us history

What defined Native American societies before 1491?

Native American societies were diverse, adapted to their environments, and organized by region with distinct cultures, economies, and political systems.

How did maize cultivation impact native societies?

It allowed for population growth, urban development, and more complex social structures, especially in the American Southwest.

What are some major Native American cultural regions?

Southwest (Pueblo), Great Plains (Sioux), Mississippi River Valley (Cahokia), Northeast (Iroquois, Algonquians).

What role did trade play in Native American life?

Trade connected distant tribes, spread goods and ideas, and was vital to the economies of native societies.

What were European motives for exploration?

God (spread Christianity), Gold (wealth), and Glory (national competition and personal fame).

What was the Columbian Exchange?

A global transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe, Africa, and the Americas after 1492.

What were the effects of the Columbian Exchange on Native Americans?

Massive population decline due to disease (e.g., smallpox), disruption of societies, and environmental changes.

What was the encomienda system?

A labor system where Spanish colonists could demand tribute and forced labor from Native Americans in exchange for "protection" and conversion.

How did Spanish colonization differ from French and English?

Spanish focused on conquest and forced conversion, French focused on trade and alliances, English focused on settling land.

How did Native Americans respond to European colonization?

They resisted through warfare, adapted by forming alliances or trading, and tried to preserve culture.

What technological advances helped European exploration?

The caravel, compass, astrolabe, and printing press facilitated long-distance sea travel and information sharing.

Who was Christopher Columbus and why is he significant?

An explorer sponsored by Spain who landed in the Caribbean in 1492, initiating widespread European colonization and the Columbian Exchange.

What was the significance of the year 1491 in APUSH?

It represents the period just before European contact, highlighting the complexity of indigenous societies before colonization.

What was the significance of the year 1607 in APUSH?

It marks the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America.

What were the effects of European colonization on African populations?

It contributed to the transatlantic slave trade, causing forced migration and social disruption in West Africa.

What role did religion play in colonization?

Catholic Spain and Portugal sought to convert natives, while religious competition also fueled exploration and conquest.