Lesson 1: Contact and Colonisation

14 Questions

Who led the British in the war against the French over control of North America?

Lt. Colonel George Washington

What was the outcome for Native Americans who were forcibly removed from their land in 1825?

They were placed on reservations and expected to adapt to the European lifestyle.

What was the impact of European settlement on the buffalo population in North America?

The buffalo population was severely depleted, with the southern herds becoming extinct by 1883 and only 200 remaining in the north.

What event in 1829 led to the removal of Cherokee from their lands?

The discovery of gold in Georgia

What was the extent of Native American land loss between 1810 and the mid-19th century?

40 million hectares of land

What diseases had a devastating impact on Native American populations during the 19th century?

Cholera and measles

What is colonialism, and what are the three key aspects of European rule?

Colonialism is when one country gains a position of political power over another and takes control of the government, people, and resources. The three key aspects of European rule are Politics, Religion, and Economy.

How did Europeans view indigenous people during the colonisation period?

Europeans saw indigenous people as obstacles to development, and believed their own race was superior.

What were some of the impacts of contact and colonisation on indigenous societies?

Destructive impacts included discrimination, disadvantage, disease, death, and struggle to survive, as well as being pushed off their land.

What was the significance of land for indigenous Americans?

Land had religious and symbolic significance for indigenous people, and was a central element of their culture.

Who was Christopher Columbus, and what was his role in American history?

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer sent by Spain to the Americas in 1492.

What was the significance of Hernan Cortes, and what did he achieve?

Hernan Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who conquered Mexico between 1519-1521.

What was the initial nature of interactions between Native Americans and Europeans?

Initially, interactions were peaceful, with trading and exchange of goods.

What was the Seven Years War, and what was its significance?

The Seven Years War was a battle for territory that began in 1754.

Study Notes

Colonialism and Imperialism

Colonialism: When one country gains political power over another and controls the government, people, and resources.
European rule: Characterized by Politics, Religion, and Economy (PRE).
Imperialism: A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

European Viewpoint

Saw their world as the center of civilization and Christianity as the only true religion.
Believed their life was superior to the original inhabitants of the land.
Viewed indigenous people as obstacles to development.

Indigenous Americans

Impact of contact and colonization: Destructive for indigenous society, leading to discrimination, disadvantage, disease, and death.
Colonists pushed indigenous people off their land and stole it from them.
Land is a central element of indigenous culture, with religious and symbolic significance.

The First Americans

Indigenous Americans were influenced by the environment.
Lived in the Eastern Woodlands, coastal regions, the Great Plains, and the South-West.

European Explorers

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer sent by Spain to the Americas in 1492.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who landed in Hispaniola (Modern-day Dominican Republic) and took over Cuba and Mexico.
Conquest of Mexico from 1519-1521.

Aztecs

Tribe of warriors in the Valley of Mexico.
Conquered by Cortes.

The French

Jacques Cartier explored between 1534-1543.
Found the forests in the north to be a valuable resource for trees and animals for fur.
Settlement in Quebec in 1608.

The English

King Henry VII sent Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) to North America in 1497.
King James I sent more people to establish colonies in the Americas 100 years later.
In 1606, King James set up two trading companies in London and Plymouth.

English Trading Companies

London Company established Jamestown in Virginia in 1607.
Settlers were encouraged to go to America for business opportunities, new land, and independence.

Initial Contact

Initially, Native Americans and Europeans had peaceful interactions.
Trading cloth, metal tools, and utensils for beaver and raccoon skins.

Settlement in America

The Seven Years War

Began in 1754 as a battle for territory between the British and French.
British led by Lt. Colonel George Washington.
The British won the war and gained lots of French territory.

Loss of Land and Reservations

Between 1810 and 1825, Native Americans lost 40 million hectares of land to white settlements in the Ohio Valley.
The U.S. government forcibly removed Native American communities from their land and placed them on reservations.
Expected to adapt to the European lifestyle.
The land they were given was useless for farming or growing crops.

Native American Treatment

Description of Buffalos

As Europeans moved West, they destroyed the land and animals along the way.
Traded buffalo for guns, tobacco, and whiskey.
By the 1840s, traders were shipping 100,000 buffalo hides every year to the eastern states.
By 1883, the buffalo herds of the south were extinct, and only 200 buffalo survived in the north.

Gold Rush in Georgia and Impact

The discovery of gold in Georgia in 1829 made settlers invade Cherokee lands in the quest for wealth.
The Americans took away the land from the Cherokee and removed them from their homes.
On top of this, cholera and measles (epidemics) killed thousands of Native Americans.

Learn about colonialism, imperialism, and European viewpoints on power, religion, and economy during the age of colonisation. Understand the concepts of colonialism and imperialism and how they impacted different parts of the world.

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