Three Worlds Meet and Early America An Overview

When: Where: What: 1492 (and beyond) North, Central and South America A mixing of peoples and cultures (Native American, African and European)

Native Americans The first Americans crossed a land bridge connecting Asia and Alaska (known as the Bering Strait) as many as 40,000 years ago.

Native American Society Around 1492 At the time of Columbus’ arrival, there were hundreds of different native groups living in all areas of North, Central and South America.

The culture, traditions and language of each group was different. However, there were some shared cultural patterns: Land UseReligionSocial Structure Believed land was the source of life Land could not be bought, sold or owned Did very little to alter land in anyway Believed natural world was filled with spiritual presences Past generations stayed alive as guides in the present All things, living and non-living possessed a voice and could be heard Elders respected for knowledge; guided young Many groups were matrilineal Families were large groups of related people

West African Society Around 1492 Long established trade routes brought both goods and Islam into the areas of West Africa

The culture, traditions and language of each group was different, however, there were some shared cultural patterns: Land UseReligionSocial Structure No one owned land – it belonged to the village Land was part of livelihood (farming, fishing, herding, etc..) Religious rituals part of everyday life Nature was filled with spirits Spiritual forces could be found in all living and non-living things Some groups were matrilineal Lineage (common line of descent) was very important Age carried rank Families were large groups of related people

European Societies Around 1492 Land UseReligionSocial Structure Land owned by wealthy land owners – worked by peasants/serfs Most land was controlled by the wealthy few Christianity is practiced by the majority of Europeans Christian crusades – spread and preach Christianity Spiritual forces could be found in all living and non-living things Society was hierarchical – arranged in order of social class Family life was centered around a nuclear family (mother, father, children)

In 1492… Christopher Columbus, and his crews on the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, landed on the island we now know as San Salvador (“Our Savior”). He was sponsored by the Spanish government. Did Columbus “discover” America? No. Native Americans had lived here for thousands of years and Vikings are believed to have landed in North America before the year 1000.

Why did Columbus come? 1. Gold 2. Land 3. To Spread Christianity What we’re told in school…He was looking for a shorter trade route to Asia. This is true, but… What Spain was really after was: We call this Imperialism (empire building; to gain land and resources outside of your country)

Columbus’ Impact on the Americas Columbus colonized the Americas, claiming the land for Spain and establishing sugar plantations. Though the natives fought Columbus’ advances, eventually the advanced weaponry of the Spanish was too much for the natives. The Spanish enslaved the natives to work in the sugar plantations in the Caribbean islands.

The biggest impact the arrival of Europeans had on the Americas was… DISEASE! European diseases (small pox, measles, mumps chickenpox) did not exist in the Americas until Europeans arrived. Native Americans did not have immune systems that could fight the diseases. Disease killed more Native Americans than any army. Some estimates say up to as much as 90% of all people living in the Americas before Columbus arrived. In 1502, due to a labor shortage caused by disease, the Spanish began the Atlantic Slave Trade, bringing slaves from Africa to work on the sugar plantations in the islands.

The Columbian Exchange – what else was shared

The year is now 1607… England settles its first colony in the Americas – Jamestown – along the Virginia coast.

The Jamestown settlers had 2 goals: 1. To find gold 2. To get rich trading with the Indians The settlers did not want to prepare for winter by planting crops or building sturdy housing

Many settlers died of disease and starvation. During the winter of 1609, known as “starving time”, settlers are shoe leather to stay alive. Jamestown might not have survived if it were not for tobacco or “BROWN GOLD”

In order to grown all that tobacco, the colonists needed labor. A practice known as indentured servitude was developed to meet the need. The Indenture Contract in 17th Century Virginia

The Massachusetts Bay Colony Founded by the Puritans – a religious group who felt the Church of England retained too many Catholic traditions and needed to be purified. Puritans came to the colonies to be free to practice the religion they wanted to practice.

What did Puritans believe? They placed great importance in the Bible and interpreted it literally. They believed the people of the church should have the power to hire or fire the minister. “City Upon A Hill” - They believed God wanted them to be a model society for others to follow. Believed it was already determined who was going to heaven – but you had to work hard and be pious while on earth to “keep” your spot.

Thirteen Original Colonies Mid-1700s New EnglandMiddle ColoniesSouthern Colonies shipping ship building fishing lumber livestock trade furs wheat glass trade paper ship building tobacco wheat rice indigo naval supplies Economic Activities