APUSH NOTES UNIT 1

key point about native american society

the native populations of the americas were diverse and varied, and of equal importance, geography played a significant role in these differences development

maize

corn crop that began in mexico, spread to americas through trad which led to more complex societies

effects of cultivation

economic development, permanent settlements, advance irrigation techniques, social diversification

economic development

more foods= more people specialized in other types of work

permanent settlements

many societies = sedentary/more complexity in social political dynamics

social diversification

labor more specialized and social hierarchies develop to organize people. into more powerful/less powerful groups

Regions

Northeast[iroquis], atlantic coast[cherokee], mississippian

Northeast Region

Iroquis= semi- sedentary, relied on maize, used trees for housing, multi generational families

Atlantic Coast

Cherokee tribe; maize, beans, and squash arrived in 1000 BCE; agriculture society; semi-sedentary=> men hunted, women grew

Mississippian

River Valleys = rich soil; Large societies [4k to 6k ppl]; extensive trading

European Arrival [3 Gs]

Gold, God, Glory

first part of Gold [economic motives]

Renaissance sparked cultural/technical innovation

• ship building/maritime technology

  • caravel = fast/highly navigable

  • lateen sail = took wind from both directions

  • magnetic compas

  • astrolabe = gave latitude

• joint stock companies

  • funded euro exploration through several investors

• Trading post empire

  • developed when trying to get to asia by going around africa, and the ended up trading with africans on the coast

    • created small posts instead of colony establishment

second part of Gold [economic motives]

Conquistadors

• sent by spain to subdue populations and find wealth

  • aztec/ inca brought Gold and silver to europe

third part of Gold [economic motives]

Feudalism replaced by capitalism

• feud = land is money

• capitalism = owning production is money

Fourth part of Gold [economic motives]

Agriculture/cash crops

• encomienda labor system

  • coerced laborers

  • spanish crown granted tracts of land to encomenderos who forced indigenous peoples into plantation based agriculture/mining

    • crops like sugar cane/tobacco on plantations

      • to keep cash, replaced with africans who became dominant labor system

fifth part of Gold [economic motives]

caste systems

• complete reorganization of indigenous societies social structure

  • according got a race based hierarchy which was made by spain

    • hierarchy: 1. spaniards 2. mixed races 3. indigenous