US History

U.S. History Study Guide

Chapter 1: The First Americans Early America: Pre Columbus

1.1 Early America up till 1492 This chapter will predominantly cover the Native American populations that dominated the modern day regions of the United States before the European exploration. It will discuss other explorers who may have reached the area before Christopher Columbus. The chapter will include a brief description of the cultures of the Native American peoples. Bering Land Bridge Early Americans migrated to North America from Asia. They took the Bering Land Bridge, a piece of land that stretched from Siberia to Alaska around 12,000 years ago. The land was exposed due to the change of sea level during the Ice Age. They traveled across the bridge and began settling in North America. 1.2 Native Cultures The Native American people, also referred to as American Indians, had been living on the continent of North America many years before the Europeans discovered it. Although there were a significant number of Native Americans, they were highly divided and separated into many groups with diverse cultures. The languages in many of the groups were very different, and none were written, making communication near impossible for tribes throughout all of the Americas. Although some tribes would form alliances, a consolidated Native American force in North America would be impossible. These tribes flourished before the Europeans arrived, demonstrating sophisticated governments and cultures. 1.3 Tribes of the Northwest The Northwest tribes achieved a highly complex society in which an individual’s rank was determined by material possessions. This group is well known for its handcrafted totem poles. A totem pole in front of a home showed the generations and social rank of that family. Some of the most well-known tribes of the area were the Salish an, Chinook, and Makah.

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