Research Simulation Task - Grade 8

Effects of European Exploration

Rationale

Today you will research the various effects of European exploration on the Americas and consider effective and ineffective ways of presenting information in Social Studies texts. First, you will read an article explaining the effects of European colonization on various native populations. Then, you will read a brief article identifying the various motives of European explorers. Finally, you will examine a graphic aid demonstrating the exchange of goods during this time. As you view each source, consider the view of European exploration presented by each source and how the author/ creator expressed his/her purpose for writing.

Sources

Source A: “Native North Americans: The Effects of Colonization”, 2015

Source B: “The Age of Exploration”, Scott Jones, 2015

Source C: “The Columbian Exchange” image

TASK

Each of the sources above presents a different aspect of European exploration. Each author’s/creator’s purpose was to inform his/her readers about one aspect of European exploration. Write an essay explaining which aspect of European exploration on which the author focused, and how each author/creator accomplished his/her purpose.

Use all texts in your response and give examples from each to illustrate and clarify your response.

Be sure to cite sources referenced within your essay. You may include titles and author’s names within a sentence or use parenthetical citations.

For example:

In a sentence…

In Name of Article or Video, Author’s Name reveals that….

According to Author’s Name, ….

Parenthetical

“Give an awesome quote, example, or paraphrase” (Author, Title,Year).

Source A

Native North Americans – The Effects of Colonization

European colonization of North America had a devastating effect on the Native American population. Within a short period of time their way of life was changed forever. The changes were caused by a number of factors, including loss of land, disease, enforced laws which violated their culture, and much more.

When the Europeans arrived, they brought with them diseases unknown to the Native Americans. The Native Americans, having no immunity, died from diseases that the Europeans thought of as commonplace. Europeans also brought guns, alcohol, and horses. The effect of the introduction of these items was to change the way of life for the Native Americans. Horses and guns changed their way of hunting for food. Since cultural groups were formed on the basis of how these groups survived, changing hunting methods changed the groupings. Some major groups moved. Once they started to move, fights over territory broke out. Groups who once had plenty of food now didn't have enough.

Missions were introduced, and Native Americans were encouraged aggressively to convert to Christianity. Most of the groups previously had some form of ancestral worship, which enforced a change in the way they practiced and which religion altered their cultural identity. On top of all of these factors, the Europeans needed land and food. Native groups, because they were nomadic, didn't believe land as belonged to one person. The idea that someone could come in, claim a piece of land, and ban others from it caused many problems. Wars broke out as they could no longer hunt or forage for food in places they had always done so.

Some of the effects of colonization were unintentional. No one thought much about immunity to diseases, or that diseases would kill the entire bison population. These effects were a side effect of the Europeans’ greed and belief that they could take anything they saw. Later however, things changed, and a determined effort was made to suppress completely the Native culture. This active suppression took many forms. Certain tribes were freely supplied with guns so that they could wipe out their neighbors. Old problems between tribes were brought back into the open, causing wars. The European armies and many settlers treated the Native Americans as nothing more than pests. Laws were introduced that banned certain ceremonies, forced children into the European education system, and restricted whole groups to land that was useless and could not sustain them. The intention was to deny them of their cultural identity, which had the same effect as wiping them out.

Here is a very brief look at the effects colonization had on the different groups:

Subarctic Hunters and Fishers

Initially, the introduction of Europeans and guns affected the eastern subarctic region the most. Europeans hunted for furs, used guns, and decimated local wildlife. Often, they just skinned the animals and left the meat to rot. This behavior caused a shortage of food and fur for the Native Americans in the area. The introduction of guns also caused some groups to become more powerful and more aggressive. The Cree, one of the largest groups in the area, moved south into the Great Plains using guns to hunt bison. Their change in their way of life caused them to lose much of their cultural heritage. Although the rest of the area was untouched in the beginning, western influence has gradually destroyed the native culture.

Northwest Coast Fishermen

Many European ships visited the northwest coast, beginning in 1741. Diseases, guns, and alcohol caused many troubles. Land was not a major problem initially. Although the Native American culture was failing, many of their people remained in or near this geographic area. The Native Americans still living in the area are fighting hard to restore their culture.

Interior Plateau Foragers

In this region fights over land led to bloody battles with great loss of life among the Native Americans. Also, the introduction of horses caused major groups to move into the Plains area, to hunt for bison. Between them, battles, horses and disease almost wiped out this group entirely as early as 1860.

Great Basin Desert Foragers

Basin Foragers had a very hard time surviving even before the Europeans arrived. Horses caused many of them to leave for the Plains in search of a better way of life. The remaining groups were easily overrun by the European settlers and had their land taken from them.

California Foragers

Europeans first came to this area in 1542, and missions were established by them soon after. However, the Native American population remained fairly intact until the Gold Rush of 1849. During this time, the Native Americans had their land taken from them by force, and thousands were needlessly massacred. Although there are still groups present in the area today, much of their cultural identity has been lost.

Plains Prairie Bison Hunters

The introduction of guns and horses initially caused an increase in the Native American groups and a strengthening of their cultural bonds. However, the sheer number of hunters, including Europeans who came to hunt for fur, wiped out the bison herds. Once the herds were gone, the culture was destroyed. Some groups continued to fight the Europeans for the land even after the bison were gone. The final battle against the Native Americans was at an area known as Wounded Knee. Here, a group of Sioux ran into a U.S. Cavalry unit. 300 Native Americans, mostly women and children, were massacred. The fight was over. However, some groups did stay in the area on reservations and still maintain some of their culture, although in a very different form.

