APUSH Review: America's History Chapter 1

Adam Norris11 minutes read

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of America, focusing on maize cultivation and trade routes before European arrival. European society was patriarchal, with the Roman Catholic Church's power leading to the Protestant Reformation and England's shift to Protestantism.

Insights

  • Native Americans in various regions of America, such as the Mississippi Valley and Eastern Woodlands, centered their societies around maize cultivation, with women playing crucial roles in crop management and community affairs.
  • The Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther's 95 theses challenging indulgences and introducing predestination, significantly influenced Puritans and England's transition to Protestantism, marking a pivotal shift in religious dynamics.

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Recent questions

  • Who were the first inhabitants of America?

    Native Americans

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Summary

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"Native American Cultures and European Influences"

  • The textbook being reviewed is "American History" by Henretta, aligned with the new AP curriculum, starting with Chapter 1 titled "Colliding Worlds from 1450 to 1600."
  • Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the American continent, with many migrating from North to South via the Bering Strait around 6,000 BCE, focusing on maize cultivation, leading to population growth, especially in present-day Mexico.
  • Various American empires existed before European arrival, such as the Aztec Empire with its capital Tenochtitlan, utilizing trading routes and tributes, alongside chiefdoms and confederacies, emphasizing maize cultivation.
  • Different regions in America, like the Mississippi Valley and Eastern Woodlands, centered around maize cultivation, with women playing significant roles in crop management and community affairs.
  • The Iroquois in Central and Western New York were a matriarchal society, while the Great Plains Native Americans relied on buffalo hunting, becoming nomadic, and the Pueblo Indians in the Southwest focused on maize agriculture and irrigation systems.
  • The Chinooks in the Pacific Northwest were known for their fishing prowess and elaborate canoes, engaging in trade fairs with other Native American groups, exchanging maize for meat, furs, and supplies.
  • European society was patriarchal, with primogeniture dictating inheritance, leading to younger sons immigrating to colonies for opportunities, while peasants made up the majority of the population, with merchant cities growing and guilds regulating trade.
  • The Roman Catholic Church held immense power in Western Europe, persecuting heretics, leading to the Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther's 95 theses, challenging indulgences, and introducing the concept of predestination, influencing Puritans and England's shift to Protestantism.
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