1. Writing Assignment
In a ¾ page response, tell me about your personal history. Make sure to include the following:
Your parents
Early Childhood
School Years
Hobbies, Interests & favorites
Any fun/interesting facts or stories
An event that has had the MOST impact on your life
Goals and aspirations for the future
You will have the first 15 minutes of class, so include details and important events (Think of it as writing a history book on yourself! History is everywhere!)

2. The Earliest Americans
The first Native Americans migrated to the New World through Beringia: the land bridge connecting Asia to Alaska.
Over thousands of years, the native population began to expand southward and eastward.

5. The Earliest Americans
The Native Americans were comprised of three different groups:
Cliff Dwellers
Mound Builders
Eastern Woodland groups

6. Native American Groups by 1500

7. Cliff Dwellers Lived in the desert Southwest Developed farming
Used irrigation
Built great works of architecture (underground houses, dams, spiritual centers)
Formed egalitarian societies: everyone is equal; no kings or chiefs

9. Mound-builders Lived in the watered countryside of the Midwest
Built huge burial mounds
Traded widely (glass, copper, clothes, and jewelry)
Worked in metal

12. Eastern Woodland groups
Lived in forests along the East coast
Practiced hunting and farming
Dominated by the Iroquois Alliance.
Iroquois Alliance: most populous group in the east; combined 5 Native American groups for mutual protection.

14. Exploration in the Americas
1,000 A.D. – The first European to reach the shores of America was Leif Eriksson.
Eriksson was a Viking sailor and settled in Newfoundland for new fishing grounds.
Other Europeans fought for gold and spices; especially Spain and Portugal.

15. Spain and Portugal: European Rivals
Both European powers fought for control over western ocean routes.
Christopher Columbus charted his voyage to the New World in 1492, representing Spain.
Amerigo Vespucci was on a Portuguese voyage in 1501 – his writings were distributed faster than Columbus, therefore having the world named after him.

16. Spain and Portugal: European Rivals
SPAIN: Christopher Columbus
PORTUGAL: Amerigo Vespucci

17. World Map 1482

18. World Map 1565

19. “The houses of these Indians are the most beautiful I have ever seen and I swear that the closer I get to the mainland, the better they become. They’re like grand pavilions, like royal tents in an encampment without streets. One here, another there. They are well swept and quite clean inside, and the furnishings are arranged in good order. All are built of very beautiful palm prances. This land is so beautiful, I could go on praising it forever.”
- Christopher Columbus
- October 12, 1492
- Upon first arrival in the New World
(Bahamas)

20. Columbus’ Diary Entries
You will read Columbus’ Diary entries and answer the following questions.
1. What were Columbus' primary goals?
2. What were his initial impressions of what he found?
3. What do the post-1492 entries suggest may have happened during the later voyages?
4. How would you evaluate Columbus' own
assessment of his exploration?

21. Columbian Exchange
Read the Columbian Exchange article with a partner and answer the Discussion Questions on another sheet of paper.

24. European Control of the New World
What did each of the European Powers want from the “New World?”
Spain: America is a wealth base; not land to be developed.
France: Canadian forests & fur
England: Valued land ownership and saw opportunity in America.

25. Characteristics of settlements
European Settlement
Country
Where did they settle?
Characteristics of settlements
Spanish
 Along the southern edge of the “United States” and Mexico
 presidios and missions
French
 Along the St. Lawrence River
 at river junctions, fur trading posts, sparse population
English
 East coast – colonies
high populations, recreated English towns

26. English Colonies
Why did people want to come to America and live in the English colonies?
Freedom from royal oppression
Freedom of religion
Freedom to keep their own money

27. CLOSURE
Who were the three main Native American cultural groups? What did each contribute to society?
Who were – Leif Eriksson? Christopher Columbus? Amerigo Vespucci?
Which European power established colonies in the New World? Why?