alan brinkley, american history 12/e

Copyright ©2007 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Alan Brinkley, Alan Brinkley, AMERICAN HISTORY 12/eAMERICAN HISTORY 12/e

Chapter One: Chapter One:

The Meeting of The Meeting of CulturesCultures


America Before ColumbusAmerica Before Columbus

The Civilizations of the SouthThe Civilizations of the South– Incas: Cuzco, Machu PicchuIncas: Cuzco, Machu Picchu

Modern day PeruModern day Peru

– Mayans: MayapanMayans: Mayapan Central America,Central America,

Yucatan PeninsulaYucatan Peninsula

– Aztecs: TenochtitlanAztecs: Tenochtitlan MexicoMexico

The Mayan Pyramid of Kukulkan (Royalty-Free/CORBIS)


America Before America Before ColumbusColumbus

The Civilizations of the NorthThe Civilizations of the North– Complex and Varied Civilizations Complex and Varied Civilizations – Mobile SocietiesMobile Societies– No large empires or political No large empires or political

systems like Incas, Mayas,systems like Incas, Mayas,

or Aztecsor Aztecs


Marco Polo leaves for the Far East (Bibliothèque Nationale de France)

Europe Looks Westward Europe Looks Westward

Commerce and NationalismCommerce and Nationalism– A Reawakening of CommerceA Reawakening of Commerce

Century following Bubonic plague provided Century following Bubonic plague provided population rebound, with such growth came a population rebound, with such growth came a rise in land values.rise in land values.


Chapter One: Chapter One:

The Meeting of CulturesThe Meeting of Cultures

Commerce and NationalismCommerce and Nationalism– A Reawakening of CommerceA Reawakening of Commerce

Century following Bubonic plague provided Century following Bubonic plague provided population rebound, with such growth came a population rebound, with such growth came a rise in land values.rise in land values.

– Centralized Nation-StatesCentralized Nation-States New nations began to rise that were more New nations began to rise that were more

powerful than the weak feudal lords of the powerful than the weak feudal lords of the past.past.

Strong monarch emerged with centralized Strong monarch emerged with centralized nations, courts, armies, and tax systems.nations, courts, armies, and tax systems.


Prince Henry the NavigatorPrince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese monarchPortuguese monarch Actually sought to explore African Actually sought to explore African

coast and develop a Christian empirecoast and develop a Christian empire After his death, his crew continued After his death, his crew continued

further past the Cape of Good Hope further past the Cape of Good Hope and opened routes to India.and opened routes to India.



Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus– Columbus’s First VoyageColumbus’s First Voyage– Italian by birth, trainedItalian by birth, trained

by Portuguese mariners,by Portuguese mariners,

but didn’t receive fundingbut didn’t receive funding– Eventually convinced Eventually convinced

Ferdinand and Isabella ofFerdinand and Isabella of

Spain to sponsor his tripSpain to sponsor his tripChristopher Columbus

(Library of Congress)



Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci– First explorer to record trip to new world First explorer to record trip to new world

and recognize it as a new place. and recognize it as a new place. – Also sailed for PortugalAlso sailed for Portugal

Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan– Sailed south around the Straits of Sailed south around the Straits of

MagellanMagellan– First to discover the Pacific OceanFirst to discover the Pacific Ocean


Europe Looks Westward Europe Looks Westward The ConquistadoresThe Conquistadores

– CortCortéés Conquers the Aztecss Conquers the Aztecs First conquest of the capital was a failure, but they First conquest of the capital was a failure, but they

unknowingly exposed them to smallpoxunknowingly exposed them to smallpox Viewing this as an act of god, they brutally ruled Viewing this as an act of god, they brutally ruled

them them

Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro– Conquered the Incas and revealed the wealth Conquered the Incas and revealed the wealth

of Gold that could be found in the new world.of Gold that could be found in the new world. Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto

– Deputy of Pizarro, explored what is today Deputy of Pizarro, explored what is today Florida. The first European east of the Florida. The first European east of the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.


Spanish AmericaSpanish America

Ordinances of DiscoveryOrdinances of Discovery– Military conquest of the Americas, Military conquest of the Americas,

conquistadores sought Gold and wealthconquistadores sought Gold and wealth For 300 years the For 300 years the

Spanish settlements Spanish settlements

yielded more than 10 yielded more than 10

times the gold of than times the gold of than

the rest of the world the rest of the world

combined.combined.

Spanish America


Spanish AmericaSpanish America Second Phase of Spanish DevelopmentSecond Phase of Spanish Development

– Once gold refinery dwindled the new wave of Once gold refinery dwindled the new wave of conquest turned to agricultural development.conquest turned to agricultural development.

