AP U.S. History The First Americans

Welcome to www.educator.com, this lesson is on the first Americans.0000

Before we get started into the content related to the Native Americans, American Indians, the various tribal groups of the Americas,0008

I want to talk a little bit about language and make note of the point that today we really prefer to use the term U.S. history,0018

when we are talking about the history of the United States vs. American history.0027

As again, in this era of political correctness, we want to make sure that we are being very specific about which America we are referring to.0032

You will see what most history books this day and age that they tend to use the term U.S.0043

This could obviously be a bit problematic when we talk about the people inhabiting this country.0050

A lot of my professors said, what do we say? Do we say United Statesian? Is that a word?0056

I do use this word to describe people who live in the United States, Americans, because it is out of convenience.0061

But do realize that I am sensitive at heart to the issue of language here.0070

Having said that, we are going to talk about the first Native inhabitants of what we today call the Americas.0078

We will talk about the various theories of really how the first Americans inhabited, what will become the United States.0088

We will also talk about Central America, as well as South America.0098

The most widespread theory that is still widely accepted is known as the Land bridge theory that we will be talking about today.0103

But do keep in mind that this is a topic that is being explored and up quite a bit and is ever changing.0111

Stay tuned to the recent studies regarding where different peoples were migrating from and arriving to the Americas.0121

Very interesting topic that is very cutting edge actually in the world of architecture.0134

In this lesson, we are going to focus on the ancient Native American cultures and0140

civilizations in Mesoamerica or Central America, what we are used today, middle America, south American civilizations.0145

We will also focus on, for the most part, North American civilizations and0155

some of the various tribal groups that will emerge from the ancient societies.0158

Then, we will briefly talk about what led to their decline.0164

In the next lesson, we will focus on the exchanges and contact between Native Americans and Europeans.0167

That is definitely going to lead to the decline of Native American people.0178

This lesson will primarily focus on the rich, diverse cultures of the Americas, ultimately.0185

I have already kind of introduced this idea that the term American history is very problematic0195

but we do have a long history of using that term.0200

It is today very controversial.0204

For many people, for instance, living in South America, they say we are American too, we are part of the Americas.0206

There is sometimes this legacy of that U.S. centric view that the United States is the America.0214

Be mindful of that and the preference for the most part is using the term U.S.0222

This is what we call pre-contact era, before the United States was actually formed.0229

We oftentimes refer to it as pre-contact, pre-European contact period.0240

That is another thing to keep in mind.0248

The term America, where did it come from actually?0250

It came from Amerigo Vespucci who was a foreign team explorer.0254

Amerigo, America, he eventually was very influential in the exploration of the Americas0260

and will name what will become known as the new world or nuevo mundo, to describe the Americas in general.0268

This name will end up sticking.0279

There are other theories as well that it can also relate to the Native American term.0280

But I think this one is the one that is most widely accepted today.0285

The peopling, another half way debated topic is the peopling of the Americas.0290

In many ways, we are going to see that it is quite, as far as where we are today, it is pretty much inconclusive.0296

As research and dating methods continue to improve,0306

we are starting to see more credible conclusions from the evidence that we now have.0310

But we are going to see through time that the different theories have evolved.0316

Just to give you a few examples, I’m really just touching the surface of this rich topic.0324

I do encourage you to research this on your own, if you are interested.0329

You can definitely delve into archaeology in college, if you are interested in this.0334

Just to give you a few examples to show you the different theories about how the first Americans arrived.0340

From the 1932’s to the 1990’s, for instance, it was that the first human migration was about 13,500 years ago,0347

based on spear points discovered in New Clovis, based in Mexico.0356

Over the last 20 years, the discourse surrounding the history of the first Americans has come into new way,0360

such as the Monte Verde tube way discovery in 1997,0366

where we are going to see archaeologists found evidence of human remains from 14,500 years ago.0372

This spurred questions as to how humans may have made it so far south,0379

by boat or other route besides the Bering land bridge which brings us to really the land bridge theory.0385

