APUSH APUSH Period 1 1491 1607 Native American Societies Before European Contact

Why This Matters

Understanding Native American societies before European contact is crucial for grasping the complexities of American history, particularly the theme of American Identity. The diverse cultures, traditions, and experiences of Native Americans before contact laid the groundwork for the complex relationships between European colonizers and Native American populations, shaping the course of American history. This topic also highlights the significance of migration, politics, and power in shaping the lives of Native Americans.

Key Events & People

• The Mississippian Culture (800-1500 CE): A complex, urbanized society that flourished in the Eastern Woodlands, characterized by large earthen mounds and a hierarchical social structure.
• The Iroquois Confederacy (1570-1700s): A powerful alliance of Native American nations in present-day New York, known for its democratic government and influence on the US Constitution.
• Cortés and the Aztecs (1519-1521): Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico, marking the beginning of European colonization in the Americas.
• Powhatan Confederacy (1540-1646): A loose alliance of Algonquian-speaking tribes in present-day Virginia, led by Chief Powhatan, who interacted with English colonizers.
• Geronimo (1829-1909): A prominent Apache leader who resisted Mexican and US forces, symbolizing Native American resistance to colonization.
• Sitting Bull (1831-1890): A Hunkpapa Lakota leader who played a key role in the Battle of Little Bighorn, resisting US expansion.
• Crazy Horse (1840-1877): A prominent Lakota leader who fought against US forces, known for his bravery and tactical genius.
• Pocahontas (1596-1617): A Powhatan woman who interacted with English colonizers, including John Smith, and played a key role in early American history.
• Tecumseh (1768-1813): A Shawnee leader who resisted US expansion, advocating for Native American unity and sovereignty.
• Cornplanter (1746-1836): A Seneca leader who interacted with European colonizers, including George Washington, and advocated for Native American rights.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: The Mississippian Culture's complex social structure and urbanization.
• Effect: The development of a hierarchical society with a strong leader, influencing the interactions with European colonizers.

• Long-term consequence: The Mississippian Culture's legacy in shaping the social and political structures of Native American societies.

• Cause: The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic government and influence on the US Constitution.

• Effect: The inspiration of the US system of government, with its emphasis on representation and checks and balances.

• Long-term consequence: The Iroquois Confederacy's influence on American politics and governance.

• Cause: Cortés's conquest of the Aztecs and the subsequent Spanish colonization of the Americas.

• Effect: The destruction of Native American cultures, the spread of diseases, and the exploitation of Native American resources.
• Long-term consequence: The long-lasting impact of European colonization on Native American populations and the Americas as a whole.

Essential Vocabulary

• *Haudenosaunee*: A term for the Iroquois Confederacy, meaning "people of the longhouse."
• *Wampum*: A type of shell bead used by Native Americans for ceremonial and trade purposes.
• *Tribal sovereignty*: The right of Native American tribes to govern themselves and make decisions about their own lands and resources.
• *Encomienda system*: A Spanish colonial system in which Native Americans were forced to work for European colonizers in exchange for protection and land.
• *Pueblo Revolt*: A 1680 uprising of Native American tribes in present-day New Mexico against Spanish colonizers.
• *Trail of Tears*: A forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in the 1830s.
• *Native American boarding schools*: Institutions established by the US government to assimilate Native American children into European-American culture.
• *Treaty of Paris*: A 1763 treaty between the British and Native American tribes, marking the end of the French and Indian War and the beginning of British expansion in North America.
• *Wounded Knee Massacre*: A 1890 massacre of Lakota Sioux by US troops, marking the end of the Ghost Dance movement and the final defeat of Native American resistance.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: Confusing the Iroquois Confederacy with the Cherokee Nation.
• Correction: The Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful alliance of Native American nations in present-day New York, while the Cherokee Nation was a separate tribe that interacted with European colonizers.
• What students often get wrong: Believing that Pocahontas was a passive figure in early American history.
• Correction: Pocahontas was a complex figure who interacted with European colonizers, including John Smith, and played a key role in early American history.
• What students often get wrong: Thinking that the Trail of Tears was a single event.
• Correction: The Trail of Tears was a series of forced relocations of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in the 1830s.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the impact of European colonization on Native American societies, using evidence from the Mississippian Culture, the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Aztec Empire.
• Possible evidence: The writings of Hernán Cortés, the accounts of European colonizers, and the archaeological evidence of Native American cultures.
• Possible essay prompt: Evaluate the significance of the Iroquois Confederacy's democratic government and its influence on the US Constitution.
• Possible evidence: The writings of Iroquois leaders, the accounts of European colonizers, and the historical records of the US Constitution.

Quick Self-Check

1. What was the significance of the Mississippian Culture in Native American history?
2. Correct answer: The Mississippian Culture was a complex, urbanized society that flourished in the Eastern Woodlands, characterized by large earthen mounds and a hierarchical social structure.

3. Explanation: The Mississippian Culture's legacy in shaping the social and political structures of Native American societies is crucial for understanding the complexities of American history.

4. Who was a prominent Apache leader who resisted Mexican and US forces?

5. Correct answer: Geronimo

6. Explanation: Geronimo was a prominent Apache leader who resisted Mexican and US forces, symbolizing Native American resistance to colonization.

7. What was the significance of the Treaty of Paris in Native American history?

8. Correct answer: The Treaty of Paris marked the end of the French and Indian War and the beginning of British expansion in North America.
9. Explanation: The Treaty of Paris had a profound impact on Native American populations, leading to the loss of land and the spread of European colonization.

Last-Minute Cram Sheet

• ⚠️ The Mississippian Culture flourished in the Eastern Woodlands from 800-1500 CE.
• The Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful alliance of Native American nations in present-day New York.
• Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in 1519-1521.
• Pocahontas interacted with European colonizers, including John Smith, in the early 17th century.
• The Trail of Tears was a series of forced relocations of the Cherokee Nation in the 1830s.
• The Wounded Knee Massacre occurred in 1890.
• The Haudenosaunee term refers to the Iroquois Confederacy.
• Wampum was a type of shell bead used by Native Americans for ceremonial and trade purposes.
• Tribal sovereignty is the right of Native American tribes to govern themselves and make decisions about their own lands and resources.
• The Encomienda system was a Spanish colonial system in which Native Americans were forced to work for European colonizers in exchange for protection and land.