Eastern Woodlands Cultivators

Not much is known about the effects of colonization on this group. The Native American population was destroyed so quickly, no one bothered to record how it happened. Any group that survived was forced, by the U.S. government, to move to the Indian Territories in the 19th century.

Southwest Cultivators and Foragers

Although the Apaches and Hopi managed to keep the Mexicans out of this area, these Native American tribes were no match for the U.S. Army. From 1840 to 1886, the Native Americans and U.S. Army many battles. Geronimo, the Apache chief, was the last to surrender in 1886. Today, the Navajo (part of the Apache nation) and the Hopi still live in the area and have the best preserved culture of all Native American groups. It took Europeans, disease, guns, and horses fewer than 300 years to destroy a way of life that had been going on for more than 20,000 years. Although many Native American groups are trying to regain their cultural identity, Native American will never be the same.

Source B

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION-1492-1650

MOTIVATION FOR EXPLORATION

Economic and political motives

Long before the sixteenth century, the Crusades had introduced European people to the goods and luxuries of the East. Some goods, such as spices, were necessities but were becoming increasingly costly. Goods had to be transported over long and sometimes dangerous overland routes. In addition, several middlemen took their profits before the goods reached European merchants. What Europeans needed was a new, less costly route to Asia. Before the route was actually traversed, however, a New World was opened for conquest. Such exploration led to intense economic and political rivalry among European powers to see who could first secure the prizes it offered and who could hold the others away. Individuals went to the New World for many reasons, the most common reason being to seek fortune. Young Spaniards expected to get rich through ventures connected to land and commerce. Finally, indentured servants looked optimistically toward the end of their terms of service, when they could obtain land of their own and become independent.

Religious motives

For rulers and common people alike, religion was also a powerful motive. Even the Catholic rulers of Spain, Portugal and France were bent on building empires and gaining wealth. In addition, such rulers also were sincerely committed to converting the heathen peoples of the world. Spanish conquerors of the New World were required to take priests with them on every expedition. The English and Dutch were just as committed to spreading the Protestant gospel, and actively encouraged missionary enterprise among Native Americans. Some European colonists went to America specifically to escape restrictions on their religious practices at home. They sought places where they could worship freely according to their own forms and consciences.

Adventure and Myth

Love of adventure, curiosity, and a fascination with the possibility of locating peoples and places popularized in the mythology of the time were also factors. Some searched for Prester John, a legendary Christian king believed to rule somewhere in Africa. Others were fascinated by fables of exotic peoples – some with tails, and others with no heads but having faces emerging from their chests. There were also tales of Amazon women living on the mythical island of California, of a fountain of youth in Florida, of exotic plants and animals, and of the seven golden cities of Cibola. On a more realistic level, explorers returned with accurate descriptions of plants, animals and people (Columbus brought back many examples from his first voyage).

Technology

Technological innovation contributed significantly to European expansion, for it finally made venturing farther out to sea more practical. Ships became faster and more maneuverable. By the fifteenth century, the use of the magnetic compass had become widespread. Other important developments included the astrolabe, a device for observing the position of the sun and stars, and the quadrant, which measured the altitude of these heavenly bodies. Techniques for mapmaking and charting the seas also continually improved.

Student RST Multiple Choice Questions

  1. What is the meaning of the word suppress as it is used in paragraph 4 of the passage Native North Americans: The Effects of Colonization?
  1. To prevent development and/or expression
  2. To ignore or disregard
  3. To encourage development and/ or expression
  4. To take complete control over

2. Which statement from the passage Native North Americans: The Effects of Colonization, helps to clarify the meaning of suppress?

  1. Laws were introduced that banned certain ceremonies, forced the children into the European education system…
  2. The army and many settlers treated the Natives as nothing more than pests to be got rid of.
  3. Some of the effects that colonization had were unintentional.
  4. These effects were a side effect of the Europeans’ greed and attitude …

3. In the paragraph, “Religious Motives” from the passage The Age of Exploration what phrase best provides evidence that religion was a powerful motive for Europeans coming to America?

  1. For rulers and common people alike, religion was also a powerful motive.
  2. Even the Catholic rulers of Spain, Portugal and France were bent on building empires and gaining wealth.
  3. Others were fascinated by fables of exotic people.
  4. Some colonists went to America to escape restrictions on their religious practices at home.

4. What is the central idea of the paragraph titled “Adventure and Myth” ?

  1. Finding the fountain of youth
  2. Locating legendary Christian king Preston John
  3. Love of adventure, curiosity, and mythology
  4. Creating accurate descriptions of plants, animals, and people

5. According to source C, how did the arrival of Europeans affect life in the Americas?See picture below.

  1. Tomatoes, pineapples and potatoes changed what people ate
  2. Bananas, grapes and peaches changed what people ate
  3. People started planting corn and pumpkins
  4. Native Americans gave many new diseases to Europeans

6. Which of the following choices had the greatest negative effect on both Europe and the Americas?See below.

  1. Turkeys and Honeybees
  2. Bananas and Peanuts
  3. Typhoid and Tobacco
  4. Turnips and Tomatoes

SOURCE C