This is really a theory that has been most widely accepted.0395

This is the idea.0400

You will also see the term beringia, small bands of travel migrants from Asia.0401

As you could see this map here, coming from Asia.0407

Hunters and gatherers, hunter-gatherers, that is what they are sometimes called as well,0412

followed animal herds over land and sea about 20,000 to 40,000 years ago,0417

when the last ice age created a 100 mile wide land bridge over the Bering strait connecting Siberia and Alaska.0425

This theory, this idea of how peoples from Asia migrated and0434

eventually worked their way into the Americas is still widely accepted.0442

Of how ancient peoples ended up coming to this continent.0447

Again, with new forms of research and new methods, and so forth, and learning how to date different materials,0453

we are seeing a lot of new discoveries everyday in this study.0463

There are sites all around the country, for instance,0471

including the Meadowcroft rock shelter in Pennsylvania, the Page-Ladson sinkhole in Florida.0473

Also, we will see some other evidence from the Paisley cave in Oregon.0481

All of these will now provide both promising indications,0486

at the earliest Americans dispersed throughout the continent, at least 13,500 years ago.0490

There are other claims as well, but again, there is a lot of debate regarding the years.0499

Do your homework and research, if you are really interested in delving into this in more depth.0507

We see that the first three major waves, we are going to see people coming to the Americas.0513

First wave here, again, people hunting and migrating in search of large game, bull, and mammoths, and so forth.0520

Second wave, we will see the ancestors of the upper Navajos and the Apaches.0531

They came about 8,000 years ago.0535

The third wave, the ancestors of the Aleut and Inuit peoples, popularly known as the Eskimos, came about 5000 years ago.0537

During these migrations, we will see the peopling of the Americas occur.0546

Here is another example of another theory, the controversial Kennewick man0553

whose skull features do not fit any known populations and lend credence to the theory.0559

But there were multiple migrations to North America from various points of origin.0565

Maybe it was not just Asia, in other words.0571

Other skeletal remains found in North America suggest links to populations from various parts of the globe.0573

This is something that is very rich.0580

Beware that the evidence is un-earthy all the time, very rich topic.0583

For centuries, we know that Native Americans were primarily hunters and gatherers.0590

Until around 3000 BC, when many develop farming societies based on corn, beans, and squash,0597

oftentimes known as the three sisters.0605

They will became specialized, and needs and wants the community will divide it up.0608

Some of these jobs being gender-based in some societies, while others were not,0615

in some cases more like based on scales and status, so forth.0622

Agricultural surplus lead to populous urbanized wealthy societies in Mexico, Central America, and Peru.0626

These were the most successful and widespread and most hierarchical societies of the ancient American history.0636

We will also see in what is now the United States, another large civilization in the Mississippi River valley,0646

that is one exception in today’s United States.0654

The crops that really will sustain these civilizations, very important to really sustain these societies.0658

Corn, all different varieties, corn were developed and there are all kinds of specialties,0672

specialized types of farming that really originated in some of the grasslands in today's Mexico.0680

This is a very old crop that became a major staple and will eventually even affect the diet around globe.0689

Not only in the Americas, but we will see eventually in Europe and in Asia today and other places too.0698

Those areas in particular have been very much influenced by corn.0705

I cannot overstate the importance of corn or maize, as it is called in Spanish.0711

I’m going to touch upon some of the major civilizations.0717

The oldest civilization that we oftentimes study is what is known as the Olmec.0721

I always think oldest Olmec civilization, began along the gulf coast of Mexico around 700 BC.0727

They are known for having these very large, its colossal sculptures of a head, an Olmec head and face.0734

Very early artifacts and there is architectural evidence of this early society.0744

Subsequent societies such as the Mayan peoples of the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala had an advanced to the civilization0756

and built cities and large urban religious centers that relied on water storage and irrigation.0764

Mayan society was highly organized, an elite class claiming descent from the God’s world.0772

They will be very important and very influential in ruling Mayan society.0781

They rigged up the goods and taxes extracted from peasant families, which is like a form of tribute.0786

