Study Notes on the American Pageant

The American Pageant: Part one focuses on founding the new nation from around 33,000 B.C. to A.D. 1783.

European Attitudes: European explorers who reached North America after Christopher Columbus had no intentions of establishing a new nation.
Colonial Aspirations: First European settlers primarily viewed themselves as subjects of the English monarchy, escaping poverty and religious persecution.
Perception of America: Colonists regarded America as part of a broader transatlantic European world.
Transformation: Over time, colonists began to view themselves as a distinct American people, particularly during the American Revolution.

Common Bonds: Most were English-speaking and sought to establish agricultural societies based on English customs.
Changing Ideals: Settling in the New World fostered an appreciation for:
- Individual Liberty
- Self-Government
- Religious Tolerance
- Economic Opportunity

Diversity Among the Thirteen Colonies:
- New England: Home to Puritans developing tightly-knit, religiously founded communities.
- Southern Colonies: Dominated by large plantations owned by Anglicans with a reliance on enslaved labor from Africa.
- Middle Colonies: Diversity prevailed, with merchants and various religious groups like Quakers in Pennsylvania and economic contrasts in urban centers.
Internal Tensions: Conflicts arose over economic interests, ethnic rivalries, and religious practices, hindering unity among colonies.

Initial Self-Rule: The thirteen colonies experienced a significant degree of self-governance and benefited from trade with Britain.
Increasing Tensions:
- By the 1760s, colonial self-rule and economic stability were threatened by British imperial policies following the French and Indian War (1756-1763).
Financial Overstretch: Britain’s war debts led to increased taxation of the colonies, sparking political unrest and calls for independence.
Loyalty vs. Rebellion: Despite early hopes for peaceful resolution, conflicts escalated into revolution, with one in five colonists siding with the British as Loyalists.

Revolutionary War: Defined by armed struggle (1775-1783) and marked by a growing sense of American identity.
Shared Beliefs: Colonists fought for “unalienable rights” such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as declared in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson.
Post-War Realities: The revolutionary war and its outcomes solidified American unity but also left deep divisions that took generations to heal.

Geological History:
- Earth's formation approximately 4.6 billion years ago; continents shifted over 225 million years.
- The Canadian Shield was the first significant landmass to emerge.
Human Inhabitants:
- First migrations to the Americas occurred via the Bering Land Bridge around 35,000 years ago, followed by the development of diverse cultures and tribes over millennia.
- By 1492, around 54 million Native Americans inhabited the Americas with vast cultural and linguistic diversity.
Civilizations:
- Notable complex societies included the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas, demonstrating advanced agriculture, architecture, and astronomical knowledge.
- Agricultural innovations such as maize cultivation were central to these civilizations, enabling them to flourish.

First Discoveries: Notably Norse exploration around A.D. 1000, but without lasting settlements.
Rise of Trade: European interest in Asian goods and spices fueled exploration, leading to attempts to find faster routes. Explorers like Marco Polo influenced this desire.
Portuguese Expeditions:
- Advancements such as the caravel allowed for better navigation, leading to the establishment of trade posts in Africa and the beginnings of the Atlantic slave trade.
- The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between Spain and Portugal, influencing subsequent colonial claims.
Columbus's Voyage: In 1492, Columbus arrived in the Bahamas under the impression of reaching Asia, inadvertently marking the beginning of European colonization in the Americas.

Impact on Ecosystems: The meeting of Old World and New World species resulted in significant ecological alterations—plants, animals, and diseases exchanged profoundly reshaped societies on both sides of the Atlantic.
- New World contributions included crops like maize, potatoes, and tobacco.
- Old World introduced diseases that decimated Native American populations, e.g., smallpox.
Demographic Shifts: The effects observed on Native American populations were catastrophic; estimates suggest up to 90% decline within a century.

Exploits of Conquistadors: Examples such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro illustrate the violent conquests of Native American empires that drastically changed the demographic and cultural landscapes of the Americas.
- Cortés's 1519 conquest of the Aztecs and Pizarro’s victory over the Incas provides insight into the rapid establishment of Spanish dominance in the New World and the establishment of colonial structures.
Cultural Blending: Historical dynamics led to the mestizo culture of mixed Indigenous and European heritage, influencing modern Latin American identity.

Cultural Evolution: The Spanish settled extensively in the Americas, introducing their legal systems, language, religion, and customs, creating lasting legacies and cultural blends.
Missionary Activities: Missions established for Indigenous conversion were central to the expansion of Spanish influence over the region.
Black Legend: Acknowledgment of the contradictory nature of Spanish conquests, involving both violence and civilization development.

Legacy of Discovery: The complex interplay between European colonization, Indigenous cultures, and ecological changes laid the groundwork for the modern Americas, where intertwined legacies continue to shape societies.

c. 33,000-8000 B.C.: First humans cross into the Americas from Asia.
c. 5000 B.C.: Corn is developed as a staple crop in highland Mexico.
1492: Columbus reaches the Americas.
1519-1521: Cortés conquers Mexico.
1542: Pizarro conquers the Incas.
1565: Spanish build St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in the future U.S.