations about the Earth's size.

American history since 1492

Approximately 95 percent of American history has occurred since that year.

George McJunkin

His discovery in New Mexico changed understanding of American history by providing evidence of early human presence.

Spirit Cave man

His remains indicate aspects of the life of Paleo-Indians, including burial practices.

Diversity of Native American societies

Evidence from archaeological findings and cultural practices shows they were not all the same.

Christopher Miller's view

Early European settlers misunderstood Native Americans as primitive and uncivilized.

Historical thinking elements

The five basic elements include sourcing, contextualization, close reading, corroboration, and argumentation.

Primary source

A document or physical object created during the time under study.

Secondary source

A work that interprets or analyzes primary sources.

Cahokia

The society that represents the peak of the mound-building culture in North America.

Cahokia's largest structure

It was comparable in size to other ancient structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Mound 72 discoveries

They suggest complex social structures and possible ritual practices.

Largest wood henge function

It is suggested to have had astronomical or ceremonial functions.

Soto's findings

He found substantial Native American towns in the 1540s, while the French found smaller settlements in 1670.

Cahokia's location

It was located near present-day St. Louis, Missouri.

Cahokia characteristics

Important characteristics include large earthen mounds, a complex society, and extensive trade networks.

Cahokia's decline

It experienced a decline due to environmental changes and social upheaval.

Coronado and de Soto expeditions

They increased Spanish interest in North America by revealing its resources and potential for settlement.

Migration to America

Small bands of people crossed from Asia to America approximately 15,000 years ago.

Spiritual practices of indigenous people

They often shared beliefs in a connection to nature and the importance of rituals.

Property understanding

North American indigenous people viewed land as communal, unlike European individual ownership.

Cahokia's peak population

It was comparable to major American cities in the early years of the United States.

Language of communication

English is used due to historical European dominance and colonization.

European monarchs' motivations

They used commerce and religion to enhance their nations' wealth and power.

Columbian Exchange

It facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and populations, forming an Atlantic world.

European commerce and religion

They were used to advance nations' fortunes through trade and missionary efforts.

West Africa transformation

Forces such as trade and the slave trade were transforming West Africa before the Atlantic slave trade.

Columbian Exchange role

It played a crucial role in shaping the Atlantic world through the exchange of crops and livestock.

European relations with Native Americans

These relations affected the success of colonization efforts, often leading to conflict or cooperation.

First permanent European settlement

The first permanent European settlement in the current American Southwest was Santa Fe.

Spaniards in New Mexico

Few moved due to harsh conditions and limited economic opportunities.

Spanish missionary writings

Bartolomé de las Casas spread the idea of Spanish atrocities, influencing non-Spanish Europeans.

Northwest Passage

It allegedly promised a water-route to Asia.

French strategy

In North America, the French preferred trade and alliances over large-scale settlement.

Religious liberty

The Dutch offered the most religious liberty to their residents.

Dutch New Amsterdam

By 1660, it had the largest non-English population on the North American continent.

Portuguese New World colony

Brazil enslaved more Africans than any other colony in the Atlantic slave trade.

Social and economic changes

The English population faced changes due to urbanization and economic shifts in the 1500s and 1600s.

English colonization differences

It focused more on settlement and land ownership compared to Spanish or French colonization.

First permanent English settlement

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

Jamestown's location issues

The worst aspect was its swampy location, leading to health