1.05 : The North American Continent

Why is our knowledge of ancient Americans limited?

A pandemic destroyed entire villages and cultures.

Which statement about a major theory that explains how the Americas were originally peopled is false?

Africans crossed into South America when Africa and South America were one continent

Which of the following Native American civilizations was located in the American Southwest, cultivated corn in irrigated fields, and constructed cliff dwellings?

Anasazi

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Climbing up a mountain will take you through a variety of climate zones. The lower portion of a mountain has the same climate as the area surrounding it. But, ascending 1,000 m in elevation is similar to traveling 1,200 kilometers toward the north or south pole.

Which Native American culture group lived in the harsh, arid lands of Nevada and Utah and traveled from highland to lowland camps with the changing seasons?

Great Basin

Which Native American culture group hunted bison and used dogs to pull lightweight sleds laden with teepee poles and hide mats?

Great Plains

Which climate zone with a long growing season and wet winters used to have Native Americans living along the Gulf coast and southeast Atlantic coast?

Humid Subtropical

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Humid continental regions are located between tropical and polar air masses. In the winter, extremely cold air comes down from the north. In the summer, high heat and humidity arrives in tropical airs from the south. Forests, grasslands, and farmlands dominate the humid continental regions in the United States.

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Humid subtropical regions have hot summers and lots of rainfall in the winter months. Tropical air masses affect these regions, bringing tropical weather (including hurricanes) to this climate zone. Frosts and some snow can move into these areas from northern systems. Oak and pine forests are found here as well as crops of oranges, peanuts, and sugarcane.

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Located between the southern Sierra Nevada Mountain range and the Colorado Plateau lies the Mojave Desert. It is named after the Mojave tribe and covers an area over 22,000 square miles. The Mojave Desert's boundaries are generally defined by the presence of Joshua trees—an indicator species for the desert.

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Mediterranean climates have two seasons: a cool rainy winter and a warmer, dry summer. A Mediterranean climate is found on the southern coast of California and is a perfect location for growing crops.

What river drains almost half of the United States and serves as a transportation route between the upper Midwest and the Gulf Coast?

Mississippi River

Which Native American civilization built elaborate mounds and permanent communities along rivers in the region that includes present-day Ohio and Illinois?

Mississippians

Which Native American culture group included the Iroquois Confederacy, where women had a remarkable degree of power?

Northeast

Which Native American culture group hunted whales and held village-wide celebrations called potlatches?

Pacific Coast

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Parts of southern Canada are located in the cool summer climate zone. The winter season tends to be longer than the summer season in these regions and brings cool winds and regular night-time frosts. Coniferous forests and temperate grasslands can be found within this climate zone.

Which mountain range extends from New Mexico to British Columbia?

Rocky Mountains

Which Native American culture group harvested the resources of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and enjoyed warm weather?

Southeast

Which Native American culture group included direct descendants of the Anasazi, built pueblos, and irrigated their fields?

Southwest

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The Appalachian Mountain range is an old range—around 300 million years old. The Appalachians extend northeastward from central Alabama in the United States to southeastern Canada.

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The Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains are flat lowlands that lie along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico respectively. These coastal plains are generally wet and include many rivers. Much of the land is used for agriculture.

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The Central Lowland stretches between the Appalachian Mountains west to the Great Plains. It includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. This region is part of America's Midwest and supplies the nation with corn and other grain.

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The Columbia Plateau region lies across parts of the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. This wide plateau is located between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains.

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The Great Basin is an arid region that lies between the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and the Sierra Nevada in California. This region has no natural outlet to the sea. Much of the Great Basin consists of a series of isolated mountain ranges and valleys. The region is one of the most sparsely inhabited areas of the United States.

Why did Indians of the Southwest culture group develop irrigation techniques while the Indians of the Columbia Plateau culture group did not?

The Indians of the Southwest lived in an arid region, while the Columbia Plateau region received abundant rainfall

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The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain 41 percent of the 48 contiguous states of the United States. This drainage basin, the third largest in the world, empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

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The Pacific Northwest in the United States has a marine west coast climate. These areas have thick forests with tall trees. This climate zone has coniferous forests making it an area suitable for farming and cultivating trees for lumber.

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The Rocky Mountains were formed during the late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. The Rockies stretch from near the New Mexico-Texas border to British Columbia.

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The dry desert climate zone is where you will find deserts. Deserts receive less than 25 centimeters of precipitation in a year. Some years there may be no rainfall at all. Plants such as cactus and yucca are adapted to live in such climates.

What best explains the differences in the shelters used by Native Americans in the Northeast and the Great Plains?

The environment of the Great Plains was vastly different from the environment of the Northeast

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The five lakes that comprise the Great Lakes form the world's largest group of freshwater lakes. They were formed about 10,000 years ago when meltwater from the receding Laurentide ice sheet filled up basins that glaciers had carved.

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The semiarid steppe climate zone often borders dry desert regions. Semiarid steppes are dry, but typically receive between 25 and 50 cm of precipitation a year. These areas are referred to as steppes, prairies, or grasslands.

Which statement about ways that archaeologists have learned about the first Americans is false?

Translating and reading written accounts