This will allow Mayan society to become very strong and successful.0794

Here is an example of one of the Mayan temples in Tikal.0803

Tikal, this one is called Jaguar temple in Tikal.0811

Tikal was one of the major metropolises of the Mayan civilization and is one of the pend,0817

it was actually one of the biggest in the world, located in the wild’s today in the Tikal national park0822

about 200 miles north of Guatemala City, in the southern part of the Yucatan peninsula.0830

It was settled as early as 600 BC.0837

Interesting way, it was not actually near any water source.0841

They just relied on rainwater which make this civilization particularly interesting.0847

Most of the major buildings being build today were actually in their heyday between 550 to 900 AD.0854

With a population of about 10,000 to 90,000 people, Tikal was larger than London in 800 AD.0865

Just to give you an idea of how huge this civilization really was.0873

Archeologists have uncovered 3,000 structures in over a 6 square area, 6 mile square area.0879

With more than 200 sculptured stone monuments and altars.0886

This was one of the important temples that was really an expression of the people's respect for their Gods0893

and for also the people who had high status in their society.0904

The Mayans also developed a very advanced calendar.0913

Mayan astronomers created a calendar that recorded historical events and predicted eclipses of the sun and moon.0920

In addition to the calendar, they had hieroglyphic writing.0929

Their astronomy skills will help to increase the authority and power of the class of warriors and priest that ruled Mayan society.0934

With all this, this is going to create a much more complex culture.0946

It was very hierarchical with priest ruling the society.0953

This also helped provide people with a sense of history and identity.0957

We will see around 800 AD, however, that Mayan civilization declined.0964

Again, a lot of different theories regarding this ancient history.0968

Perhaps because of long dry period and because they were not near a regular water source, as most of the ancient civilizations were.0972

By 900 AD, many of the religious centers were abandoned.0984

The remaining cities would resist the Spanish invasion during the 1520’s.0989

We are going to see this region being colonized by Spain.0995

The next civilization that I want to touch upon are the Aztecs.1001

The Aztecs established their society around AD 1325.1005

Tenochtitlan, which is today’s Mexico city, was the center of the civilization, of people learned subtle ways1011

and established a complex hierarchical social order that subjugated most of Mexico,1018

through invasion, economic tribute, and human sacrifice.1025

Aztec priest and warrior nobles ruled over 20 clans of free Aztec commoners were found communally owned land.1030

By AD 1500, Tenochtitlan had grown into a metropolis of over 200,000 inhabitants.1039

They had immense wealth, strength, and military power.1047

A very successful, powerful, hierarchical civilization.1053

The Incas, I’m just touching upon these major civilizations.1061

We can go into way more depth but we are doing a global studies type of class.1066

For the purposes of this class, I just want to give you an overarching background and1070

you will have a good foundation understanding how many different Native American societies that were before European contact.1078

The Incas in today’s Peru also had a highly organized society and carried on an extensive trade system,1087

and created calendars that were based on accurate scientific observations.1095

I should highlight some of this, highly organized, extensive trade, calendars.1102

To sum this up, we are going to see that all three of the civilizations that I touched upon, Mayas,1110

these Aztecs, and the Incas, cultivated crops that provided a stable food supply,1119

particularly corn for the Mayas and Aztecs, and potatoes, because of the cooler climate ultimately, for the Incas.1125

We are going to shift few years a bit to talk about the Native American cultural areas in North America.1135

In particular, what will become known as the United States.1144

Please note that the cultural areas that developed were really according to the climate and geographic location.1148

For instance, in this greenish blue, we see the eastern Woodlands or northeastern region.1156

There are various tribes roaming from the Illinois, the Miami, the Shawnee, the Iroquois, the Abneci, etc.1165

We see in yellow, the eastern Woodlands in the southeast.1173

The Cherokee, the Chikasaw, the Seminole, the Natchez, etc.1177

In the Great Plains region, this says plains here today.1183

Later on, we will consider them plains people but they were originally from Minnesota which is kind of split in half here.1194

