Chapter 1: The First Americans

Section 1-2: Early AmericansFocus Question: How did geography influence the

development of cultures in North America?

How did the first people come to North America?

-One theory is that the first Americans migrated from Asia across the land bridge-They crossed from Siberia to present day Alaska along the Pacific Coast of North America and the interior of North America.

Other Theories…

• Some theories suggest that it is possible some early natives traveled by dug out canoe following the ice sheet

• Others have suggested they found evidence that some early people may have even taken a more European/Atlantic route using dug out canoes and following the ice sheet on the Atlantic side landing in what is now present day Maryland

Who were the first Americans?

Scientists believe the first Americans were groups of hunters from Asia that were searching for food sources.

When did the first Americans arrive?

- The first Americans arrived approximately 30,000-15,000 years ago.

How did they spread over the continent?

-It is believed they moved down over the west coast - They continued to hunt fish, and look for food.

How did the people adapt to their conditions?

• About 12,000 years ago the ice age ended and temperatures started to rise. The new people had to adapt to the change in climate.

• They started to hunt smaller animals and they also started to grow some crops such as corn, beans, and squash.

How do we know these people existed?

• We study the different languages of the Native Americans, the remains of people in Southeast Asia, and we study artifacts found at different sites where these people camped, lived, and hunted.

• Artifacts can tell about the culture as well as hunting practices, farming, and also how old a site is where the artifacts were found.

What is culture?

• Culture is an entire way of life that a group of people has developed.

Who were the Mound Builders?• The Mound Builders lived from about 3,000 years ago to the 1700’s.• The two main groups were the

Mississippians and the Hopewells.• The mounds were part of their culture.

They used them as burial grounds and to honor their leaders, and for religious reasons.

• Evidence shows through artifacts that these Mound Builders traded with people from Mexico and the Southwest.

Early Cultures of the Southwest:

• Hohokamas: lived in what is now present day Arizona.

• Anasazi/Pueblos: lived in the Southwest near what is now New Mexico and Arizona.

• They lived from about 100 B.C. to about 1300 A.D.

• They farmed the desert land and used irrigation. They lived in adobe houses that were more than 1 story in height.

Cliff Dwellings

• Some Anasazi needed protection from neighboring war tribes so they built adobe houses along the cliffs.

Group Work

• Assignment: Work with your partner using the following websites and information to create a ven diagram/chart on the Mississippians, Anasazi, and Hopewells.

• The chart should have a heading, as well as categories such as location, shelter, farming techniques, clothing, religion, etc. (similar to the chart on the Maya Aztec and Inca. This will be used to help you complete the Compare/Contrast Assignment.

Websites

• Anasazi:• http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/cunniff/americanhistorycentral/

01firstamericans/The_Anasazi.html

• http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/southwest/anasazi.html

• Mississippians:• http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/southeast/mississippians.html

• http://www.nwoet.org/ohiotrek/mb.htm