Early AmericaBeginnings – 1800

Historical, Social,

And Cultural Forces10th Grade Literature

Journal Topic

What do you know about Early Americans? Who were these people and what do you think was most important to them?

The Native Americans

When Europeans arrived in the 1490’s, America was already home to hundreds of Native Americans.

They came here via the Bering Strait. There were many different tribes. Each had their own language, culture, and

social values.

European Contact

1400’s the Europeans started exploring the rest of the world.Growth of trade between Europe and AsiaAdvances in navigation and shipbuilding

1492 – Columbus made his voyage to the Americas.

European Contact

Their exploration, conquest, and settlement led to the founding of many new, and soon to be important, nations.

This exploration was the beginning of the destruction of many Native American societies.DiseaseWar

Religious Belief

Religion was a major factor in American colonial culture.

Most important in the New England colonies.Puritans & Pilgrims founded colonies there in

the 1620’s.

Religious Belief

Pennsylvania Quakers led by William Penn – 1670.

The Great Awakening – 1730’s – 1740’s. A religious revival Started in New England Spread through the colonies Increased feeling of responsibility towards Native

Americans & enslaved Africans More tolerant of other faiths

The Slave Trade

From the beginning, the Colonies had a severe labor shortage.

The South had large tobacco and rice plantations that required hundreds of workers.

Many colonists participated in slave trade.Quakers protested this

The Slave Trade

1750 – more than 200,000 slaves The colonies developed slave codes; sets

of laws that regulated slavery and defined relationships between slaves and free people.

Codes became increasingly strict.

The American Revolution

In the mid 1760’s unrest began to develop in the colonies.

Britain's long war with France left them in debt. To raise money they passed new laws that

allowed them to tax everyday items. Mid 1770’s people were tired of the taxes and

laws and this led to political violence and a desire for self-rule.

The American Revolution

April 1775 – British troops sent to the towns of Lexington and Concord to control unrest.

This started of the Revolutionary War. American Militiamen vs. British Soldiers. July 4, 1776 – Declaration of Independence. British accepted the independence in 1783.

Big Ideas of Early America

The Sacred Earth and the Power of Storytelling

Life in the New World The Road to Independence

The Sacred Earth and the Power of Storytelling

Native Americans had strong feelings for the natural world around them.

The earth and all of the living things that inhabited it were sacred to them.

The reverence for the earth and its creatures was passed down orally from generation to generation.

Speakers and storytellers were valued members of society.

The Cycle of Life

The attitude toward the natural world shaped the religious beliefs of Native Americans.

Animals, plants, and forces of nature (weather, seasons, sun, moon, etc.) were part of the great cycle of life.

This cycle must be treated with great respect.

The Cycle of Life

Life was organized around the events of this cycle – seasons, birth, growth, and death of living things.

They believed all living things had spirits. Tried to contact spirits through dreams and

visions. Used songs and tales to express their views.

Owning the Land

They believed that no one person could own the land.

They thought all people and creatures that inhabited the land, owned it.

The Europeans though differently. They were desperate to own their own land They tricked Native Americans into signing land

treaties Violent conflicts resulted from this

A Legacy of Stories

Oral tradition began about 40,000 years ago.

Each culture developed its own stories and mythology.

Versions of the earliest stories have evolved through hundreds of generations and are still a part of Native American traditions today.