APUSH Period 1

Flashcards about the timeline of Period 1 in APUSH, covering events from 1491 to 1607.

America Before Columbus (1491)

• Native societies adapted to and transformed their environment through innovations.

• They had a diversity of spiritual beliefs and matriarchal societies.

• Maize was the main crop, and they practiced Three Sisters Farming (corn, beans, squash)

European Discovery of New World (1492)

• In 1492, Christopher Columbus (sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain) attempted to sail to Asia but landed in the Americas.
• God, glory, gold were main causes of conquest.

Columbian Exchange (1492)

• The flow of goods and resources between the Americas, Europe, and Africa after Columbus’s discovery of the New World.
• Maize, tobacco, and other crops introduced to Old World; domesticated animals introduced to New World.
• It also began the African slave trade.

Columbus Reports on His First Voyage (1493)

• The descriptions of New World and its potential encourage further conquest of New World.
• Columbus tries to convert Natives to Christianity hoping that they would share resources.

Doctrine of Discovery (1493)

• Issued by Pope Alexander VI, stated that any land that was not occupied by Christians was allowed to be claimed.
• Christianity should be spread throughout the New World to convert the “barbaric” natives.

Encomienda System Established (1512)

• System of enslaving Indians and forcing them to become personal slaves.
• Work in fields/mining projects, make infrastructures.

Religious Battles in the New World (1517)

• Started by Martin Luther in 1517, against the practices/exploitation of the Catholic Church.
• Spread quickly to many other European countries.

Smallpox decimates native population (1520)

• Smallpox transferred to New World through first major colonial expedition and decimated Native population.

Rise of Atlantic Slave Trade (1525)

• The first slave trade voyage from Africa to America was a ship that landed in Santo Domingo.
• Slaves worked at sugar plantations, experienced harsh conditions.
• Slave populations increased due to coerced migration.

Spain authorizes Coronado’s conquest (1540)

• King Charles V of Spain authorized Loaysa to explore the New World for wealth and resources.

Coronado’s conquest (1540)

• Loaysa planned to convert Natives into Catholics from the permission that he was granted by King Charles V.
• Coronado was in search of the seven cities of Cibola.
• They found natural landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, and the Rio Grande

Las Casas on Subjugation of the Indians (1550)

• Las Casas attempted to end the encomienda system (forced labor from Native Americans)
• Denounced Spanish exploitation of Natives.

Bartolome De las Casas popularizes the idea of the “Black Legend” (1552)

• The “Black Legend” was used to describe the negative image of Spain for its mistreatment and exploitation of Natives.
• Las Casas condemned this mistreatment and proposed alternative: slaves from Africa

Tobacco arrives in Europe (1555)

• Tobacco worked well in mercantile system in the New World.

Sir Francis Drake’s Attack on St. Augustine (1586)

• A raid against Spanish settlements in the Caribbean.
• Europeans recognized the benefits of long-distance conquest and commerce.

Engraving of the Village of Secotan (1590)

• The engraving consisted of a charnel house, a place for prayers, a dance ground, a place to meet after celebrations, and two fields of tobacco.
• Village of Secotan: new-found land of Virginia

Jamestown established (1607)

• Jamestown established on May 24, 1607, became first permanent English settlement in North America.
• John Smith was Virginia colony’s leader, led hunting and exploration expeditions around that area. John Rolfe introduced tobacco