The Eastern Woodlands

• Describe how the Eastern Woodlands peoples adapted to their environment.

• Locate the Eastern Woodlands cultural area and compare lifeways among its inhabitants

How did the geography and climate of the Eastern Woodlands affect the Native Americans there?

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

Trees were the most important natural resource to the people of the Eastern Woodlands

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

The Eastern Woodlands people were farmers and gatherers.

In the NORTHEASTERN part of the Woodlands, where the soil was rocky, people did more hunting and gathering than farming.

Jobs were divided between men and women. Men hunted animals for food and used antlers and bones to make tools.

Using spears and nets, they fished in the regions many lakes and rivers.

The women prepared the food used and animal skins to make clothing and moccasins. This division of labor made it possible for people to produce more goods.

In the SOUTHERN areas of the Eastern Woodlands, the soil and climate made was better for farming – corn, beans, squash, and other plants.

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

The Iroquois The Five NationsMohawk OneidaOnodagaCayugaSeneca

They lived near the Great Lakes

PalisadesLonghouses

The Three Sisters – corn, bean, squash

Wampum – beads cut from seashells. They were made to show important decisions, events or stories.

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

The Iroquois League

Hiawatha and Deganawida

Created the Iroquois League. Members from each of the five tribes gathered to discuss and settle disputes.

The Iroquois League was a confederation of the Five Nations of Iroquois.

The first form of government of the United States was also a confederation - a loose group of state governments that worked together. Some historians think that it was partially inspired by the Iroquois Confederation.

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

The AlgonquinCoastal Plain

DelawareWampanoag

PowhatanInland/Great Lakes

OttawaChippewa

Miami

Wigwams

Ways of Life- Algonquin groups had leaders that governed themselves. - the Algonquin lived near the coast and relied more on fishing than the crop growing Iroquois.

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2

Summary The people of the Eastern Woodlands used trees for food, shelter, and transportation. The two main language groups of the Eastern Woodlands were the Iroquoian and the Algonquin.

SS Chapter 2 – Native Americans, Lesson 2