Unit 1 American History Grade 11

When did the first humans arrive in the Americas, and how did they get there?

Between 15,000 and 35,000 years ago, men, women, and families from Asia crossed the Beringia land bridge into America.

When did the first Americans settle in larger areas and form big communities?

Around 1200 BCE.

Which early civilizations in the Americas developed into vast empires?

The Maya, Aztecs, and Incas.

What type of government systems did the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations have?

They were not democratic, but highly organized with centralized power.

What kinds of advancements did the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations achieve?

They developed advanced agricultural systems, calendars, and extensive trade routes.

How did the size of Native North American societies compare to the Aztecs and Incas?

Native North American societies were larger overall than the Aztec and Inca civilizations.

What factors determined the lifestyle of Indigenous peoples in North America before colonization?

Their way of life was shaped by the land, plants, and local animals of each region.

What was the estimated population of North America in the 1490s before European arrival?

Estimates range from 1 million to 10 million people.

How large were most Indigenous North American societies before colonization?

Most societies were small, usually 300 people or fewer.

How was work typically divided between men and women in Indigenous North American societies?

Men usually hunted, while women farmed and gathered food.

What were two common cultural or spiritual features of many Indigenous North American societies?

Many were matriarchal and practiced animism.

How many language families and distinct languages existed in pre-colonial North America?

There were more than 20 language families and about 400 languages.

Which Indigenous language family was the largest in the Northeast region of North America?

The Algonquin language family.

What were the main reasons European nations began exploring the world in the late 1400s and early 1500s?

Europeans sought cheaper trade routes to Asia, to spread Christianity, to gain political power, and to achieve fame and wealth.

How did new technology in the 1400s help Europeans explore further?

The invention of the compass, better maps, and improved ships (like the caravel) made long sea voyages possible.

What was the Treaty of Alcáçovas (1479), and who was involved?

The Treaty of Alcáçovas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that gave Portugal control of Africa and Spain control of the Canary Islands.

Why is Christopher Columbus significant in world history?

In 1492, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic from Spain, believing he could reach Asia, but instead reached the Americas, opening them to European exploration.

What were the names of the three ships Columbus commanded on his first voyage in 1492?

The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María.

Where did Columbus first land in October 1492?

He landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador.

What mistake did Columbus make when he reached the Americas?

He believed he had reached Asia and called the Indigenous people “Indians.”

How many voyages did Christopher Columbus make to the Americas, and what was their purpose?

Columbus made four voyages between 1492 and 1504, aiming to find new lands and trade routes for Spain.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), and why was it important?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed by Spain and Portugal, divided newly discovered lands outside Europe along a line in the Atlantic Ocean—Spain claimed most of the Americas, while Portugal claimed Brazil and territories in Africa and Asia.

Which Spanish explorer conquered the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico?

Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521.

Which Spanish explorer conquered the Inca Empire in present-day Peru?

Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in 1533.

What was the Spanish encomienda system?

It was a system where Spanish colonists were granted land and could demand labor or tribute from Indigenous people.

Who was Bartolomé de las Casas, and why is he remembered?

He was a Spanish priest who criticized the harsh treatment of Indigenous peoples under Spanish rule and called for reform.

What role did Catholic missionaries play in Spanish colonization?

Missionaries sought to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity and often built missions as centers of religion and culture.

What was the first permanent English settlement in North America?

Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607.

Why was the Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) significant in colonial history?

It was the first representative legislative assembly in the English colonies.

Who were the Puritans, and why did they come to North America?

The Puritans were a religious group who sought to “purify” the Church of England; many migrated to New England to seek religious freedom.

What was the Great Migration (1630s)?

The movement of thousands of Puritans from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Which French explorer established Quebec in 1608?

Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec, which became the center of New France.

What was the main economic activity of New France?

The fur trade, especially beaver pelts, which were highly valuable in Europe.

How did French colonization differ from English colonization in North America?

The French had fewer settlers and focused on trade and alliances with Indigenous peoples, while the English established larger permanent colonies.

What was the name of the Dutch colony in North America?

New Netherland, with its capital at New Amsterdam (present-day New York City).

What was the main economic activity of the Dutch in North America?

Trade, especially the fur trade, similar to the French.

Who eventually took control of New Netherland from the Dutch?

The English seized New Netherland in 1664 and renamed it New York.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (the Americas) after 1492.

Which Old World animals were introduced to the Americas during the Columbian Exchange?

Horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep.

Which New World crops were introduced to Europe during the Columbian Exchange?

Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco.

What was the most devastating effect of the Columbian Exchange on Indigenous populations?

European diseases such as smallpox killed millions of Indigenous people who had no immunity.

Why do some people celebrate Christopher Columbus as a hero?

He is credited with “discovering” the Americas for Europe and opening them to exploration, colonization, and trade.

Why do others criticize Columbus today?

He enslaved Indigenous people, exploited them, and his arrival led to disease and the deaths of millions of Native Americans.

What were the three geographic regions of the thirteen colonies?

New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.

Which colonies were in New England?

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

Which colonies were in the Middle Colonies?

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Which colonies were in the Southern Colonies?

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Who were the Pilgrims, and how did they differ from the Puritans?

The Pilgrims were Separatists who wanted to completely break away from the Church of England, unlike Puritans who wanted to reform it.

Why did the Pilgrims sail to North America in 1620?

They sought religious freedom and founded Plymouth Colony.

What was the Mayflower?

The ship that carried the Pilgrims to North America in 1620.

What was the Mayflower Compact, and why is it important?

It was an agreement signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 to establish self-government and majority rule in Plymouth Colony.

Who helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter in Plymouth Colony?

The Wampanoag people, especially Squanto, taught them farming and fishing skills.

What is the traditional story of the “First Thanksgiving”?

In 1621, Pilgrims and Wampanoag shared a harvest feast to celebrate survival, which later became the basis of the Thanksgiving holiday.

What are some myths about the First Thanksgiving?

That it was a peaceful, joyful event without conflict; in reality, relations between settlers and the Wampanoag later turned violent.

What was King Philip’s War (1675–1676)?

A conflict between New England colonists and Indigenous peoples led by Metacom (King Philip) of the Wampanoag.

Why was King Philip’s War significant?

It was one of the bloodiest wars in American history and destroyed the power of Indigenous tribes in New England.

Who first declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States?

President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War.

When is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States today?

On the fourth Thursday of November.

Beringia

A land bridge that once connected Asia and North America; early peoples migrated across it into the Americas between 15,000–35,000 years ago.

Maya Civilization

A Mesoamerican civilization (300–800 CE) known for advanced cities, calendars, and writing in present-day Mexico and Yucatán.

Aztec Empire

A powerful civilization in central Mexico, conquered by Hernán Cortés in 1521.

Inca Empire

A vast empire in South America, centered in Peru, conquered by Francisco Pizarro in 1533.

Animism

A spiritual belief that natural objects, animals, and forces possess a spiritual essence. Common in many Indigenous cultures.

Matriarchal Society

A social system in which women hold primary power roles in leadership, moral authority, and property.

Treaty of Alcáçovas (1479)

An agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing new territories: Portugal got Africa, Spain got the Canary Islands.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

An agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing the non-European world: Spain received most of the Americas, Portugal received Brazil, Africa, and Asia.

Encomienda System

A Spanish colonial system that allowed colonists to demand labor or tribute from Indigenous people in exchange for supposed protection.

Mission (Spanish Colonization)

Religious settlements established by Catholic missionaries to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity.

Jamestown (1607)

The first permanent English settlement in North America, located in Virginia.

House of Burgesses (1619)

The first representative legislative assembly in the English colonies, established in Virginia.

Puritans

A religious group that wanted to “purify” the Church of England and established colonies in New England for religious freedom.

Pilgrims (Separatists)

English Protestants who completely separated from the Church of England; founded Plymouth Colony in 1620.

Mayflower Compact (1620)

An agreement signed by the Pilgrims establishing self-government and majority rule in Plymouth Colony.

Wampanoag

An Indigenous nation in New England that helped the Pilgrims survive and later fought in King Philip’s War.

Squanto

A Wampanoag man who taught Pilgrims survival skills such as farming and fishing.

King Philip’s War (1675–1676)

A devastating war between New England colonists and Indigenous peoples, led by Metacom (King Philip).

Columbian Exchange

The global transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old World and the New World after Columbus’s voyages.

New Netherland

A Dutch colony in North America with its capital at New Amsterdam (later New York).

Fur Trade

The main economic activity of French and Dutch colonies in North America, especially trading beaver pelts.

Thanksgiving (U.S.)

A national holiday declared by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, commemorating harvest feasts linked to the Pilgrims and Wampanoag in 1621.