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Discovering the First Americans: Origins, Cultures, and Legacies

Explore the fascinating history of the first Americans and their diverse cultures, from the Land Bridge Theory to traditional Native American religions and government structures. Learn about different Native American tribes and their unique characteristics, beliefs, and lifestyles.

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Discovering the First Americans: Origins, Cultures, and Legacies

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  1. Aim: Who Were The First Americans? Do Now: What do you know about Native Americans? What do you want to know?

  2. I How did the first Americans come here? A) Land Bridge Theory: During the last major ice age (15,000 – 11,000 years ago), the ocean level was lower. Siberia and Alaska were connected by land. (Today the land is covered by the Bering Strait). People from Siberia walked to Alaska, following herds of animals. B) Archaeologists have found clovis points(spear points) in North America that are dated from 11,500 to 11,000 BCE, proving that people lived in North America at this time. Clovis Points

  3. Clovis Points were used to hunt wooly mammoths!

  4. How did the first Americans come here? Continued… C) The Land Bridge Theory is not the only explanation for how the first people arrived in the Americas! Scientists are not sure if there was an ice free passage that would have allowed people to walk from Asia to North America without bumping into a giant glacier blocking their path. Also, the oldest archaeological site of human settlement in the Americas is Monte Verde in South America! The only explanation for Monte Verde existing without people having walked south from North to South America is… they took a boat. Monte Verde, the Oldest Human Settlement in the Americas! (1000 years older than the oldest Clovis point found in North America)

  5. New Theory on How the First Americans Came Here: By Walking AND by Boat!

  6. II Traditional Native American Religion A) Prior to contact with Europeans, all North American natives were animistic (believed in spirits in animals and nature). B) The Shaman was the tribe’s spiritual leader and healer. Shamans often used drugs found in nature such as peyote to enter a trance-like state; they believed they were able to contact the spirit world. Today most Native Americans are Christian, although there have been modern movements to bring back some traditional aspects of their old religion and culture.

  7. III Native American Government A) Native Americans are organized by tribes. These are groups that share a common culture, language and ancestry. Tribes were often led by a council of elders. B) In the 16th century, the Iroquois Confederacy(in what is now New York State) was an association of several tribes. Each tribe had one vote. *Women voted who each tribe’s representative would be. This influenced the creation of the American Democratic-Republic.

  8. IV Native Americans of North America are NOT all the same!

  9. A) Northeast: Eastern Woodlands 1. Resources: wood, fish 2. Farmers 3. Built longhouses & wigwams (round houses) of wood 4. Wampum: strings of beaded seashells, used for money Tribes: Iroquois, Cherokee

  10. B) Southeast Woodlands 1. Mound Builders (1000 BCE – 700 CE) built mounds as high as a 10 story building! Used as temples/burials. 2. Lived in Chickees(homes of logs and grass). Tribes: Cherokee, Seminole, Creek

  11. C) The Great Plains 1. The Great Plains of the US is flat grassland. 2. Hunted buffalo; used every part of the animal. 3. Nomads; lived in teepees of buffalo skin. Tribes: Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow

  12. D) Southwest 1. The Southwest is mostly desert. 2. Lived in pueblos(apartment-like buildings made of adobe; a mixture of clay, straw and manure that dried in the sun). Pueblos were built on cliffs. 3. Farmed corn, squash & beans. 4. Decorated pottery with geometric designs, made turquoise and silver jewelry. Tribes: Zuni, Navajo, Pueblo

  13. E) Northwest 1. Resources: timber, fur, fish 2. Totem Poles: Tall carved wooden pillars with images of a tribe’s totems (protective animal spirits) 3. Built canoes from a single log. 4. Potlatch: The wealthiest family would share their wealth with the rest of the community in a great ceremony. Done every year to ensure the community’s survival. Tribes: Kwakiutl

  14. F) Arctic 1. Dry, cold. Almost no vegetation. Northern Canada & Greenland. 2. Nomadic, hunted seals & whales 3. Built igloos; temporary shelters made of snow & ice Tribes: Inuit

  15. Inside an Inuit Igloo

  16. Summary Questions • Describe/explain 2 theories as to how the first people arrived in the Americas. • What was traditional Native American religion based on? • What was the Iroquois Confederacy? • List at least 2 features of each of the following types of Native Americans: - Northeast -Eastern woodlands - Arctic - Southwest -Great Plains -North West 5. Has this lesson changed your view of who Native Americans are? Explain.

  17. Key Vocabulary • Adobe • Animism • Arctic Native Americans • Bering Strait • Chickees • Clovis Points • Eastern Woodlands • Great Plains Native Americans • Igloo • Land Bridge Theory • Long Houses • Native American • Northwest Native Americans • Potlatch • Pueblos • Shaman • Southeast Woodlands • Southwest Native Americans • Teepee • Totem Pole • Wampum • Wigwams

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