But the Mandans, the Pawnees, the Arapahos, the Cheyennes, you can take a look at this map in more detail1203

to see how many different tribes were in North America.1210

The Indians that were North of the Rio Grande.1216

In comparison to the Aztecs, the Mayans, the Incas,1222

they were less complex and less coercive with less occupational diversities, social hierarchy and strong state institutions.1225

Most where, this is a key characteristic, clan based, which means that a clan, just so you understand the meaning of this,1236

it is a group of related families that shared a real or a legendary common ancestor.1248

Most Native American people whose north of the Rio Grande organized their societies around clan groups1255

which combine together to form a distinct people, based on language and culture.1262

Another key point in comparison to the civilizations in Central and South America,1269

we are going to see that these Native Americans are much more egalitarian for the most part.1275

Why did these Native groups actually not develop in such advance, I guess large complex way?1283

First of all, we are going to see that it took a long time for the spread of corn cultivation from Mexico to reach cultures in the North.1293

That is going to lend itself to the situation where many Native American groups in this region will be hunter gatherers1301

and they would not settle for quite around.1311

They are able to cultivate corn.1314

Corn is the key.1315

In the 1490’s, there are estimates that between under 1 million to more than 10 million.1318

I have even seen higher numbers actually up to 40-50 million as well.1325

Estimates are really all over the place, depending on the source.1330

The point really being that before European contact, they were rich civilization societies and peoples living throughout the Americas.1334

Coming back to some more points of the Indians of the Northern region.1348

Most were self governing tribes composed of clans.1353

Here we have the definition.1358

There are at least 400 distinct languages, extremely diverse.1360

These again are the major regions for those different groups.1365

In the southwest, I’m just going to highlight some of the regions in the southwest in today’s New Mexico in Arizona.1373

Some of the ancient peoples include the Hohokam, the Anasazi, and the Pueblos.1380

They evolved multifaceted societies supported by farming.1386

Two out of the three, these two focused on irrigation.1391

The Anasazi also used dry farming techniques and did not really use irrigation earlier on.1396

Just to make note of that.1412

These southwestern peoples lived in caves.1414

They lived under cliffs.1417

They had to adapt to their environment, in multistory buildings such as kivas.1419

I have a picture in one of the next slides.1424

By the time Europeans arrived, more than likely they declined because of drought1427

and soil exhaustion and warfare with other Native groups.1432

Much of their way of life was preserved.1436

Here are some examples.1442

The underground kivas of the Anasazi.1446

These round structures were built mostly underground and1448

people enter them through a ladder, through the opening right here in the roof.1452

These serves as religious ceremony centers, discussions of tribal affairs to place here.1460

There were workshops and sometimes even women and men were separated actually, in these multistory structures.1467

Zunis, Aacomas, and Hopis later built strong but smaller village societies that are suited for the dry,1477

unpredictable climate of the American Southwest.1485

But really, what is going to help these societies survive is corn cultivation.1489

Corn will actually come to this region.1494

Here are some artifacts as well, and some other examples of remnants from their civilization, perhaps even some writing.1498

In the southwest, the Hohokam and the Mogollon people, these Pueblo peoples lived in present day Arizona in New Mexico.1511

They have platform mounds and worship their gods on huge temples.1518

Some similarities, what we have also seen in Central America and South America.1524

We will also see that they used irrigation to grow two crops a year, fashion and fine pottery such as this, that red buff designs.1531

We also see in this picture here, ancient apartment buildings of the Anasazi.1542

There are different theories about these examples, whether it was a Petroglyph,1550

some type of writing, pictorial writing, or Indian rock art.1555

It is just art, ultimately.1560

Some of the descendants, we will see the Hopi Indians for instance, one of the Pueblo Indian tribes.1563

They grew crops on plots of Valley land.1573

Some Hopi earned additional income by making and selling baskets, pottery.1576

Later on, in modern times, they even sell their jewelry and kachina dolls.1582

The kachinas will be very important in village life and have a very crucial spiritual role.1590

