First Americans Part Two

What crop made it possible for cultures in Mexico and Central America to transition from being nomadic to being settled?

• Tobacco

• Maize

• Squash

• Sugar

Answer explanation

Maize, a near relative of corn, was the first crop grown in large quantities across Central America. It could be grown reliably and in large enough amounts that finding food did not have to be the sole focus of people’s time. This newfound freedom allowed for more complex cultures to develop in the region.

The _____________ is a Native American group that settled in the Arctic regions of North America. To survive, they traditionally relied upon animal products like furs, oils, and fats that they could harvest from Arctic wildlife.

• Inuit

• Iroquois

• Dakota

• Sioux

Answer explanation

The Inuit (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Eskimo) culture has been able to survive in their harsh Arctic environment because of their ability to utilize the scarce resources of the Arctic.

The North American mound-building cultures most likely found inspiration for their mounds and other earthworks from:

• The Pyramids of the Maya and the Aztec

• The Egyptian Pyramids

• The European Explorers

• They most likely found their inspiration independently

Answer explanation

Most historians agree that the mounds created by the North American mound-building cultures were similar in design and function to the pyramids created by the cultures in Central and South America. The fact that the mounds were created all across the continent suggests a widespread sharing of ideas and by the earliest Americans.

The _____________ Confederacy was a group made up of five tribes from the Northeastern Woodlands region of North America who came together to create and maintain a complex government.

• Inuit

• Navajo

• Iroquois

• Lenape

Answer explanation

The Iroquois Confederacy included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. After the Tuscarora joined in 1722, the confederacy became known to the English as the Six Nations. They had a representative government, which may have had some influence on the development of the United States Constitution.

How did the Native Americans of the Great Plains come to acquire and domesticate horses?

• Spanish explorers gave them to Native Americans as a peace offering.

• Spanish horses got loose and eventually migrated north into the Great Plains.

• Horses had always been in North America.The Spanish simply showed the Native Americans how to tame and ride them.

• The Native Americans of the Great Plains acquired and learned about horses from Native Americans on the west coast of the continent.

Answer explanation

Horses were introduced to the Western Hemisphere when the Spanish brought them in the 15th and 16th centuries. Over time, as these horses became part of the ecosystem, they began to find their way into areas outside of New Spain. The Native Americans of the Great Plains took full advantage of this newly introduced species for transportation, hunting, and warfare.

What made the Navajo and Apache tribes different from other Native American tribes living in the American Southwest?

• They remained nomadic hunters and gatherers long after most other groups in the area had settled.

• They relied on trade with South American cultures for survival.

• They blended their culture with the Spanish settlers to form a powerful alliance.

• They did not believe in war.

Answer explanation

In contrast to groups like the Hopi and the Zuni who had settled in communities with agriculture and mud-brick homes, the Navajo and Apache spent much of the 1500s roaming the region hunting game and gathering sustenance from wild vegetation. The Navajo would eventually start settling into more permanent communities, but hunting and gathering would still remain a key part of their existence.

What was the main purpose of the traditional Iroquois longhouse?

• To house large groups of families

• To accomodate spiritual ceremonies

• To serve as burial chambers for the dead.

• To serve as a military fort

Answer explanation

The longhouse was designed to sustain large groups of people and protect them from the elements of the Northeast. Typically, the people living in a longhouse would be from the same extended families.

What led Native American tribes such as the Anasazi to create cliff dwellings in the American Southwest?

• They did not know how to build other types of structures.

• Cliffs provided natural protection and were strong enough to hold up to the environment.

• It was easier to farm in a cliff than on the ground.

• The higher elevation allowed them to feel closer to the gods.

Answer explanation

Cliff dwellings were largely created out of convenience. While groups like the Anasazi also build ground-based structures, cliffs offered a strong structural base to work with. They also provided natural protection against wind, snow, and rain without the need for much additional reinforcement.

What was the main construction material of Native Americans of the Southwest?

• Wood

• Stone

• Adobe

• Bamboo

Answer explanation

Adobe is a mud-brick made combining earth, water, and straw and allowing it to harden in the sun. For the people of the Southwest, these materials were readily available. The resulting bricks were very strong and effective at creating stable structures.

Which of the following proved to be the biggest threat to Native American cultures and their ability to survive?

• constant tribal warfare

• the Second Ice Age

• a lack of natural resources

• the arrival of European explorers and traders

Answer explanation

The arrival of Europeans in the Western Hemisphere brought forced relocation, warfare, disease, and slavery to the Native American peoples. Over the course of the following centuries, Native American populations would continue to decline at alarming rates, in large part due to the interference of the European cultures.