Unit 1: AP US History Notes

Overview of Unit 1: Pre-Columbian Societies and European Arrival

• Focus of Unit 1: Societal structure in the Americas before European arrival and the subsequent effects of European exploration.

Diversity of Native American Societies

• Misconception: Native Americans perceived as a singular, homogenous group.

• Reality: Diverse cultures based on environmental conditions:

  • Agricultural Societies:

  • Pueblo People (Utah and Colorado):

    • Settled, engaged in farming (beans, squash, maize).

    • Developed advanced irrigation systems.

    • Known for cliff dwellings made from hardened clay.

  • Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers (Great Basin and Plains):

  • Lived in kinship bands (example: Ute people).

  • Hunted buffalo and gathered wild food, did not establish cities.

  • Pacific Northwest and Coastal Societies:

  • Chumash (California): Built large villages, engaged in trade, relied on fishing.

  • Chinook: Similar to Chumash but built plank houses for family groups.

  • Iroquois (Northeast):

  • Farmers, lived in longhouses made from timber.

  • Mississippi River Valley (Cahokia):

  • Agricultural civilization with a centralized government of 10,000-30,000 people.

• Conclusion: Native societies were distinct, complex, and shaped by their environments, involved in broad trade networks across the continent.

European Motivations for Exploration

• Historical Context (1300s-1400s): Political unification in Europe, rise of centralized states, and affluent upper class seeking luxury goods from Asia.

• Trade Challenges: Muslim control over land routes hindered direct European trade; prompted search for sea routes.

Portuguese and Spanish Maritime Innovations

• Portugal's Role: Established trading posts in Africa, developed maritime technology (new ship designs, astronomical charts, astrolabe).

• Spain's Entry: After reconquista, fueled by desire to spread Catholicism and new economic opportunities.

• Christopher Columbus (1492): Sailed for India, discovered the Caribbean, leading to European competition for exploration.

Columbian Exchange

• Definition: Transfer of people, animals, plants, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

• Food Contributions:

  • From Americas: potatoes, tomatoes, maize.

  • From Europe: wheat, rice, soybeans.

• Animal Movements: Turkeys sent from Americas; cattle, pigs, and horses introduced by Europeans.

• Impact of Disease: Smallpox introduced to Native Americans led to dramatic population decline due to lack of immunity.

Economic Impact on Europe

• Shift from Feudalism to Capitalism: Influx of wealth from the Americas facilitated the rise of capitalism and joint-stock companies (shared investment and limited liability).

Spanish Colonization and Social Structure

• Economic Exploitation: Introduction of the encomienda system, where natives were forced into labor for Spanish plantations.

• Social Hierarchy: Casta system categorizing individuals based on racial ancestry:

  • Peninsulares: Spaniards born in Spain.

  • Criollos (Creoles): Spaniards born in the Americas.

  • Mestizos: Mixed Spanish and Native American heritage.

  • Mulattos: Mixed Spanish and African heritage.

  • Lowest Class: African slaves and Native Americans.

Interactions Between Natives and Europeans

• Natives taught Europeans agricultural skills (e.g., maize cultivation).

• Europeans introduced iron tools to natives, despite underlying brutality in relationships.

Justification for Exploitation

• European Rationalizations: Belief that Native Americans were inferior; figures like Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda argued for natives' subservience, while Bartolomé de las Casas advocated for their rights.

• Racial Justifications for Slavery: Misinterpretations of Biblical narratives led Europeans to perceive Africans as destined for slavery.

Conclusion

• Unit 1 provides foundational knowledge of diverse Native American cultures, European motivations for exploration, and the economic and social transformations that resulted from the Columbian Exchange and colonization.