Moving on to the Midwest, we will see the Adena and the Hopewells.1600

Excuse me not Hopi, Hopi was in the mine, Hopewells.1604

They are known as mound building cultures.1610

They build these large bury mounds and they lived in present day Ohio.1613

Looking at this map, in this region here.1622

They were supported by hunting and agriculture, the combination of those two methods.1626

About A.D 100, their influence spread from Louisiana to Wisconsin.1632

By organizing in large villages, establishing extensive trade networks, and increasing food supply.1639

By 1150, this is one of the interesting exceptions.1645

It would be interesting to see if others arise with more archeological dates.1649

By 1150, the largest city Cahokia, your present day St. Louis, boasted a population of 15,000 to 20,000 people.1654

In this area also, there were more than 100 temple mounds1665

which really show how well organized and extensive these civilizations were.1669

Peasants paid tribute to support classic nobles and priests.1674

Much more hierarchical than most typical civilizations in this region that we know of at least.1680

By 1350, overpopulation, urban disease, and warfare led to the decline of the Mississippian civilization, archaeologist believed.1688

Muskogean speaking societies and Algonquian speaking societies.1698

In this region here, around present day Virginia, farming became the work of women and1703

matrilineal inheritance also became a well practiced type of cultural belief, ultimately.1709

Where a person’s identity, their clan, their family, identity was retraced through lineage.1719

What I’m trying to say was retraced to the mother’s ancestry.1727

Here is an example of a mound, the Hopewell mound that still survives today.1732

Hopewells gathered at these earthworks for feasts, for funerals, as well as for rites of passage, very important.1737

Here is the great serpent mound in aerial view.1750

Scholars believe that this particular serpent mound is the work of the Adena peoples1753

because of its proximity to an Adena burial site, make sense.1760

Because of the serpent imagery, it is also tied to the culture of the Mississippians.1764

The head is aligned with the sunset of the summer solstice1771

which really indicates how much knowledge they really had of astronomy.1774

That is really the cycles.1782

Animist, this is another huge theme when we talk about Native Americans societies and spiritual belief.1785

As many Native Americans were animists and celebrated or had certain myths to certain stories,1793

certain rituals tied to specific animals in their geographic region.1801

Animists have believed that the natural world was suffused with spiritual power.1806

Again, all different aspects of nature had some spiritual significance but many tribes also, especially, celebrated1812

and had one or two animals who are very central to their belief system or to their creation stories, or whatever, in the case maybe.1823

Very important to take note of.1834

In the northeast, descendants of the Adena people and the Hopewells are the ones who live their,1838

will move into what is now New York.1845

These societies were primarily hunting and farming based.1849

They had to move to fresh land eventually because of soil exhaustion.1853

Eventually, we are going to see divergence of one of the most significant and long-lasting Native American confederations1858

which will include the Seneca, the Mohawk, for instance, the Onondaga, the Oneida.1865

I think I'm forgetting one, I want to say the Cayuga.1882

The different tribes in the Iroquois confederation will become one of the most famous of the eastern woodlands people.1888

Many lived in the Mohawk valley region of New York, central New York.1898

Multiple families live together in what are known as longhouses, in fact, I have a small picture in a few slides from here.1905

Their society was matrilineal, as I mentioned before.1914

Lineage was traced through the mother.1918

This is an interesting fun fact that will be significant, a little bit later in the class.1920

That even though they are going to have their livelihood being threatened by Europeans,1925

we are going to see because the British and the French, they are going to be there as well.1933

but those three main groups, there was a huge tension primarily between the English and the French,1939

that will definitely feed into tensions between, specially the Iroquois and the Huron who are very much in trenched in the fur trade.1946

That will be very significant a little bit later on.1956

I just wanted to introduce that.1960

Here we see the centrality of women and the work that they did.1962

You can see that they have pretty well developed their farming system here.1968

This is a little bit later in history, 1724, that we already seen specialization.1973

Women were responsible for growing food crops.1981

Matrilineal society showing the centrality of women, women were well revered, they had a lot of power.1987

They made decisions in the longhouses.1992

This is a small picture of a longhouse that were made out of the local wood that they received from trees that they cut down.1996

