NPE - Key Concepts Lesson
Key Concepts
Before you begin...
Notes are given here as well as in the Readings Document from Boundless that is available to download below. There is 1 presentation to view as well. This key concepts lesson is very important as it covers the main areas of the Advanced Placement frameworks and the Georgia Performance Standards. Many of the test questions will relate to items found here.
Download the key concepts questions that are found below and answer these as you read and view the information. The answers are found in the text on this and the following pages, the Readings Document, and in the 1 presentation. After you have done this you will use these answers to take the assignment check quiz for this module. Again, it is very important that you answer the questions carefully before taking the assignment check.
The history of the first Americans, known as the Native Americans or American Indians, goes back thousands of years before the arrival of the first Europeans. American Indian culture was rich and varied. Estimates vary, but there were likely between 40-100 million Native Americans living in North and South America at the time of European exploration. In what is today the United States, estimates in population vary from 4-12 million for the total population. Several key regions that you will need to know about are the Great Basin, Northwest, and Northeastern/Eastern Woodlands.
Christopher Columbus did not technically "discover" America as there were millions of people living here already. He was not even the first European to arrive as the Vikings landed in what is today Canada about 500 years earlier. However, his voyage had a huge impact as the interaction between Europeans and the Native Americans forever changed the course of history. View and listen to this short presentation on what is known as the "Columbian Exchange".
View the presentation below.
After Columbus, many other Spanish arrived. They were followed by Europeans from other nations including Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and eventually England. Europeans came for a variety of reasons: to find trade routes, to gain riches such as gold, to convert the American Indians to Christianity, and some for adventure. In general, the Dutch and French were more interested in the fur trade and business ventures. Their record is far from perfect, but in general they had a more peaceful relationship with the American Indians. They sought to trade with them as opposed to directly conquering territory. The center of Dutch settlement became know as New Netherland (today New York) and the French established New France (today Canada) with its largest settlement being Quebec.
American Indian culture was forever changed by the arrival of the Europeans. Entire people groups were decimated by disease. Interaction with the Europeans also provided Native Americans with guns and alcohol, which often had destructive results by increasing conflict. It is important to remember that many of the American Indian groups were hostile with each other and conflict continued among these people groups. In many cases, alliances with European powers contributed to new conflicts.
One example of American Indian resistance to European colonization was the Pueblo Revolt, also known as Popes Rebellion, in 1680. The Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest (near Santa Fe, New Mexico) rebelled against their Spanish colonizers, driving them out for a time. Twelve years later the Spanish were able to retake the territory. However, in the years following the Pueblo Revolt there was a move toward more accommodation of American Indian culture by the Spanish.
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.