APUSH Chapter 1 - New World Beginnings
Saturday, June 28, 2025 3:22 PM
• Formation of modern earth from Pangea (supercontinent) millions of years ago according
to modern scientists.
○ Eventually formed North America, Europe, and more
• People, now known as Native Americans, came to the Americas through the Bering Strait
○ These Native Americans diversified and developed different economic, religious, and
social systems implemented into each of their unique ways of life depending on the
area they lived in.
○ Mostly, religion in these societies was based off of animism, the belief that plants,
nature, etc. possessed a spiritual soul
○ Adapted heavily to their environment, such as either settling down thanks to
plentiful nature and agriculture or becoming nomads due to lack of resources.
• Europeans eventually came over to the Americas "New World"
○ Gold, Glory, and God
§ Gold - Trade with the Indian Ocean for cheaper luxury products such as silk,
porcelain, and more
§ Glory - Each country wanted power and influence over the others, and one
main way was through the control of land
§ God - Colonizing mission: Spread Christianity to all peoples across the earth
○ 1492 Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of Asia
§ Landed in the Americas and eventually led to significant changes for both the
Americas and Europe due to the trade and control that would later come.
§ Started the Columbian Exchange (Trans-Atlantic Trade) which included the
trade and exchange of new foods, diseases, ideas, and more.
□ Ex) Horses from Europe led to easier hunting for native peoples
□ Ex) Diseases such as smallpox killed as much as 50% of some native
populations, specifically in South America
□ Ex) Corn from America allowed for population growth in Europe due to
diversified diets
○ Spain and Portugal were the first European Countries to colonize the "New World",
split the land in the Treaty of Tordesillas.
§ Encomienda System: Spanish colonists gained land that had slaves to manage
the native population for economic gain on plantations or huge farms, forced
labor that only promised conversion to Christianity.
□ This system gave all the benefit to the colonists and took everything
away from those who worked on the plantations.
§ Became racially diversified with part European and part Native peoples
emerging.
○ Conquistadores (conquerors) continued to expand the influence and reach of their
respective country.
§ Some native people strived to maintain their own cultures, economies, and
more.
□ Ex) Pueblo Revolt in (modern day) New Mexico
§ Spanish gained a bad reputation due to their mistreatment of Natives in the
lands that they conquered, even so much to the "Black Legend" where it was
believed that they merely killed Indians for their money and wealth.
○ Argument about the Spanish Colonization
§ Debates took place over how Native Americans should be treated according to
Saturday, June 28, 2025 3:22 PM
• Formation of modern earth from Pangea (supercontinent) millions of years ago according
to modern scientists.
○ Eventually formed North America, Europe, and more
• People, now known as Native Americans, came to the Americas through the Bering Strait
○ These Native Americans diversified and developed different economic, religious, and
social systems implemented into each of their unique ways of life depending on the
area they lived in.
○ Mostly, religion in these societies was based off of animism, the belief that plants,
nature, etc. possessed a spiritual soul
○ Adapted heavily to their environment, such as either settling down thanks to
plentiful nature and agriculture or becoming nomads due to lack of resources.
• Europeans eventually came over to the Americas "New World"
○ Gold, Glory, and God
§ Gold - Trade with the Indian Ocean for cheaper luxury products such as silk,
porcelain, and more
§ Glory - Each country wanted power and influence over the others, and one
main way was through the control of land
§ God - Colonizing mission: Spread Christianity to all peoples across the earth
○ 1492 Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of Asia
§ Landed in the Americas and eventually led to significant changes for both the
Americas and Europe due to the trade and control that would later come.
§ Started the Columbian Exchange (Trans-Atlantic Trade) which included the
trade and exchange of new foods, diseases, ideas, and more.
□ Ex) Horses from Europe led to easier hunting for native peoples
□ Ex) Diseases such as smallpox killed as much as 50% of some native
populations, specifically in South America
□ Ex) Corn from America allowed for population growth in Europe due to
diversified diets
○ Spain and Portugal were the first European Countries to colonize the "New World",
split the land in the Treaty of Tordesillas.
§ Encomienda System: Spanish colonists gained land that had slaves to manage
the native population for economic gain on plantations or huge farms, forced
labor that only promised conversion to Christianity.
□ This system gave all the benefit to the colonists and took everything
away from those who worked on the plantations.
§ Became racially diversified with part European and part Native peoples
emerging.
○ Conquistadores (conquerors) continued to expand the influence and reach of their
respective country.
§ Some native people strived to maintain their own cultures, economies, and
more.
□ Ex) Pueblo Revolt in (modern day) New Mexico
§ Spanish gained a bad reputation due to their mistreatment of Natives in the
lands that they conquered, even so much to the "Black Legend" where it was
believed that they merely killed Indians for their money and wealth.
○ Argument about the Spanish Colonization
§ Debates took place over how Native Americans should be treated according to
