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GCSE History (America) > America: Native American Society > Flashcards

America: Native American Society Flashcards

(45 cards)

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1
Q

Why were Native Americans mistakenly called ‘Indians’?

A

Because when Christopher Columbus first arrived in America, he thought he was in India

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2
Q

What was the Sioux’s actual name?

A

Lakota

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3
Q

Which animal did the Sioux rely on in almost every aspect of life?

A

Buffalo

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4
Q

What did the Sioux use the buffalo for?

A
  • Muscles - for meat
  • Dung - fuel
  • Hide - shields, headdresses, clothes
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5
Q

How did the Sioux hunt the buffalo without horses?

A
  • Use animal skins to sneak up on the buffalo then shoot them with a bow and arrows
  • Herd them off a cliff
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6
Q

When did horses arrive in America?

A

1492

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7
Q

When did the Sioux start to use horses for hunting?

A

16 th century

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8
Q

What were the advantages of hunting buffalo with horses?

A
  • Larger hunting territory
  • Could hunt for longer
  • Could get closer to the buffalo, before shooting them with arrows
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9
Q

What did horses become for native Americans over time?

A

A way of determining wealth

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10
Q

What tactics were used to hunt buffalo with horses?

A
  • Splitting up the herd
  • Directing them in a certain direction
  • Trying to tire out the buffalo
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11
Q

What was a travois?

A

A cart with no wheels used to carry heavy loads

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12
Q

What was a tipi?

A

A shelter used as a home for Native Americans living on the plains

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13
Q

What is a moccasin?

A

A type of shoe, typically made from deerskin

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14
Q

What is a papoose?

A

A baby carrier used to allow the mother to do other work as well as looking after the baby

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15
Q

Which 4 aspects of Sioux life allowed them to live successfully on the plains?

A
  • Being nomadic
  • Having tipis
  • Having distinct gender roles
  • Polygamy
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16
Q

What roles did men have in Native American society?

A
  • Looked after horses
  • Protected the tribe
  • Hunted
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17
Q

What roles did women have in Native American society?

A
  • Managed the tipi
  • In charge of food, water and clothes
  • Raised children
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18
Q

Why were the Sioux nomadic?

A
  • To follow the buffalo
  • Because they couldn’t farm
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19
Q

How did the Sioux move around easily?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Used travois
  • Had collapsed tipis
20
Q

Why did the Native Americans practice polygamy?

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A
  • There were more women than men and women’s role within a tribe involved a family and therefore a man
  • Men died more often due to warfare and hunting accidents
21
Q

What were tipis made from?

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A

Buffalo skins

22
Q

What were the advantages of having a tipi?

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A
  • Could be collapsed and packed to move in 10 minutes
  • Strong enough to resist winds
  • Flaps at the top to let smoke from the fire escape, could be closed again to protect against rain or snow
  • The bottom could be rolled up to allow ventilation
23
Q

What weapons did the Sioux use in battle?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Bow and arrow
  • Spear
  • Coup stick
  • Tomahawk
24
Q

What ceremonial items did the Sioux bring to battle?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Shield
  • Ceremonial lance
25
What did the Sioux use shields for?
- In battle, to block attacks - For ceremonial purposes
26
What was a coup stick?
A stick Native Americans used in battle to tap your enemies with instead of killing
27
Why did Native Americans use coup sticks?
- It was considered braver to sneak up on your enemy and tap them than to kill them - Enemy would be dishonoured if tapped by a coup stick
28
Why did the Sioux use bows and arrows?
- As a long range weapon in battle - To hunt buffalo
29
What were most wars between Native Americans fought over?
Horses
30
What was a tomahawk?
An axe used by Native Americans as a short range weapon in battle
31
How did guns change life for the Sioux?
- It meant when they fought white Americans in battle, the sides were more even - but there would also be more casualties - Easier to hunt buffalo
32
Where did the Sioux get guns from?
Trading with white Americans
33
What was the Sioux opinion on land?
No one owned it
34
Why did the Sioux go to war?
- Raid another tribe and steal their horses - Seek revenge on another tribe for raiding their camp - Attack a rival tribe because they were hunting in their hunting grounds
35
What time of the year did Native Americans go to war?
The summer, because that is when they had plentiful supplies
36
What the the Sioux do to enemies they killed in battle?
Scalp them
37
Why did the Sioux scalp their enemies?
- To keep as trophies - To prevent their spirit passing through to the afterlife
38
What was the leader of the Sioux called?
The Great Chief
39
How was the Sioux nation split up?
Into different tribes, which each had a chief. These tribes were split into bands, which also each had a chief.
40
How would a Great Chief gain power?
**NOT** elected and **NOT** inherited. They were chosen based on their wisdom, spiritual power and skills as warriors and hunters.
41
What were the different roles in Sioux society (for men)?
Chief Council Medicine Man Elder Warrior
42
How did a Sioux council discuss ideas?
They walk discuss until everyone agreed
43
What was a ceremonial peace pipe?
A pipe smoked by the Sioux when they were talking as part of the council. They believed the smoke would inform the sprit world and help them make a good decision.
44
What was the Great Sioux Council?
A council that met once a year, made up of members from each Sioux band to discuss important issues.
45
What was a Sioux warrior society?
A group all Sioux men belonged to, they were responsible for supervising hunting, travelling, protecting the camp and training young warriors.

GCSE History (America) (7 decks)

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