Breaking Away from
Britain
UNIT 1 LESSON 1A: ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN NATION: THE NEW
WORLD
L.E.Q.:
How did European
exploration and
colonization effect
Native American and
European cultures?
Drill:
Based on these images,
what conclusions do you
have about the interactions
between Europeans and
Native Americans?
Pop Quiz: Regions of the U.S.
1. Which states make up the Northwest region of the U.S.?
Washington, Oregon
2. Which state is also a peninsula?
Florida
3. Which state is in the Southwest region and bordered to the east by Louisiana?
Texas
4. How many states are have a polar climate?
one = Alaska
5. What is the climate of most states in the Southeast region?
Humid subtropical
Pre-Columbian America
The first human inhabitants of North American came from northeast Asia during an Ice Age,
approximately 15,ooo years ago
As the Ice Age ended these Asian descendants began to develop distinctive regional cultures
- some remained nomadic
- some relied heavily on farming
15,000 years
 Each group/tribe developed their own languages,
socialago
organizations, governments, and
religious beliefs and practices = civilization
Pre-Columbian America
 Native population was between 5-10 million
 350-500 different languages b/w the two continents
Pre-contact societies were diverse and complex
Early Modern Europe
After the Middle Ages (500-1400 C.E.) Europe experienced an age of
intellectualism known as the Renaissance (advances in technology, weaponry,
and science)
Motives for exploration:
- God: spread Christianity
- Glory: bring honor to country and increase power and control
- Gold: increase wealth of the country and status
Columbus
Arrived in the Caribbean in 1492, his purpose: conquest and exploitation
“I cold conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I pleased.”
(entry from Columbus’ journal – 13 October 1942)
Effects of Columbus’ voyages:
- Other European leaders fund expeditions to the Americas
- Europeans begin to see themselves as superior
- Columbian Exchange
Homework:
Read pages 4-6 of
Lesson 1: Origins of
the American Nation
and take notes
Sum it Up:
Describe the effects of European exploration
on both the Native Americans and
Europeans.
L.E.Q.:
How did European
exploration and
colonization effect
Native American
and European
cultures?
**Colonize: come to settle among and establish political control over
Drill:
Brainstorm
Why were Europeans
able to colonize the
Americas with relative
ease?
European colonists arrive in America to appropriate land.
Cartoonist: Madden, Chris
Colonization Made Easy:
1. Decrease in Native populations: Explorers and conquistadors brought diseases with
them that killed 90% - 96% of the Native Americans living on the eastern coast of
North America
2. Land was already settled: Native Americans already settled the land = homes, farm
lands, irrigation systems, pottery, tools
3. Acculturation: Native American and European cultures began to blend with Native
populations learning to use new technologies, such as firearms and utilizing horses
4. Increase in Native warfare: Europeans played Native Americans against each other;
sell of other Natives as slaves and the fur trade increased conflict
Colonization of North America
Colonization of South America
North America
Europe
L.E.Q.:
How did European
exploration and
colonization effect
Native American
and European
cultures?
Drill:
What is mercantilism?
In the case of European
colonization, who
benefited most from
this economic system?
A.K.A. Raw Materials