The First Americans Who were they? How did they arrive? Chapter One The First Americans Who were they? How did they arrive?

WHAT WE KNOW FROM GOD’S WORD The Bible tells us that God is the eternal Creator of the universe, and He controls everything in the universe. He raises up nations and defeats kings to suit His purposes. God’s plans will be accomplished regardless of what people plan to do. PSALM 33: 6-11 PROVERBS 21:1 DANIEL 4:34b-35 AS WE STUDY THE HISTORY OF THE U.S. WE WILL SEE GOD’S PLAN UNFOLDING FOR OUR NATION.

AFTER THE FLOOD (GENESIS 6-9) ABOUT 4300 YEARS AGO, GOD SENT A GREAT FLOOD THAT COVERED THE EARTH AFTER THE FLOOD, NOAH’S SONS STARTED THEIR FAMILIES THESE PEOPLE LIVED IN AN AREA OF THE WORLD THAT IS NOW ASIA. GOD TOLD THE PEOPLE TO SPREAD OUT PEOPLE DISOBEYED GOD AND STAYED TOGETHER BUILDING A GREAT CITY (BABEL) TO SHOW THEIR MIGHT, THEY BUILT A TALL TOWER

TOWER OF BABEL GENESIS 11 GOD CONFUSED THEIR LANGUAGE PEOPLE COULD NOT COMMUNICATE FAMILIES DISPERSED THEY MOVED EAST ACROSS ASIA AS THE EARTH POPULATED PEOPLE SPREAD TO THE EAST COAST OF ASIA

THE ICE AGE Lasted for several hundred years after the flood During the Ice Age, much of the far northern and far southern parts of the earth were covered with snow and ice The Ice Age would have lowered the water level and exposed land bridges between Asia and Alaska These conditions made it easy for people to move from eastern Asia to what is now Alaska

Migration Through the Americas Most researchers believe that the Bering Strait bridge, Beringia, was most likely the way the Natives arrived in the Americas. The crossing of the land bridge was a migration, a movement of people into a new homeland. The story of the first Americans is still being pieced together by experts in archaeology, the study of ancient people. Archaeologists learn about the past from artifacts, things left behind by early people, such as stone tools, weapons, baskets, and carvings.

In Search of Hunting Grounds Early Americans were nomads: people who moved from place to place Early Americans traveled as far east as the Atlantic Ocean and as far south as the tip of South America They lived off of the land (gatherers) but depended on hunting for much of their food They hunted saber-toothed tigers, woolly mammoths, and mastadons They were skilled hunters Hunters shaped pieces of stone and bone to make tools for chopping and scraping

SETTLING DOWN As the large animals started to die out, the people had to find other food sources, according to their environment They hunted smaller game, such as deer, birds, and rodents Those who lived along rivers or near the seacoast learned to catch fish with nets and traps They continued to gather berries and grains

PLANTING SEEDS Native people in Mexico made a discovery that would shape the lives of Native Americans for generations to come: maize: an early form of corn they learned to plant They also experimented with other kinds of seeds. They planted pumpkins, beans, and squash The population grew along with the food supply

The Native Americans develop maize as a steady, reliable food source. No more nomadic life! Population growth. Food to store for the winter. Spend time doing things other than searching for food: -- Permanent shelters -- Pottery, cloth --Establish governments CULTURE, WAY OF LIFE More warriors, safer for everyone.