Chapter One AP U.S. History FRQ's

How did humans arrive in the Americas?

Around 25,000 years ago, the first discoverers of America crossed the Bering land bridge from Eurasia to North America. They later gradually dispersed further South towards warmer valleys free of ice which as a result, populated both Americas.

What impact did Columbus have on Human Civilization? Negative and positive?

Fortunately, Columbus found a new continent and the positive effects were that there was a new discovery of land and resources for him to bring back home with him. Negatively, the unfortunate natives of that land were inhumanely slaughtered when their home was found and diseases were exposed to them and they were treated like slaves.

What did Columbus find?

He found the Americas and the Native American inhabitants of it in which he dubbed them "Indians" since he had thought he was in India.

Identify: Hernan DeSoto

Hernan DeSoto was a Spanish conquistador who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern day U.S. and is the first documented European to cross the Mississippi River. He was one of the earliest explorers/mappers. Throughout his expedition, he would randomly attack villages but once he made it to the South, the mosquitoes killed him through either malaria or yellow fever, etc.

What was the Columbian Exchange? Give examples of items going in each direction. positive and negative?

The Columbian exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World. On a positive note, there were many and new resources for people from the Old World to discover, but even with the widespread of new resources and technology, there was also a widespread of disease to the inhabitants of America.

Where were the Mound builders?

The Mound builders were strongly concentrated in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.

Why did the Portuguese African trading network have dire repercussions for further Africans?

The Portuguese built up a system of slave trafficking for African slaves to work sugar plantations.

What did the Treaty of Tordesillas do?

The Treaty of Tordesillas aimed at setting conflicts over lands newly discovered or explored by Christopher Columbus. Dividing with Portugal in which they dubbed the "heathen lands" of the New World. Spain received the left hemisphere of the world, while Portugal received​ the right half of the world.

Who were the conquistadors?

The conquistadors were soldiers and explorers from the Portuguese or Spanish empire that sought out the new world during the age of discovery. They were notorious for their use of violence and political manipulation to subdue other cultures.

Who were the first Europeans to come to the Americas?

The first Europeans to the Americas were the blond-bearded Norse seafarers from Scandinavia.

What was Columbus looking for? Where was he from?

Columbus was from Genoa, Italy and he was looking for a route to India in order to trade for spices.

Identify: Coronado

Coronado was a Spanish conquistador and explorers who led a large expedition from Mexico to present-day Kansas through parts of the southwestern united States between 1540 and 1542. He had been told a story of the city of gold, otherwise known as El Dorado. This man earned his economic success by marrying the daughter of a rich man, and already had more than enough, but he wanted more. As he ventured out for the city of gold, he practiced the convert or die method. He never found the city of gold, but he did discover a lot of other things such as being the first European to stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Identify: Cortes

Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire and won Mexican for the crown of Spain. This man was an extremely bad human being. He was a natural leader and a rebel and did not respond too well to authority. He had taken a flotilla of ships to make contact with the Aztecs, a civilization of advanced Native Americans whom other Native tribes wanted to be destroyed. With the courageous and brave attitude of Cortes, he took his 600 men, plus a few Natives who wanted to join him ​and conquered the Aztecs who were approximately 10,000 men.

Where were the first advanced Native American populations? Why did most Native tribes remain nomadic?

Incas in Peru, Mayans in Central America, and Aztecs in Mexico were the first advanced Native American populations. They mostly remained nomadic in nature because it was a much easier way of life for them when a location they inhabitant would run low of resources crucial for survival.

Who was Marco Polo?

Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler. Who must be regarded as an indirect discoverer of the New World, for his book, with its descriptions of rose-tinted pearls and golden pagodas, had stimulated European desires for a cheaper route to the treasures of the East after his twenty-year​ visit in China.

Why did the Spanish establish St. Augustine, Florida?

On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed on the shore of what is now called Matanzas Bay and began the founding of the Presidio of San Agustin. St. Augustine was established for the purpose of securing the northern boundry of their New World domain against such encroachments and to convert more Indian souls to Christianity. It was also a move to block French ambitions and to protect the sea-lanes to the Caribbean

Identify: Pizzaro

Pizzaro was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that conquered the Inca Empire. He captured and killed Emperor Atahualpa and claimed the lands for Spain. He was known as the most "pure" greedy conquistador because he did not care much for the convert or die method. While he did practice it sometimes because he "had" to do it, he did not care much for it. He was just after the gold. He made his way to Machu Picchu and threatened the emperor to fill up the room he was in with gold or he would execute his brother. The Emperor obliged to this and did as he requested, but still, Pizzaro decided to kill the brother and the Emperor after he received all of that gold.

Who was Ponce de Leon?

Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He was a very rational man. He came to the New World on the 3rd voyage to the Americas. He had been in a business selling taro bread to sailers which was a real money-making deal. He was told of a story of a fountain that you drink from to give you eternal youth dubbed the fountain of youth. He had never found it, but instead he founded Florida = The land of Flowers.

What was the Silk Road and how did it lead to European conquest of the Americas?

The silk road was an ancient network of trade routes meant for cultural interactions and trade through Eurasia connecting the East and West and stretching from the Korean peninsula and Japan to the Mediterranean Sea. The desire of riches from "The New World" inspired the European conquest to take place for the Europeans were eager and inspired to come take over the precious resources that it contained.

What did Magellan's men do?

They discovered what is now known as the strait go Magellan and became the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean. They had 5 ships with around 1,000 men all together. They had stopped at various continents. They had found what we call today the Philippines, the inhabitants of this place had killed Magellan and his men continued the voyage without him ultimately proving that the Earth was not flat, but indeed round. The voyage ended with only 1 ship left and approximately 250 men on board. They had successfully completed this without any charts, maps, etc.

What did the Spanish mean by convert or die?

They meant that in order for the Native Americans to be saved, they must either convert or be killed.

How many people lived in the Americas in 1492?

Why is this figure controversial? Around 1492, around 54 million people populated the continents of the Americas. This is a controversial figure however, because the figures came from William Genevan which surrounds the estimates of the pre Columbian Native American population. There can be no exact estimation of the total population before Columbus discovered it, for the estimates could very well be skewed.