Native American History and Cultures

Before European colonization, America was a land of diverse and complex societies. From the Iroquois Confederacy in the Northeast to the Mississippian culture in the Southeast, and the Ancestral Puebloans in the Southwest, these societies had rich cultures, advanced technologies, and thriving cities. The Great Plains tribes were skilled hunters and farmers, while the Pacific Northwest tribes thrived on ocean resources. The Inuit adapted to Arctic conditions with ingenious survival techniques. These societies shaped the land and had complex social structures, challenging the misconception of a sparsely populated and simple pre-colonial America.

What was the estimated population of North America before 1492?

• Around 1 million

• Between 2 and 5 million

• As high as 10 million or more

• Less than 500,000

Which Native American confederacy was known for its organized government and constitution?

• Sioux Confederacy

• Iroquois Confederacy

• Cherokee Confederacy

• Apache Confederacy

What was the largest city in North America before 1492?

• Mesa Verde

• Tenochtitlan

• Chaco Canyon

• Cahokia

Which civilization built stone cities like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon?

• Mississippians

• Ancestral Puebloans

• Iroquois

• Inuit

What was a significant adaptation of the Great Plains tribes before European contact?

• Fishing and totem pole carving

• Settled farming and trading

• Building igloos

• Nomadic lifestyle with horses

Which tribes were known for their expert fishing and craftsmanship in the Pacific Northwest?

• Iroquois and Mohawk

• Tlingit and Haida

• Sioux and Cheyenne

• Puebloans and Anasazi

What was the primary food source for the Pacific Northwest tribes?

• Beans

• Salmon

• Corn

• Buffalo

How did Native Americans in the Northeast alter their environment?

• By creating totem poles

• Through controlled burns of forests

• By building large stone cities

• By constructing igloos

What is a common misconception about Native Americans before European colonization?

• They had no organized societies

• They did not engage in trade

• They lived in perfect harmony with nature

• They were all nomadic

Why is the history of pre-Columbian America not widely known?

• The Americas were sparsely populated

• Lack of archaeological evidence

• Biases in European colonizers' writings

• Native cultures were simple