Copy of apsuh notes

The Settling of the Americas

• Native American Societies

  • The indigenous peoples settled in the New World between 15,000 - 60,000 years ago.

  • North and South American societies built roads, trade networks, and irrigation systems.

  • Societies in Mexico were more advanced than those north of it.

• Mound Builders of the Mississippi River Valley

  • Poverty Point in Louisiana was a significant trading center around 3,500 years ago.

  • Cahokia (near modern-day St. Louis) flourished around 1200 with a population of 10,000 - 30,000.

• Western Indians

  • The Hopi and Zuni ancestors established large towns in Arizona and New Mexico, trading as far as the Mississippi and Central Mexico.

• Eastern North American Tribes

  • Diet included corn, squash, beans, fish, and meat.

  • Tribal wars and loose alliances characterized their relations.

  • Native religions integrated hunting and farming with spiritual authority.

• Land and Property Concepts

  • Native Americans viewed land as a common resource, contrasting with European private property concepts.

  • Generosity emphasized over wealth in Native societies.

• Gender Relations

  • Women often had the right to divorce; most societies were matrilineal.

• European Perspectives on Native Americans

  • Viewed as lacking genuine religion and misusing land.

  • Assumed Native men were weak and women mistreated.

Understanding Freedom in APUSH Times

• European Views on Indian Freedom

  • Europeans believed that the concept of freedom was alien to Native Americans, based on private property ownership and individualism.

  • Christian Liberty connected embracing Christ with freedom from sin but had no ties to religious tolerance.

• Social Structures

  • Obedience to law and societal roles formed European definitions of freedom.

  • Women had limited rights under English law, markedly fewer than men.

• Liberty

  • Derived from knowing one’s place in a hierarchical society, fulfilling duties aligned with rank.

  • Civil liberties, like freedom of worship and the press, were limited.

Exploration and Navigation

• Chinese Navigation

  • Admiral Zheng He led seven expeditions to the Indian Ocean from 1405 to 1433, reaching East Africa.

• Portuguese Advances

  • Innovations like the caravel and navigational tools promoted exploration along the African coast.

  • Portugal established trading posts and plantations worked by slaves.

• Slavery in Africa

  • Existed before the arrival of Europeans but intensified due to European demand.

  • Vasco da Gama sailed to India in 1498, marking Portugal’s establishment of a vast trading empire.

• The Voyages of Columbus

  • Christopher Columbus, supported by Spain, sailed west to reach Asia, landing on Hispaniola in 1492.

  • Following his voyages, the populations of the New World faced demographic disaster due to disease and conflict.

The Spanish Empire in the New World

• Spanish Colonial Governance

  • Established a stable government emulating absolutism, with power stemming from the King.

  • A significant role played by the Catholic Church in administration.

• Colonial Economy

  • Focused on gold and silver; mines relied heavily on Indian labor.

  • Spanish America developed a hybrid culture with Indian and Spanish traits.

• Cultural Justifications for Conquest

  • Spanish viewed their actions through the lens of cultural superiority and religious zeal, justified by a desire to convert Indigenous peoples.

• Reforms and Opposition

  • Bartolomé de las Casas advocated for Native rights, leading to reforms like the 1542 New Laws which forbade Indian enslavement.

The Rise of European Empires in the Americas

• French Colonization

  • Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in 1608, fostering friendly relations with the Indian populations.

  • Cultural and economic connections remained vital, despite the spread of diseases.

• Dutch Influence

  • Henry Hudson claimed New York Harbor in 1609, leading to a Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island in 1626.

  • Dutch society valued liberty and offered protections more broadly than other colonies.

• Economic Growth and Tensions

  • Despite some humane contacts, European actions led to resource depletion and substantial tensions with Native peoples.

England's Expansion and Challenges

• Motives for Colonization

  • Religious conflicts undermined English stability, prompting issues like anti-Catholic sentiment.

  • Concerns over power led to colonization as a means for national glory, economic profit, and competition against Catholic Spain.

• Colonial Authority and the Economy

  • The English crown supported individual charters for colonization, leading to a wave of emigration.

  • Indentured servitude characterized labor, with significant legal limitations imposed.

• Shifting Social Dynamics

  • English sought to displace Native populations, leading to conflicts characterized by increasing demand for land and resources.