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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