Chapter 2: Native Americans of North America
1. Tribe- group of families with one leader.
2. League- organization for a specific purpose.
3. The Great Council made decisions for which league?
Iroquois League
4. What was the Iroquois League, and why was it formed? (essay 4 lines)
The Iroquois League was formed by a group of five, then six,
Native American tribes. Its purpose was peace and cooperation.
Together, all the members made decisions that affected all the
tribes.
5. Cultural Region- area in which people with similar cultures live.
6. In what ways did the people of the Eastern Woodlands use forest resources?
1. food
2. clothing
3. water
7. Longhouse- very long Iroquois building.
8. Why do you think each longhouse had a central area with shared cooking fires?
(essay 4 lines)
Since many families lived together, it was more economical to
share cooking fires. It also was safer to contain the fires in one
place.
9. Other than meat, what did the Eastern Woodlands use the animals for?
Skins and furs were used for clothing
10. Because of the Iroquois’ connection to nature, what did they do to the deer
they killed?
The hunters spoke to and thanked the deer.
11. Wampum- polished seashells on strings or woven into belts.
12. Reservation- land set aside by the U.S. government.
13. The Iroquois started a custom that is still practiced today. What is that
custom?
The Great Council
14. Most Plains people lived by farming and hunting.
15. Lodge- round hut built over a deep hole.
16. Why was the buffalo so important to the people of the Plains?
It provided them meat, clothing, blankets, and utensils.
17. Tepee- shelter made of a circle of poles and buffalo hides.
18. How are lodges and tepees similar and different? (essay)
Similar: Both are types of shelter.
Different: A lodge is a permanent shelter. A tepee is a moveable
shelter.
19. Travois- poles to which a load was tied for transport.
20. Horses were important to the lifestyle of the Cheyenne because they made
hunting buffalo easier.
21. The horse was so important to the Cheyenne that they actually started
measuring their wealth in horses instead of money.
22. Why did the Cheyenne place high value on horses? (essay 3 lines)
Horses helped the Cheyenne change their way of life. They made
it easier to hunt, travel, and defeat enemies in warfare.
23. What present-day state is home to many of the Cheyenne people?
Montana
24. Powwow- American Indian gathering to keep traditions alive.
25. Describe the environment of the Southwest Desert cultural region.
mostly hot and arid
26. Pueblo- Spanish word for village.
27. What is the connection between Pueblo Indian and Anasazi housing? (essay 2
lines)
Their housing customs are similar, rising several stories off the
ground.
28. Where did the Hopi build their villages and why?
They built their villages on top of high mesas for protection.
29. What was the purpose of the Hopi dance?
It was a ceremony to honor the kachinas and ask for their help.
30. Describe the Hopi civilization today.
It is a blend of the old and the new ways of life.
31. Potlatch- type of party; word meaning to give away.
32. Describe a potlatch.
A party where the hosts give gifts to show their wealth and
generosity.
33. Totem Pole- a carved post with animals or other images.
34. How do the cultural purposes of a totem pole and a potlatch compare? (essay 3
lines)
For the people of the Northwest Coast cultural region, both the
potlatch and the totem pole were a way to show wealth.
35. Shaman- healer.
36. Name three facts about a shaman.
1. The Kwakiutl believed a shaman could cure illness.
2. Shamans performed dancing ceremonies.
3. Kwakiutl men and women could become shamans.
37. Why did the Kwakiutl use animal hides and cedar bark to make clothing? (essay
2 lines)
The Kwakiutl used the resources they had available to form their
garments.
38. What food item is a modern addition to the Kwakiutl culture?
sugar