Women cultivated the fields around semi permanent settlements and pass the rights to their fields to their daughters.2008

Creation stories were also extremely important.2015

For instance, I can give you a little excerpt of the Iroquois creation myth2019

that really highlights the importance of animism, centrality of certain animals.2025

I will just give you a little snippet.2031

When before the world was created, there was an island floating in the sky upon which the sky people lived.2034

They lived quietly and happily.2040

No one ever died or was born, or experience sadness.2042

However one day, one of the sky women realized she was going to give birth to twins.2045

She told her husband who flew into a rage.2051

In the center of the island, there was a tree which gave light to the entire island, since the sun have not been created yet.2053

He tore up the tree, creating a huge hole in the middle of the island.2061

Curiously, the woman peered into the hole, far below, she could see the waters that cover the Earth.2065

At that moment, her husband pushed her.2071

She fell through the hole, tumbling toward the waters below.2073

Water animals already existed on the Earth.2077

Far below the floating island, two birds saw the sky woman fall.2079

Before she reached the waters, they caught her on their backs and brought her to other animals.2083

Determined to help the woman, they delved into the water to get mud from the bottom of the seas.2089

One after another, the animals tried and failed.2095

Finally, a little toad tried and when he reappeared, his mouth is full of mud.2097

The animals took it and spread it on the back of a big turtle.2103

The mud began to grow and grow, until it became the size of North America, and it continues on.2106

Really, it talks about the importance of sky women, sapling, and all of these different characters that have a lot of spiritual meaning.2114

All the different tribes place importance on different animals and their spirituality.2124

I wanted to point that out.2134

Also, these two again highlight the diversity.2136

In purple, primarily these groups in the east focused on agriculture.2140

Hunting was the primary activity in Central parts of the Midwest and central of today’s United States.2146

Here hunting and gathering was the primary means of survival.2156

We see in blue, in the Pacific Northwest and also in this region here, that parts of the southwest,2164

we also see that fishing is the primary means for survival and subsistence.2175

Here is yet another map, again, to just illustrate how many diverse peoples.2189

This is just really touching on the surface.2194

Before 1492, the New World was home to as many people had lived in Europe, 60 or 70 million people.2198

The numbers are very all over the place but much more than people really give credit to these ancient Native Americans who inhabited these lands.2207

This was not land for the taking, just to make that clear.2219

When we talk about the history of the United States and the prehistory of the United States,2223

it is important to realize that there are people who had very elaborate civilizations were inhabiting this region.2228

We are at that point in the lesson where we are going to transition over to the practice questions.2241

In this section of the lesson, I'm going to give you a few multiple choice questions,2250

as well as short answer questions that you would see on a typical AP test.2257

Do keep in mind that on the AP test you have 55 multiple choice questions.2264

In these questions, you must analyze a primary source, whether that be some type of excerpt from a speech.2269

It could be some other type of dialogue.2279

It could be an excerpt of a poem, for instance.2284

You may actually see a photograph or a map or a chart, or graph, something like that.2287

There are all different types of primary sources that you will be required to analyze and interpret.2293

Also, bring in your outside, your background information, to make it an educated choice in the multiple choice question.2303

Example 1, let us read it through.2317

It is really important when you read these to highlight as you go through it and2319

really make sure to focus on keywords and also look at who the author is.2326

I do recommend that you use the silkstone handout that I will provide in the quick notes.2333

There are other techniques that you can use as well.2341

You want to think about who the audience is, what is the purpose of this particular primary source and so forth.2344

Let us read it.2356

To oppose those hordes of Northern tribes, singly and alone, would prove certain destruction.2357

We can make no progress in that way.2366

We unite ourselves into one common band of brothers.2369

We just have but one voice.2374

Many voices make confusion.2377

We must have one fire, one pipe, and one work.2379

This will give us strength.2382

If our warriors are united, they can defeat the enemy and drive them from our land.2384

