Native Americans

  • The Beginning - From Asia to the Americas   * The first Americans reached the Americas between 10,000 to 100,000 years ago on glaciers on the Beringia     * The land the connected Asia to Alaska, which is now the Bering Strait   * The first Native Americans were ==hunters and gatherers== who followed mammoths and other animals   * The hunters and gatherers developed into more than 500 Native American tribes throughout the U.S.
  • Economy   * ==Different tribes developed their economy based on the geographical resources of the area==   * Forested regions     * Used spears and bows and arrows to catch moose, bear, and deer   * Ocean regions     * Hunted whale, shelled fish, seal meat, and fish in kayaks   * Desert regions     * Hunted buffalo, deer, and grew corn
  • Agriculture   * Later, Native Americans learned to farm certain crops, such as corn, beans, pumpkins, sunflowers, and squash   * Having stable food allowed the population to grow   * When Native Americans began to farm, they ==lived in permanent settlements== and formed complex societies
  • Religion   * Native American religion is based on a strong bond with the land, plants, and animals. Religious ceremonies and daily customs are designed to honor the forces of the natural world.
  • Iroquois   * Lived in Eastern Woodlands   * Included 5 nations     * Mohawk     * Seneca     * Onondaga     * Oneida     * Cayuga   * Clans of two or more families lived together in each village   * ==Women had political power,== and they chose the chiefs who made up the ruling council. The women could remove a chief for poor leadership
  • Iroquois Nation   * For years, the Iroquois nation fought with each other and other tribes until 1570 when religious leader Dekanawida inspired Hiawatha, a Mohawk, to organize the alliance, which is known as the League of the Iroquois.   * Later the sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined the league   * A council of 50 members, selected by women, made decisions. Each nation had 1 vote and all had to agree before any actions or laws were created
  • Iroquois and United States Constitution   * Many of the laws in the U.S. Constitution are based on the rules and voting procedures of the League of the Iroquois

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