America's First Peoples

America's First Peoples

America's First Peoples

We are going to review the first groups of people to live in North America, the reasons they settled there, and their ways of life.

Cultural Groups

Native Americans were the first people to settle in North America.

There were many different Native American groups and they each had their own cultures and customs.

A custom is a special way of doing things.

Native American Groups

This map shows the regions of North America where Native Americans Lived.

Each group used the natural resources in their region to meet their needs.

Native American Groups: Using Natural Resources

Native Americans who lived in the Pacific Northwest caught fish from the Pacific Ocean.

Those living on the Plains used the rich soil there for farming.

Multiple Choice

Why did Native Americans who lived near the Pacific Ocean become fishermen?

• they were near the ocean

• it was the only food they could find

• they had a temperate climate

• the plains were good for fishing

Multiple Choice

Those living on the Plains used what natural resources in their region to meet their needs?

• they used canoes

• they used the Pacific ocean to catch fish

• They used the rich soil there for farming.

• none of the above

Cherokee of the Southeast

The Native American group called the Cherokee settled in the forests of southeastern United States.

The Cherokee settled in this area because the land in this area had rich soil, rivers, and trees.

Cherokee of the Southeast

The Cherokee were hunters and farmers. They ate meat, fruit, and vegetables.

They used trees to build houses. Later, the Cherokee built log homes that kept out the cold and snow in winter.

Multiple Choice

How did the Cherokee of the Southeast use their resources?

• They hunted and fished

• They raised cattle

• They build pueblos

• They hunted and farmed and used their resources to build homes.

Iroquois of the Northeast

The Iroquois settled in the Northeast.

The Iroquois chose this area to settle because of geography. The forests had plenty of animals and plants. They used rivers for fishing and traveling.

Iroquois of the Northeast

The Iroquois used trees to build their houses. They built houses called longhouses. These are homes that were longer than they were wide and can go up to 200 feet long.

They could be home to as many as 10 families.

Iroquois of the Northeast

The Iroquois formed a confederacy.

A confederacy is a formal agreement, or treaty, between groups to work together.

Iroquois of the Northeast

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Five Nations, had five groups: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Senaca people.

It had rules to protect the rights of each of the five groups.

Multiple Choice

______________ were up to 200 feet long and up to 10 families lived together in them.

• Teepees

• Longhouses

• Hutts

• Log Cabins

Multiple Choice

A ____________ is a formal agreement or treaty.

• tradition

• purpose

• confederacy

• reservation

Multiple Choice

Why did the Iroquois choose to settle in central and northern New York and southern Canada?

• That was the only place they could settle.

• They thought it was more fun to settle there

• The forests had plenty of natural resources and the rivers allowed them to travel.

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What were some of the benefits to Iroquois from building their houses so large?

• They could live together and share resources.

• They had space to store supplies

• They could have plenty of space to themselves

• none of the above

Group Cooperation

Some Native American groups cooperated or worked together.

The Five Nations felt it was best to come together so they could be stronger and more powerful. All decisions made had to be done peacefully. This is called the Great Law of Peace.

Group Cooperation

Native American groups also cooperated with the first settlers from England.

Native Americans taught them how to plant crops and different ways to fish in the shallow water.

Multiple Choice

American Indians cooperated with the first settlers from England.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What did the five native American groups in the Iroquois Confederacy gain by working together?

• So they could share homes

• So they could be stronger together and more powerful

• So they could take turns on controlling the tribes

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

How did the Great Law of Peace benefit Native American groups?

• They could make decisions without fighting and hurting each other if they disagreed.

• One tribe would be in charge of all tribes

• both a and b

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What might happen if American Indian groups did not cooperate with each other?

• They can talk it out

• They were not able to leave the meeting until they all agree

• They might go to war against each other.

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

How did the English settlers also benefit from the cooperation of American Indians?

• They learned how to grow and capture their own food.

• They can purchase the American Indians food and supplies

• They would not benefit from the American Indians

• none of the above

Native Americans Today

Today, some Native Americans in the United States live on reservations.

A reservation is a land that the United States government set aside for them many years ago.

A government is a system of ruling people.

Native Americans Today

Native Americans have traditions. A tradition is a special way that a group does something that is passed down over time.

Some traditions include games, dances, songs, and clothing.

Some Native Americans wear traditional clothing, such as a feathered headdress.

Multiple Choice

How do Native American groups live today that is different from the past?

• Many still live the same way.

• ALL American Indians live on reservations and obey their own laws.

• Many American Indians live on reservations and obey American laws.

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

Long ago, the United States government set aside lands for Native Americans. They are called:

• Reservations

• Vacations

• States

• Colonies

Multiple Choice

What is a government?

• An important building

• An important letter

• A system of ruling people

• A country

Multiple Choice

What is a "tradition"?

• A special language a group uses

• A special way a group does things. It is passed down over time.

• A special house that a group lives in

• A special song that a group sings

Multiple Choice

Who were the first people to settle in North America?

• Pilgrims

• Native Americans

• The British

• American Colonists

Multiple Choice

The _____________ setted in the forests of the Northeast.

• Cherokee

• Iroquois

• Onondaga

• Mohawk

Multiple Choice

What did the Cherokee and Iroquois use to build their houses?

• They used clay and rocks

• They used trees.

• They used bricks

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT a Native American tribe?

• Cherokee

• Oneida

• Mohawk

• Copper