(8/31) We’re Coming to America Flashcards
Key Questions
When did American history begin?
Who is considered “Americans”?
When do the people on the continent start to view themselves as American?
Where did the earliest settlers come from?
They came from Asia; evidence was largely genetic and skeletal.
When did the earliest settlers migrate?
They migrated in waves 15-60,000 years ago.
What did the migrators do when they got here?
They adapted and adjusted (voluntary migrations), and continued to be hunters and gatherers (in small subsistence bands of 15-50).
What happened when the earth warmed up again?
It became a “hunters paradise”; there was slow, large, bountiful herbivores if no competition.
What happened as time went on in the “hunters paradise”?
Native Americans hunted some animals to extinction (prehistoric beaver, American horses, mastodons). Climate also shifted and was getting warmer, which put further strain on the animal population.
What happened once humans adapted to the environmental change and created new technologies?
They stopped moving as much and settled into semipermanent villages.
What crops did they heavily rely on during this time?
Corn, beans, and squash. Corn was detrimental to soil overtime.
What things did the Hohokam and Anasazi not have?
They didn’t have a domesticated livestock or a developed system of writing. They did have structures tied to God and the sun, however.
What did the Anasazi do in Arizona?
They made it hospitable and turned it into a garden. They built massive irrigation canals/networks all LARGELY by hand.
What was Pueblo Bonito?
It was a city for large centralized civilizations to live in. It was 4 stories tall with 650 rooms. The U.S. didn’t build something larger than the Anasazi’s town until 1880.
What were the associated risks of Pueblo Bonito?
The risks included neglect, drought, too much or too less rain, amount of light, environmental changes, and different species introduced.
What happened in 1130-1190 in Pueblo Bonito?
The Anasazi and Hohokam experienced a terrible drought, crop failure, and internal conflict, so they split.
What kind of landscape did Mississippi have? What were some characteristics they had?
The landscape was more productive and lush. The Mississippians were never a singular people or unified; they simply lived harmoniously.
What were the Mississippians slower to come to?
Horticulture; they built central towns around central plazas.