If we do this, we are safe.2389

You, of the different nations of the South, and you of the West,2392

may place yourselves under our protection and we will protect you.2396

We honestly desire the alliance and friendship of you all.2400

Chief Elias Johnson, this is legend's traditions and laws of the Iroquois or six nations in history of the Tuscorora Indians, 1881.2407

This is certainly referring to the idea that we are a very diverse group of people.2418

The other thing that I would like to actually bring in here because I do not know if I emphasized enough in the lesson,2427

is that when we talk about Native Americans today in U.S. history, we oftentimes think of this monolithic group.2432

But especially, that is in many ways not true even today, that each tribal group has its own identity and culture and language and so forth.2441

Back then, this was particularly true that these different tribes were very distinct and2452

oftentimes have tensions with one another or competing.2460

We are going to eventually see, especially with the encroachment of Europeans,2462

the necessity to come together and unite as one.2468

That teaching moment that I took advantage of there.2474

According to Johnson, which of the following was the main reason for the unification of the tribes?2477

Was it to increase to trade opportunities?2483

To provide self defense?2486

To increase land opportunities?2487

Or to make the Tuscorora leaders?2489

You may want to go back to the actual source to look through it again or hopefully you remember.2494

If you do not, it is not a problem.2500

On the test, you will be able to look at the document because of our space limitations were a bit limited here.2504

But it is good to go back to the source and analyze it, if you cannot remember everything on the top of your head.2511

Just to double check yourself.2517

Go with your instincts, sure of course, but you should double check the actual work.2519

The answer to this is B, to provide self defense.2526

If you can remember that we are talking about the different tribes and the different regions,2532

nations of the south and to the west, that they can ultimately come together and that they will protect one another,2538

that they will become strong if they unify.2547

That they will be safe, if they come together.2551

Number 2, which of the reasons best explains why Native American efforts to unite were rare?2555

The answer, look at the choices.2564

Most tribes were isolated from each other.2567

Europeans discourage tribes from uniting.2570

People have different foods and languages.2573

Tribes had traditions of independence.2574

The answer is D.2578

Although I touched upon this as well, this is really the best answer, that they were independent.2582

Even though there were trade relationships, the idea of unifying into one confederacy was quite rare for the most part.2589

This is a picture we have looked at before.2603

As you could see, longhouse, people working in the field, farming, hunting-gathering.2606

Based on the image, which are the following types of housing did the Iroquois live in?2615

Longhouses, teepees, kivas, or adobe dwellings?2619

This one is pretty straightforward, hopefully you will get it.2624

This one, longhouses.2627

Number 2, which are the following is true of a family life among Native Americans?2631

Kinship bonds were sometimes more important than nuclear families.2635

The women’s role was to serve her husband.2639

Kinship lines for both the Iroquois and the Pueblo passed through the father.2642

Divorce between Native couples was not heard off.2646

The answer is A, kinship.2650

Next question, the Aztec and Mayan civilization shared which of the following characteristics with the Iroquois?2658

Written language, use of complex irrigation systems, farming practices, or great wealth in gold?2665

The answer is farming practices.2675

We are going to move on the short answer section of the assessment.2685

For these, this is a new part of the newly redesigned AP test.2692

For these, you must use complete sentences.2699

This is a really important thing to keep in mind.2702

Complete sentences, use proper punctuation, very important.2708

When you actually take a look at the sample essay paper, you will notice that you only have one page.2717

You have to keep your answers within that boundary that they give you, those boundaries, I should say.2727

Be very aware that these are not supposed to be an essay length.2734

The thing that is a little bit tricky as well is that these short answers, they always have three components.2740

Sometimes it will ask you to answer two questions in A and then you have another question in B.2750

You will get three points really for each short answer.2757

Make sure that you read the question thoroughly, it is very important.2762

In this case, it breaks it down into three different parts.2768

In some cases, you actually see two questions within one question, one part of the question.2772

Generally speaking, these responses are approximately 2 - 3 sentences each, each part.2780

If you are an advanced writer, if your sentences are a bit more complex,2799

if you could potentially write one well crafted, well written sentence, to address all aspects of the question.2807

