Key Concepts in Social Studies

Important Terms

• Economic: Relating to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
• Cultural: Relating to the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society.
• Political: Relating to the governance of a society, including laws, institutions, and power structures.
• Social: Relating to the interactions and relationships within a society.
• Cause: The reason or explanation for an event, action, or situation.
• Consequence: The effect or outcome of an event, action, or situation.
• Way of Life: The typical pattern of living and behavior within a society or group.
• Physiographic region: Areas identified by their physical features, like mountains, plains, or valleys.
• Dwelling: A structure where people live, such as a house or hut.
• Linguistic group: People who share the same language.
• Subsistence Activity: Activities that are done to sustain oneself, such as farming or hunting.
• Demographic: Relating to the statistics about the characteristics of a population, like age, gender, etc.

Bering Strait Theory

• First occupants crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia to North America around 30,000 B.C.
• Melting ice in 15,000 B.C. created a corridor, allowing access to the rest of North America.
• Settlers migrated and adapted, developing distinct cultures and languages.
• Reached and settled in Quebec around 12,000 B.C.

Algonquian Way of Life

• Way of life: Nomadic, moving following game, hunting, fishing, and gathering.
• Social: Patriarchal society; men/fathers in control.
• Dwellings: Wigwams.
• Political: Band chief's power based on hunting abilities and courage.

Iroquois Way of Life

• Way of life: Sedentary, staying in one place for a long time and practicing agriculture (3 sisters: corn, squash, and beans)
• Social: Matriarchal Society; women/mothers in control.
• Dwellings: Longhouses surrounded by palisades.
• Political: Village council made of men, appointed by clan mothers.

Inuit Way of Life

• Way of life: Nomadic, moving regularly in pursuit of game (seals, walrus, beluga, whale, and caribou).
• Social: Patriarchal; men/fathers in control.
• Dwellings: Igloos (winter) and tents (summer); also used parkas and dogsleds.
• Physiographic Region: Arctic region of northern Quebec and Canada.

Roles of Men and Women

• Iroquois men: Hunted, fished, built longhouses, traded defended their community,
• Iroquois women: Gathered, farmed, took care of children, cooked, took care of the children
• Algonquian men: Fished, hunted, traded, and made essential tools like canoes and snowshoes.
• Algonquian women: Gathered, cooked, took care of the children, and prepared furs.

Passing of Knowledge

• First occupants had no writing system.
• Elders were responsible for telling myths, histories, and knowledge to their people.
• This ensured the continuity of their cultures.

Gift-Giving

• Gift-giving and reciprocal exchange was common.
• It was a way to create commercial and military alliances.

Alliances and Rivalries

• Alliances: Partnerships between groups of people.
• Rivalries: Conflicts or disagreements between groups.

European Explorations

• The Turks blocked traditional trade routes to Asia in 1453.
• Europeans sought new routes, leading to the discovery of the Americas.
• French claimed land in North America and formed relationships with Indigenous peoples, primarily based on fur trade.

Cod Fisheries

• European fishermen temporarily settled in Newfoundland.
• Cod fishing and whaling became important economic activities.

The Voyages of Jacques Cartier

• Cartier's goals included building a colonial empire, finding a western route to Asia, discovering precious metals, and converting Indigenous peoples to Christianity.
• Explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River up to Hochelaga (modern Montreal) in successive voyages.

Economy Policy - Mercantilism

• Mercantilism was an economic policy where colonies provided raw materials (e.g., fur) to the mother country (France).
• All manufactured goods were made in Europe and sold to colonies.
• Profits were transferred to the mother country in the form of gold.

Role of the Catholic Church

• Involved in education, hospitals, and evangelization of Indigenous peoples.

Consequences of Fur Trade

• Companies prioritized the fur trade, leading to population decline in the colony.
• Settlers primarily focused on trading and establishing trading posts, not permanent settlements, leading to a lack of permanent settlement.

The Seigneurial System

• Method of orderly land distribution in New France.
• Land provided food for the population and aimed to populate the colony.
• Land consisted of long narrow strips perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River.

The Fur Trade

• The King of France was interested in establishing a fur trade monopoly in New France.
• Fur trade involved Indigenous peoples hunting and trading furs for European goods.
• Goods were taken back to France, and local artisans crafted these furs into European goods.

Review Questions - Chapter One

• Physiographic regions influenced aspects of Indigenous peoples' societies.
• Maliseet and Mi'kmaq moved regularly due to seasonal resources and hunting patterns.
• Camps near waterways provided access to water resources.
• Indigenous leadership and decision-making were closely linked.
• Indigenous peoples transmitted culture and knowledge through oral traditions (teaching myths, histories, and knowledge to their people) in the early 16th century.

Review Questions - Chapter Two

• Mercantilism influenced a colony's economic role by providing raw materials and generating profits for the mother country.

• The king initially appointed individuals or companies to develop the colony

• These individuals/companies had obligations to the French state and sometimes obtained privileges.

• French formed alliances to gain access to resources (fur).

• Company of One Hundred Associates had obligations regarding settlement and were provided with benefits to encourage settlement and trade.

This quiz covers essential terms related to economic, cultural, political, and social aspects of society. Test your understanding of concepts such as cause, consequence, and way of life, as well as geographic and demographic factors that influence human behavior. Perfect for students studying social sciences or related fields.