APUSH - Period 1 Notes

Significance

1491

* The Native Americans Euro conquest
* Has developed complex societies & expanded across 2 continents

1607

* Founding of Jamestown VA after K. James I
* First perm Eng settlement in Am

Pre-Columbian America

Origins

* Ancestors of Native Americans likely crossed landbrige, maybe boats

Results

* Migration, ppl follow food, hunter-gatherers
* Men more expendable than pregnant women
* Settled the 2 continents

Similarities and Differences Between Pre-Columbian American Groups

Similarities:

* Tribal organization, language, religious practices, chiefdoms
* Polytheism, animism, pantheism, hereditary rule

Differences

* Nomadic vs. semi-sedentary vs. sedentary
* Hunter gatherers vs. Agriculture vs. mix
* Dependent on surroundings

Meso-America

* Birthplace of civilization/history in Ams (oldest records/languages)
* Agriculture & sedentary life = organized life
* Complex social structures, specialization, organized religion, trade networks
* Technology:
* Stone weapons/tools, monuments/pyramids, irrigation, bridges, mathematical systems

Olmec

* 1 Meso-American Civilization
* Lasted up to the 4th century
* Built monuments and pyramids

Maya

* Lasted up to the 13th century in Meso-America
* Math, pyramids, calendar
* Human sacrifice, polytheistic
* Eradicated selves with sacrifice

Aztecs

* Established 13th century in Mexico (into C. Am, S. USA)
* Tenochtitlan capital, now Mexico City, large population
* Demanded tribute from others in return for life
* Had gold, but no monetary value
* Montezuma II last emperor (nervous, sacrificed others)
* Caused animosity, enemies helped Spain

Inca

* In modern-day Peru, Andes Mountains
* Excellent engineers
* Elaborate road network for trade (Carpa Nan)
* Made invasion easier
* Had gold & silver

European Conquest - Context

* 15th century Europe is recovering from plague, low population
* Coming out of middle ages & feudalism, emergence of nation-states under monarchies
* Good weapons = successful conquest
* Euro desire for Asian goods (Crusades soldiers bring goods, awareness = desire)
* Route blocked by Turks & Moors, led to sea exploration to dodge
* Tech enables long ocean voyages (Henry the Navigator’s school)
* Money = power, mercantilism
* Portugal excels at sea exploration around Africa (Slave trade not yet race-based)

Spanish Conquest

* Spain under Ferdinand & Isabella, sponsor Columbus voyage 1492 (thought world was smaller, shorter trip)
* Claimed land for Spain, starts pattern of brutality once Gold found
* Called natives intelligent/competent but controllable (needed a work force)
* Conquistadors follow Columbus, want gold (raised to fight for Reconquista, honor = death for country)
* Hernan Cortes conquered Aztecs 1519 - 1521
* Burned ships (win or die), took advantage of Aztec enemies (lightskin god), lost then won
* Spain gets Hispaniola, Cuba, Mexico, C. Am, S. Am, and Philippines
* Ferdinand Magellan first to circumnavigate globe, claimed Philippines
* 1533 Pig Farmer Fransisco Pizarro conqueres Inca (claimed S. Am)

New Spain

* Social hierarchy (Peninsulares, Creoles, Mestizos, Mulattoes, Natives, Africans)
* Encomienda system allows for enslavement of natives & acquisition of land (greyhounds)
* System ends primarly bc of Bartolome de las Casas
* Spain wants gold & Catholic conversion (brutal, missions)
* Pagan tree of life becomes Christmas for conversion
* Keep day of the dead but be Catholic to gain converts, more morality
* Spain stops expanding bc stopped finding gold
* Oldest settlement St. Augustine, from Spain vs. French hugenots
* Altered the continent (culture, physical appearance)
* Cont = pushing west, land conflict, natives don’t have numbers to beat expansion

Columbian Exchange

* Plants, animals, disease, tech, etc between old & new worlds
* Corn, potatoes, horses, smallpox **CHECK OLD NOTEBOOK FOR MORE**
* Benefits for New = horses and guns
* Benefits for Old = population growth
* Consequences for New = disease (the worst always)
* Consequences for Old = slave trade (Africa only)

Origins of African Slaves

* Economic purpose, evolved into race-based slavery (nowhere else)
* Still prejudice before (black associated w/evil), Africa closer/more convenient
* Slavery caused by both deep-rooted and created prejudice
* West African roots, kings trade POWs
* Matrilineal, hierachy, lots of languages, slaves had rights, mostly agricultural, pantheism w/one supreme creator
* Lots of languages means can’t band together, slaves in Africa can go to school/get married, not hereditary/permanent, easy to adopt Christianity
* Portuguese, Spanish, British take natural resources, can only trade ppl
* Worst part = Middle Passage
* Packed together in dark, no common language, no bathroom, chained together, no knowledge of surroundings, successful missions have 1/20 die
* Emergence of African American culture (out of resistance, keep traditions)
* Music, religion, storytelling, language (pigdin, hidden communication)
* Most Africans went to Caribbean/Brazil (field hands, some artisans)
* Cognitive Dissonance (don’t think of humanity/give negative traits, you’re justified)

New France

* France fights Brit for land, cont (Fra wins more)
* 1520s trade along East Coast, avoid Spa
* 1560s attempt to colonize Fl (Hugenots/Protestants, Fra Catholicism more tolerant), expelled by Spain
* 1608 Samuel de Chaplain founded Quebec (cap of Canada/NewFra)
* Cliff defense, river to G. Lakes, economic incentive = fur trade, alliance w/ Huron (Iroquois enemy)
* Fra learns native customs/languages, intermarry (benefits both)
* 1680s Fra claims Louisiana (K. Louis XIV, sun king)
* Great Lakes to Gulf of Mexico, Rockies to Appalachians (brits still more dominant, more ppl)
* Port city of New Orleans, economic incentive