In most cases, from what I have experienced, we will see about 2 – 3 sentences for each part.2816

Some people actually combine all into one paragraph but I actually would make your answer dummy proof for the reader.2824

I'm not trying to build something, I’m just being honest.2832

You want to make it very clear what you are addressing and label it as so and such.2835

Here we go, briefly explain how one of the factors impacted the Aztecs.2842

The domestication of maize, trade, or tribute?2848

For the short answers, I would read to you an example of a typical sentence and how you would respond to it.2853

Do keep in mind there are a variety of ways to respond to this.2859

What you should do is try to write your own sentences and own response, and then see if it is compliable.2863

You should use this as a tool to review, see if you did get some of this material.2872

Hopefully, you will have a good understanding about the type of sentences that you should try to create.2879

The other thing to keep in mind is, other main point here is go with what you know and what you know best.2887

Choose the one that seems the most obvious, that seems the simplest.2904

The one that you can think of an example right after that, that is the one.2910

Go with your instincts, the one you feel most confident about.2913

Challenging yourself is important in life but on the AP test,2919

that is not the time for you to try to stretch and see if you could pull this off.2923

Go with the one that you definitely feel the most confident about.2931

I’m going to get to it.2935

Which one I’m going to choose?2936

I’m going to choose this.2938

Mesoamericans cultivated maize into a nutritious plant with a higher yield per acre.2942

They eventually had a surplus corn that allowed the population to grow.2950

This facilitated the growth of the urban, wealthy civilization that developed.2960

There we go, that is part A.2967

Part B, briefly explain the importance of animism in Native North American spiritual life.2969

Animism, the belief that the natural world is suffused with spiritual power, influenced most Native Americans,2977

although there were regional variations from tribe to tribe.2984

Customs varied, Native Americans believed that the universe was bound together by the spirits2989

with an all natural life, from plants, animals, humans, water, and the Earth.2994

Certain animals related to rituals and have spiritual significance for each tribe.3001

I gave you examples, I explain what animism was, all in one package in that answer.3010

Part C, briefly explain one similarity or difference between North American societies and Mesoamerican societies.3016

One difference between North American and Mesoamerican societies is that the societies in Mesoamerica were more populated,3026

more hierarchical, and more coercive, in general, than societies in North America.3034

I actually gave you three, I was a little more extensive.3044

You could actually just do one and then give an example.3047

There are a lot of different ways that you could address these questions.3054

Let us move on.3058

This one, you are looking at a map, a variety of sources.3059

This one has the agriculture, hunting, hunting-gathering, fishing.3065

Use the map to answer parts A, B, and C.3073

Identify and briefly explain one economic activity that was prominent in the northeastern North America before 1492.3077

Eastern woodlands peoples focused on agriculture and hunting for survival.3091

One economic activity that was prominent in northeastern America was the trading of agricultural goods and animal furs.3098

Identify and briefly explain one economic activity that was prominent in the central part of North America before 1492.3109

The plains Indians hunted game for survival since there is a lack of natural resources.3119

They developed largely mobile lifestyles.3125

Trading various animal hides and other foodstuffs became an integral part of the economy.3128

Lastly, identify and briefly explain one similarity or difference3136

between one of the eastern woodland societies and southwestern Pueblo societies.3141

Eastern woodlands societies such as the Iroquois were matriarchal and their dwellings were mostly longhouses.3149

In the northeast, some societies developed an agricultural and hunter-gather economy.3156

Southwestern Pueblo societies cultivate maize and some used irrigation.3162

Their societies were centered in kivas or ceremonial chambers.3167

There you go, examples, explanations, short, sweet, concise to the point.3173

That is really what you want.3179

You want to be clear, you want to be precise.3181

You do not want to go on and on because that actually will get you in trouble.3184

Perhaps, make more mistakes that way.3190

Keep it simple, give a good explanation, make sure you define your terms within your responses.3193

That is our first lesson, and I hope you enjoyed our first lesson on the first Americans in AP U.S. History.3200

Thank you for watching www.educator.com.3208