#1 - APUSH 1.1 Contextualizing Period 1 [UPDATED]

Summary

The lecture covers key themes in early American history, focusing on the period from 1491 to 1607. It discusses Native American migration via the Bering Land Bridge, the development of diverse societies across North and South America, and agricultural innovations like the Three Sisters farming method. The Columbian Exchange, which introduced crops, diseases, and livestock between the Old and New Worlds, is also explored. Additionally, the lecture highlights European expansion, the fall of the Aztec and Incan empires, and the political, social, and economic changes that resulted from European colonization.

Takeaways

• 📜 Period 1 of AP US History covers 1491 to 1607, focusing on Native populations and early European contact, ending with the settlement of Jamestown.
• 🌍 Native populations migrated to North and South America via the Bering Land Bridge and developed complex, diverse societies over thousands of years.
• 🌽 Many Native groups developed agricultural practices like Three Sisters farming (corn, squash, and beans), which was key to sustaining their populations.
• 🏞 Native societies adapted to their environments, such as the Aztecs with irrigation systems and the Incas with terrace farming in the mountains.
• 🤝 The Columbian Exchange brought significant changes, including the introduction of new crops, livestock, and deadly diseases, which decimated Native populations.
• 💀 Diseases like smallpox, influenza, and measles brought from Europe severely reduced the Native population, sometimes wiping out entire communities.
• 🍬 Sugarcane became a valuable export from the Caribbean to Europe, leading to the establishment of sugar plantations and later influencing European economies.
• ⚔️ The Spanish, led by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, toppled the Aztec and Incan empires, fundamentally altering the political landscape.
• 💒 European-Native interactions were marked by stark differences in religion, land use, and gender roles, with Europeans seeking to convert Natives to Christianity.
• 💰 The influx of gold and silver from the Americas to Europe played a key role in the shift from feudalism to capitalism and laid the groundwork for modern banking systems.

Q & A

What is the time frame for Period 1 in AP US History?

Period 1 in AP US History runs from 1491 to 1607, covering the events from European contact up to the first English settlements in Jamestown.

How did Native populations first migrate to the Americas?

Native populations migrated to the Americas through the Bering Land Bridge, which opened up about 35,000 years ago due to an ice age that lowered sea levels, revealing a land connection between Asia and North America.

What are the 'Three Sisters' in Native American agriculture?

The 'Three Sisters' refer to the three main crops cultivated by Native Americans: corn, squash, and beans. These crops were often grown together in a sustainable farming method.

How did Native Americans adapt their environment to practice agriculture?

Native Americans adapted their environment by using techniques like three sisters farming, irrigation channels, and terraced farming to sustain their agricultural practices, depending on the geography of their settlements.

What was the Columbian Exchange, and how did it affect both sides of the Atlantic?

The Columbian Exchange was the transfer of crops, livestock, diseases, and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It had significant social, cultural, and political changes on both sides, including population declines in the Americas due to disease and increased agricultural diversity in Europe.

How did the introduction of Old World diseases impact Native American populations?

Old World diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles had a devastating impact on Native American populations, who had no immunity, leading to a drastic reduction in their numbers.

What were the motivations for European exploration and expansion in the Americas?

The primary motivations for European exploration were the pursuit of gold, the spread of Christianity (specifically Catholicism), and the desire for glory, which included territorial expansion and upward social mobility for conquistadors.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas, and what did it establish?

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement brokered by the Pope in 1494 to prevent conflict between Spain and Portugal. It divided the world into two zones for exploration, with Spain receiving the western hemisphere and Portugal receiving the eastern hemisphere, including a portion of Brazil.

How did the introduction of New World crops impact European society?

The introduction of New World crops, such as potatoes and corn, had a significant impact on European society by improving nutrition, increasing food availability, and supporting population growth, which eventually fueled further exploration.

In what ways did Native American societies differ from European societies in terms of land use and social structure?

Native American societies typically used land communally and believed in its spiritual properties, whereas Europeans sought to modify and exploit the land for economic gain. Socially, many Native groups, like the Iroquois, were matrilineal, contrasting with the patriarchal structure of European society.