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