Holmbergs Mistake
- Holmberg based observations on one single amazonian tribe, were having a hard time surviving
- Generalized this to all native american cultures
- Judge a forest by one leaf
Olmec
- Were creating large statues without wheels
- Coordination
Maya civilization
- Made advancements while Europe was in the dark ages
Aztecs
- Rituals, human sacrifice
- Thoight they kept the world spinning, appeasing the gods
- Capital was Tenochtitlan
- Ancient Venice with temples and pyramids
Incas
- Experts at adapting to Andes mountains
- Built road system connecting their vast empire
- Terrace farming on steep slopes, used all usable land
- Macchu Picchu is the capital
Jarred Diamond GJS
- Geography plays a huge role in human history
- Allows ideas to spread faster
- Different foods
- Fertile crescent had the perfect conditions, so this led to cities and empires
North American Cultures
Culture Areas:
- Regions with shared characteristics but hold many different tribes and cultures
Iroquois
- United 5-6 different nations of NA
- Built a political system before any European contact
Sioux and Cheyenne in grasslands and plains
- Horses boosted mobility
Southwest
- Pueblo peoples flourished, built irrigation, and sustainable communities
Common between NA
- Deep connection with nature and storytelling
- Europe valued ambition and gain, conflicted with NA
Europe
- Vikings were the first to reach North America, but left as they did not plan on staying for a long time Dark ages led to limit of progress, Crusades, Black Death
Crusades introduced Europe to the riches of the middle east
Ripple effect
- Gave tools such as astrolabes, maps, etc
- Huge demand for sugar, spices and silk
- led to need for new trade routes
Portugal takes center stage Henry the Navigator financed schools and sponsored expeditions into Africa
- Tried to outmaneuver Ottomans who controlled land routes Paid off, explorers became very very rich
New sea routes to Asia changed trade forever
In 1492, Spain finances Columbuses idea of sailing west in order to reach Asia
Wanted to spread Spanish empire, spread chrisianity
Stumbles upon entire continent of America
Columbian moment - collision of worlds
One output was the columbian exchange between the new and old world
Disease, food, animals, plants
Huge amounts of indigenous peoples killed by disease
SPANISH
Spanish conquistadors driven by ambition greed and religion
Wanted to conquer the aztecs and take gold
Cortez to Aztec, Pizarro to Inca
Conquests were brutal, and led to Spanish exploitation and rule
Protestant reformation
Leads to huge consequences for Europe and the Americas
Martin luther 95 theses
Catholicism vertical power Protestantism was more individual, and had a direct connection w god and bible
European powers with their own beliefs wanted control of the new world.
England
King Henry 8 wants a divorce, leads to break from catholic church and creation of church of england
Creates rivalry with Spain and a naval war
Early settlers faced incredible challenges
Needed relationships with native people
Pocahontas helped bridge gap between New and Old world
Period of conflict and coexistence
Attempts at cooperation
Colonies shaped by tobacco
Led to headright system, gave land to anyone who brought over indentured servants
- labor needed for plantations
1619 first enslaved africans come to virginia House of Burgesses created cons
- First ever republican house of representatives
Colony erupts in violence with Bacons Rebellion Indentured Farmers vs Wealthy
all yland Founded by Lord Baltimore who was looking for a save haven for Catholics
- Toleration act, religiously tolerant to all christians
Mayflower Compact agreed to create a self govning community based on majority rule
- Precedent
First thanksgiving, celebration of survival with native americans
Plymouth was only the beginning
Puritans arrive in Massachusets, want to purify church of england based on strict interpretation of bible
City upon a hill - godly society for only puritans, example for others
Roger Willaism Church and state should be separated,ger founded rhode island
Anne Hutchinson, found a home in RI after dissenting for womans rights
Puritans had conflict with NA Led to violence
Pequot War was most devastating Lasted for years,
English Civil War Power struggle between monarchy and parliament
Money poured into colonization Ripple effect
- Less oversight from England, more space to develop
- Key step to independence
- Accidental taste of freedom
New colonies granted to people who supported King James Economic reasons for colonies
Mercantilism - More exports = more wealth/gold and silver Raw materials benefit mother country from colonies
Navigation acts put into place
Glorious revolution power asserted over monarchy Led to period of salutary neglect - relaxed approach to continental rule
Key period, let the colonies develop economy and identity
The Enlightenment
- time of science, human nature, liberal arts
- John locke natural rights, revolutionary
Natural rights became cornerstons of original thought
Rousseau - Popular sovereignty
Montesqueie - Separation of powers, checks and balances
Religious revival, great awakening
Time of relgiiosu creativity, person faith, and emotional experience
CHallenged established churches, created religious fervor
More personal way of experiencing faith
En gland vs independent minded colonies
French and Indian War
England and France fight for control
NA caught in the middle need to make alliances with Britain and France
War is more than js abt land in ohio, it was abt who would rule North Amer
New taxes imposed on colonies to pay for war
Tax on paper, stamps, etc
No taxation without representation
No representation in parliament
ENgland repeals stamp act
Townshend Acts put taxes on things imported from Britain
- Squeezed money out of colonies Tension led to boston massacre where british soldiers killed 5 people
fuelled anti british
Boston tea party- dumped tea into water against tea act Colonists saw it as blatant attmpt to control Chucked chests overboard
Perfect act of defiance, wont be pushed aroudn
British govt retaliated with coersive acts, clamped down on massacjuseytys
Closed port of boston, allowed quarteting
- Show of force Backfired, fuelled resistance even more and made them unified
Continental Congress brings together representatives to figure out how to respond
Demand that intolerable cts be repealed
Colonists wanted rights respected
British govt didnt budge, call for independence got larger
Dec of Independence drafted
Declares all men have rights And are able to rebel and separate from Britain
Met by armed militia at Concord
First skirmishes led to battles
Battle of saratoga - turning point of war, american victory
- Convinces france to join with America
Alliances have a massive impact
Final showdown at Yorktown, GW traps Cornwallis and ends war
in 1783, american independence official realized
Need to create a government
AoC adopted in 1777 - weak central govt, no power, very antifederalist
More like a loose group of states than a full coalition
Land Ordinance organized western territories
Northwest Ordinance too
Shays rebellion happens in massachusetts, farmers struggling with debt rose up when their land is taken away
rebellion was put down and shocked the young nation
Govt not powerful enough
Constitutional convention
- 1787 figure out how to fix new nation
- Met in phil to create new nation
- Debated how to set up a government
- Debated for months
Fundamentals are justice, liberty, republicanism
Connecticut Plan
- govt now
Compromises still led to constitution that was an achievement
Belief in building better union
Principles of limited govt, individual rightd
Ratified in 1788 Laid foundation for new governemnt that comes from consent of the governed
Presidency of GW
- elected unanimously
- dominated by foreign affairs
Had to set up financial system
Hamilton vs Jefferson
- Hamilton wanted large govt
- Jefferson focused on decentralized power from the states Arguments laid groundwork for 2 party system
Despite divisions, washington leads nation and sets precedents
Fare well address
- argued against factions and foreign policy
First real test of democracy, election of 1796
Adams beats Jefferson, but full of turmoil
Alien and Sedition Acts
Made it harder for immigrants to become citizens Allows deportation at wim
backfired, strengthened opposition
in 1800 Jefferson wins presidency and showed peaceful transfer of power from one party to the other
Handled intense political disagreements
tension hamilton and jefferson