– Developed European elements of civilizationDeveloped European elements of civilization– Permanently altered the landscape and social Permanently altered the landscape and social

structure of the Americas.structure of the Americas. Catholic MissionsCatholic Missions

– Adhering to the church, Ferdinand and Isabella Adhering to the church, Ferdinand and Isabella required Catholicism as only religion of new required Catholicism as only religion of new establishmentsestablishments

– Most established missions were connected with Most established missions were connected with military garrisons called Presidios where they military garrisons called Presidios where they combined economic and military power.combined economic and military power.

Northern OutpostsNorthern Outposts St. AugustineSt. Augustine

– 1565: First settlement in present day U.S.1565: First settlement in present day U.S.– Military outpost and administrative center Military outpost and administrative center

for Franciscan Monks.for Franciscan Monks. Onate in New MexicoOnate in New Mexico

– Established settlement with Pueblos and Established settlement with Pueblos and built agricultural wealth through cattle built agricultural wealth through cattle trade on ranchos.trade on ranchos.

– Peaceful cohabitation with natives until Peaceful cohabitation with natives until Catholic priests forced complete native Catholic priests forced complete native conversion.conversion.

– Led to Led to Revolt of 1680Revolt of 1680


The Empire at High TideThe Empire at High Tide

Vast landsVast lands– By end of the 16By end of the 16thth Century Spanish lands would Century Spanish lands would

stretch from California through Central America, stretch from California through Central America, Florida, and eventuallyFlorida, and eventually

BrazilBrazil Little ability of SpanishLittle ability of Spanish

lords to form politicallords to form political

groups apart from the groups apart from the

Crown, unlike later Crown, unlike later

British Colonies.British Colonies.


The Meeting of CulturesThe Meeting of Cultures

Biological and Cultural ExchangesBiological and Cultural Exchanges– Increasing Levels of ExchangeIncreasing Levels of Exchange– Demographic CatastropheDemographic Catastrophe– Deliberate Subjugation and ExterminationDeliberate Subjugation and Extermination

Since native societies were actually highly advanced, Since native societies were actually highly advanced, the Europeans used brutal tactics to put down the the Europeans used brutal tactics to put down the threat. threat.

– New Crops and Agricultural TechniquesNew Crops and Agricultural Techniques– A Complex Racial HierarchyA Complex Racial Hierarchy– Reasons for IntermarriageReasons for Intermarriage


Africa and AmericaAfrica and America

Between 1500 and 1800Between 1500 and 1800

over half of the new over half of the new

arrivals in the Americasarrivals in the Americas

were from Africa.were from Africa.

Inset from Map of Africa and Americas

(Library of Congress)

1633 Map of Atlantic (Royalty-Free/CORBIS)


Africa and America

African SocietyAfrican Society– Highly sophisticated, especially in places like Highly sophisticated, especially in places like

Ghana and Mali, centers of tradeGhana and Mali, centers of trade– Matrilineal societies with significant sexual Matrilineal societies with significant sexual

equalityequality– Elaborate social hierarchyElaborate social hierarchy

Priests and nobles, farmers, traders, craftsmen, slavesPriests and nobles, farmers, traders, craftsmen, slaves

African SlaveryAfrican Slavery– Not permanent, still had rights, not inheritedNot permanent, still had rights, not inherited– Much different than in AmericaMuch different than in America

Need for laborers on sugar cane plantations Need for laborers on sugar cane plantations created initial African slave trade.created initial African slave trade.– By 1700 it was a thriving business.By 1700 it was a thriving business.

Wasdale Head, Cumbria, England(Royalty-Free / CORBIS)

The Arrival of the EnglishThe Arrival of the English

Search for a Northwest PassageSearch for a Northwest Passage– John Cabot arrived roughly 5 years John Cabot arrived roughly 5 years

after Columbusafter Columbus The Commercial IncentiveThe Commercial Incentive

– Increased demand for wool Increased demand for wool

caused many landlords to caused many landlords to

pasture their fields rather thanpasture their fields rather than

grow crops. grow crops. – No more jobs for tenant No more jobs for tenant

Farmers.Farmers.


The Commercial IncentiveThe Commercial Incentive

Surplus populationSurplus population– Unemployed beggars caused problems, and Unemployed beggars caused problems, and

since fewer crops were grown England did not since fewer crops were grown England did not have enough food to feed the people.have enough food to feed the people.

