Unit 1: AP US History Notes

What misconception is often held about Native American societies before European arrival?

They are perceived as a singular, homogenous group.

How did the Pueblo people adapt to their environment?

They settled and engaged in farming, developing advanced irrigation systems.

What characterized the nomadic hunter-gatherers of the Great Basin and Plains?

They lived in kinship bands, hunted buffalo, and gathered wild food without establishing cities.

What was the primary economic activity of the Chumash people in California?

They built large villages, engaged in trade, and relied on fishing.

What was a key feature of Iroquois society?

They were farmers who lived in longhouses made from timber.

Describe the societal structure of Cahokia in the Mississippi River Valley.

It was an agricultural civilization with a centralized government serving 10,000-30,000 people.

What were the main European motivations for exploration during the 1300s-1400s?

Political unification, the rise of centralized states, and the affluent upper class seeking luxury goods.

What challenge did Europeans face in trade with Asia?

Muslim control over land routes hindered direct trade.

What role did Portugal play in maritime exploration?

Established trading posts and developed new maritime technologies.

What led to Spain's increased exploration efforts after the reconquista?

Desire to spread Catholicism and seek new economic opportunities.

What was the result of Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492?

He discovered the Caribbean, initiating European competition for exploration.

What is the Columbian Exchange?

The transfer of people, animals, plants, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

Name three food contributions from the Americas to Europe during the Columbian Exchange.

Potatoes, tomatoes, maize.

What animal was introduced to the Americas by Europeans?

Cattle, pigs, and horses were introduced, while turkeys came from the Americas.

How did the introduction of smallpox affect Native American populations?

It led to a dramatic population decline due to lack of immunity.

What economic shift occurred in Europe as a result of wealth from the Americas?

A shift from feudalism to capitalism.

What was the encomienda system in Spanish colonization?

A system that forced Native Americans into labor for Spanish plantations.

What categories were used in the Casta system?

Peninsulares, Criollos, Mestizos, Mulattos, and the lowest class of African slaves and Native Americans.

How did Native Americans impact European agriculture?

They taught Europeans agricultural skills such as maize cultivation.

What argument did Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda make regarding Native Americans?

He argued for the subservience of Native Americans.

What was Bartolomé de las Casas's stance on Native Americans?

He advocated for their rights.

How did Europeans justify racial differences in slavery?

By misinterpreting Biblical narratives to see Africans as destined for slavery.

In summary, what does Unit 1 cover regarding pre-Columbian societies and European arrival?

It provides foundational knowledge of diverse Native American cultures, European motivations for exploration, and the transformations from the Columbian Exchange and colonization.