The American Revolution

ORIGINS OF A NEW NATION

Chapter 1: Many Cultures Meet – Prehistory 1550

- Since departing from Spain, Christopher Columbus and his crew of 90 men had traveled westward across the Atlantic Ocean for more than 3000 miles. After more than a month, they sighted land on October 12, 1492.

- The Europeans had hoped to find the Asian lands.

Section 1: THE AMERICAN INDIANS

THE FIRST PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS

- Paleo-Indians (come from Siberia, a region in Asia that lies just across the narrow Bering Strait from Alaska).

People Migrate to the Americas: The first Americans were hunters who arrived about 15000 years ago. At that time, the world was experiencing an ice age, a time lasting thousands of years during which the Earth was covered by ice and glaciers. Much of the planet’s seawater was frozen in polar ice caps. Therefore, the sea level fell as much as 360 feet below today’s level. The lower sea levels exposed a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska. Paleo-Indian hunters crossed this land bridge in pursuit of their favored prey – immense mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, and giant bison.

- However, some believe the first Americans migrated from Asia as many as 40000 years ago. These were coastal peoples who gathered wild plants and hunted seals and small whales. They arrived in the Americans with small boats.

Paleo-Indians Adapt to Climate Change: The climate was warmed. As the temperature rose, the polar ice melted and the oceans rose close to present-day levels. The warming climate killed animals. The environment became more diverse. The northern grasslands shrank while forests expanded northward.

Diverse Culture Emerge: The Indians became diverse because of the climate and environment. Languages + cultures ><.

The Beginnings of Agriculture: Some people learned how to domesticate wild plants, so that they could be planted and grown for food. In central Mexico, American Indians developed three important crops: maize (corn), squashes, and beans. In...