Chartered CompaniesChartered Companies– Groups of merchants acquired charters from Groups of merchants acquired charters from

the monarch allowing them to finance trips to the monarch allowing them to finance trips to new world and in turn reap benefits of such new world and in turn reap benefits of such colonies.colonies.

MercantilismMercantilism– Belief that a nation always builds wealth at the Belief that a nation always builds wealth at the

expense of other nations.expense of other nations.

Queen Elizabeth I (Portrait Gallery)

The Religious IncentiveThe Religious Incentive Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

– 1517 Martin Luther challenge1517 Martin Luther challenge

basic beliefs and practices ofbasic beliefs and practices of

the Catholic Church.the Catholic Church. English ReformationEnglish Reformation

– Began as a dispute betweenBegan as a dispute between

Henry VIII and the Pope.Henry VIII and the Pope.– Long struggle between Long struggle between

Catholics and Protestants forCatholics and Protestants for

control of Englandcontrol of England

““Bloody Mary” & Queen ElizabethBloody Mary” & Queen Elizabeth


Religious IncentiveReligious Incentive

Puritan SeparatistsPuritan Separatists– Religious radicals that believed they should Religious radicals that believed they should

break from the Catholic Church completely break from the Catholic Church completely and free to worship as they wished.and free to worship as they wished.

– Against the lawAgainst the law Puritan DiscontentPuritan Discontent

– James I became the first Stuart to obtain James I became the first Stuart to obtain the throne and refused to compromise with the throne and refused to compromise with Puritans in any way, favoring the Catholics.Puritans in any way, favoring the Catholics.


English roots in Ruling othersEnglish roots in Ruling others

The English in IrelandThe English in Ireland– Irish use of Gaelic/Catholic culture caused the Irish use of Gaelic/Catholic culture caused the

English to view them as wild and ignorant English to view them as wild and ignorant “savages”.“savages”.

– The English refused to believe the Irish could The English refused to believe the Irish could be included in civilized culture, and learned be included in civilized culture, and learned their role as colonizers from their treatment of their role as colonizers from their treatment of the Irish.the Irish.

Plantation ModelPlantation Model– English gov’t sought to create plantations of English gov’t sought to create plantations of

English society in new lands, and remain English society in new lands, and remain separate from any natives they controlled.separate from any natives they controlled.


New Amsterdam preacher (Library of Congress)

French and Dutch in French and Dutch in AmericaAmerica

Quebec – First French settlementQuebec – First French settlement– Few French Catholics felt the need to come, Few French Catholics felt the need to come,

and Protestants were forbiddenand Protestants were forbidden Coureurs de Bois: Coureurs de Bois:

– French fur traders developed a close relationship French fur traders developed a close relationship with nativeswith natives

– Aspect of colonization unique to the FrenchAspect of colonization unique to the French

Dutch in AmericaDutch in America Henry Hudson:Henry Hudson:

– Englishman employed by the Dutch, Englishman employed by the Dutch, sailed up the Hudson Riversailed up the Hudson River

– Because it was so wide,Because it was so wide, he thought he he thought he had finally found the Nothwest passage had finally found the Nothwest passage to the Pacificto the Pacific He was wrong, and his crew’s mutiny near He was wrong, and his crew’s mutiny near

Hudson Bay left him for dead.Hudson Bay left him for dead.

New AmsterdamNew Amsterdam– Dutch settlement in the America’s on Dutch settlement in the America’s on

what is today New York.what is today New York.



The First English ColoniesThe First English Colonies Gilbert’s Expedition to NewfoundlandGilbert’s Expedition to Newfoundland

– Humphrey Gilbert, friend of Queen Elizabeth, received Humphrey Gilbert, friend of Queen Elizabeth, received permission to build in the unclaimed territories.permission to build in the unclaimed territories.

– Upon looking for a place to build his military outpost, Upon looking for a place to build his military outpost, his ship was lost at sea.his ship was lost at sea.

RoanokeRoanoke– Sir Walter Raleigh, Gilbert’s half brother, organized an Sir Walter Raleigh, Gilbert’s half brother, organized an

expedition a year later.expedition a year later.– They settled on a small island off the coast of Virginia They settled on a small island off the coast of Virginia – In 1590 the group’s leader, John White, returned to In 1590 the group’s leader, John White, returned to

England for suppliesEngland for supplies Conflicts with Spain delayed his return for 3 years.Conflicts with Spain delayed his return for 3 years. When he finally returned the colony had been abandoned.When he finally returned the colony had been abandoned.

alan brinkley, american history 12/e

Documents