APUSH Period 1 Notes (1491-1607)

Begins in 1491 and ends in 1607.
It's crucial to know the start and end dates of each period, the significant events associated with them, and why these events mark turning points in U.S. history.
Societies change as a result of contact.

European exploration and its impact on Native American and African societies. Focus on understanding the big ideas and relating specific facts to these overarching themes.

Native American societies were diverse, complex, and adapted to their environments.
Environment dictated the type of society, economy, social hierarchy, and religious ideas.
Shared belief in animism: humans interacted with nature, and nature possessed a spiritual dimension.
Land was viewed as a spiritual resource to protect, not merely an economic commodity.
Terms to understand:
- Environment: Native Americans uniquely adapted to their environment, creating sophisticated societies.
- Animism: Belief that humans interacted with nature and non-human things possess spiritual connections with humans.

Native American societies before European contact depended heavily on their environment.
Southwest (e.g., Pueblo):
- Relied on irrigation to grow maize (corn).
- Maize was vital for climate change adaptation.
- Developed complex irrigation systems.
- Permanent structures and societies.
Great Basin and Great Plains:
- Lack of natural resources led to nomadic lifestyles.
- Hunted bison (buffalo).
Northeast (e.g., Iroquois):
- Mix of agriculture and hunter-gatherer practices.
- Established permanent villages.
- Cultivated staple crops (grains).
- Developed sophisticated government systems like the Iroquois Confederacy, a representative democracy that influenced colonial governments.

Gold, glory, and God were the primary motivations for European colonization from 1492 into the early 1500s.
Spain, England, and France pursued these goals but prioritized them differently.
These motivations drove European expansion during this period.

The arrival of Columbus significantly altered the demographics of America, Europe, and Africa.
Transatlantic exchange of people, diseases, food, trade, and ideas between the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Europe.
Led to the triangular trade system (to be discussed further in period two).
Important event that set up what we call the triangular trade system which we're gonna talk about in the period two.

New Spain was the first major European empire in the Americas, starting with the colonization of Saint Augustine, Florida, in 1565.
Goals: Spreading Christianity among the natives and utilizing Native American and African labor for resource extraction (gold and silver).
The Encomienda system was created.

Spanish colonizers received land from the Spanish government in exchange for bringing enslaved labor and economic resources (gold and silver) into the Spanish empire.
Incentivized settlement and empowered peninsulares (people from Spain).
Contributed to a rigid, stratified social hierarchy based on race and connection to Spain.

Hierarchical structure:
- Peninsulares: Spaniards born in Spain at the top.
- Creoles: Individuals of Spanish descent born in the Americas.
- Followed by people of mixed heritage and then Native Americans and African slaves at the bottom.
Favored Europeans and discriminated against non-Europeans.
The system began with the encomienda system.
Terms: stratified (rigid and unchanging).

Debate between Bartolomé de las Casas and Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda regarding the treatment of Native Americans by the Spanish.
De las Casas argued against the mistreatment, viewing Native Americans as inferior but deserving of humane treatment.
Sepúlveda supported the Spanish actions, viewing Native Americans as barbarians lacking humanity and skill.
These arguments foreshadowed similar debates throughout U.S. history regarding the treatment of indigenous populations.

Varied responses:
- Forming trading relationships.
- Tribalization: Joining other tribes to resist European expansion.
- Revolts: The Pueblo Revolt was the largest and most successful Native American uprising in North American history.

Occurred in the Southwest during period one.
Led to the Spanish easing demands on the Pueblo people and reforms in their treatment of Native Americans.
Inspired a reform movement among the Spanish to pursue more peaceful interactions.
Served as an example of Native American resistance that would be seen throughout U.S. history.

Started in the early 1500s as the Native American population declined due to abuse, disease, and war.
Europeans sought other labor sources, leading to the transatlantic slave trade.
Initially involved indentured servants, but primarily focused on African slaves from West Africa.
The English became involved in the slave trade in the early 1600s, primarily in North America.