APUSH Discussion Questions Unit 1 (Ch. 1-6)
Chapter 1 2) The Indian cultures of the New World had several common characteristics but also some differences that made them unique. A main common quality of the Indians is that they all depended on the cultivation of corn. The timing that corn cultivation reached their cultures reflected their development. Most of the Indian tribes were all small, scattered, and impermanent settlements. However there were a few exceptions, such as the Aztecs who prospered greatly in number and also the Creek, Choctaw, and Cherokee, whose population grew in favor to the “three-sister” farming technique. In addition, most cultures were matrilineal: power and possessions passed down on the female side. Lastly, the Indian cultures all revered the physical and natural world with spiritual properties and had no desire to manipulate in aggressively. Yet, there were unique characteristics of the different Indian tribes that existed. For example, the Iroquois developed strong political and organizational skills that led to powerful military alliances that other Indian tribes and the colonists had to deal with later on.
3) When the previously separated worlds “collided” with one another, an interdependent global economic system emerged. Europe provided the markets, capital, and technology, while Africa supplied labor, and the New World contributed raw materials. Though this was the main global impact that erupted when the three worlds clashed, there were several other aspects that affected the way of life of the separate peoples. For the Europeans, new plants from the New World, such as maize, beans, tomatoes, and potatoes, transformed the diets of the people of the Old World. These foods contributed to the rapid population growth in Europe. In return, the Europeans brought several different animals to the New World, like horses, swine, and cattle, revolutionizing the lives of the Indian tribes. Unfortunately, the