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Vs.2 Virginia Geography,Native Peoples

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Vs.2 Virginia Geography,Native Peoples VIRGINIA STUDIES 2015 CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK (CONDENSED) – STUDY GUIDE VS.2 VIRGINIA GEOGRAPHY, NATIVE PEOPLES STANDARD VS.2A Coastal Plain (Tidewater) • Flat land VIRGINIA’S BORDERING STATES • Location near Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay Locations of places can be described in relative terms. (includes Eastern Shore) Relative location may be described using terms that show • East of the Fall Line connections between two places such as “next to,” “near,” Piedmont (land at the foot of mountains) “bordering.” • Rolling hills Bordering bodies of water • West of the Fall Line • Atlantic Ocean Blue Ridge Mountains • Chesapeake Bay • Old, rounded mountains • Part of Appalachian mountain system • Located between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge regions • Source of many rivers Valley and Ridge • Includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys separated by ridges (The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge Regions are part of the Appalachian mountain system.) Bordering states • Located west of Blue Ridge Mountains • Maryland • West Virginia Appalachian Plateau • Located in Southwest Virginia • Kentucky • Only a small part of the plateau is located in Virginia • Tennessee • North Carolina STANDARD VS.2C STANDARD VS.2B VIRGINIA’S RIVERS AND WATERWAYS VIRGINIA’S FIVE REGIONS Water features were important to the early history of Virginia. Virginia can be divided into five geographic regions. Many early Virginia cities developed along the Fall Line, Geographic regions have distinctive characteristics. the natural border between the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) Terms to know and Piedmont regions where the land rises sharply and where the waterfalls prevent further travel on the river. • Fall Line: The natural border between the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) and Piedmont regions, where The four major rivers that flow into the Chesapeake waterfalls prevent further travel on the river Bay are separated by peninsulas. • Plateau: Area of elevated land that is flat on top The Chesapeake Bay separates the Eastern Shore from the mainland of Virginia. Terms to know • Peninsula: A piece of land bordered by water on three sides. – The Eastern Shore is a peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Geographic regions 1 | Page STANDARD VS.2D AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE GROUPS American Indians were the first people who lived in Virginia. American Indians lived in all areas of the state. There were three major American Indian language groups in Virginia. Christopher Columbus called the people he found in the lands he explored “Indians” because he thought he was in the Indies Water features (near China) Atlantic Ocean Artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery, and other tools that – Provided transportation links between Virginia have been found tell a lot about the people who lived in and other places (e.g., Europe, Africa, Caribbean) Virginia. Chesapeake Bay American Indian identities have always been closely – Provided a safe harbor connected to the land. American Indians did not believe in – Was a source of food and transportation land ownership. James River – Flows into the Chesapeake Bay – Richmond and Jamestown located along the James River York River – Flows into the Chesapeake Bay – Yorktown located along the York River Potomac River – Flows into the Chesapeake Bay Three major language groups – Alexandria located along the Potomac River • Algonquian languages were spoken primarily in the region; the were a part of this Rappahannock River Tidewater Powhatan group. – Flows into the Chesapeake Bay • Siouan languages were spoken primarily in the – Fredericksburg located on the Rappahannock Piedmont region – the Monacan were part of this River group. Each river was a source of food and provided a pathway for • Iroquoian languages were spoken in Southwestern exploration and settlement of Virginia. Virginia and in Southern Virginia near what is today • Lake Drummond North Carolina; the Cherokee were a part of this group. – Located in the Coastal Plain STANDARD VS.2E (Tidewater) region INDIANS ADAPT TO ENVIRONMENT FOR – Shallow natural FOOD, CLOTHING SHELTER lake surrounded by the Dismal Virginia’s American Indians worked with the climate Swamp and their environment to meet their basic wants. • Dismal Swamp Many American Indians lived in towns situated along – Located in the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) region the rivers, which made for good farming, good fishing, and easy travel. – Variety of wildlife Virginia Indian cultures have changed over time. Climate in Virginia • The climate in Virginia is relatively mild with distinct seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—resulting in a variety of vegetation. 2 | Page • Forests, which have a variety of trees, cover most of Archaeologists study all kinds of material evidence left from the land. Virginia’s American Indians are referred to people of the past. as Eastern Woodland Indians. Werowocomoco was a large Indian town located on the York Environmental Connections River, used by Indian leaders for several hundred years before The kinds of food American Indians ate, the clothing they the wore, and the shelters they had depended upon the English settlers came. It was the headquarters of the leader, seasons. Powhatan, in 1607. • Foods changed with the seasons. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in • In winter, they hunted birds and animals and lived on North America. Archaeologists have discovered the site of the foods stored the previous fall. original fort. • In spring, they hunted, fished and picked berries. The recovered artifacts give archaeologists clues about the • In summer, they grew crops (beans, corn, squash). interactions of English, Africans, and Indians in early Virginia. • In fall, they harvested crops and hunted for foods to preserve and keep for the winter. STANDARD VS.2G • Animal skins (deerskin) were used for clothing. INDIANS IN VIRGINIA TODAY • was made from materials around them. Shelter American Indian people have lived in Virginia for Native peoples of the past farmed, hunted, and fished. thousands of years. They made homes using natural resources. They used Virginia Indians have contributed to the animal skins for clothing. Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. Today, most native peoples live like other Americans. Their American Indians, who trace their ancestry family history back cultures have changed over time. to before 1607, continue to live in all parts of Virginia today. STANDARD VS.2F – Virginia Indians live and work as modern Americans. VIDENCE AT EROWOCOMOCO E W & – Many practice ancient traditions and crafts while JAMESTOWN incorporating new customs over time. – The current state-recognized tribes are located in Archaeology is regions throughout Virginia. another way that helps people The tribes maintain tribal museums and lands on which they understand the past. hold public festivals called powwows. Recent – The powwow is a way of teaching American archaeological digs Indians and visitors about their culture, past and have recovered new present. material evidence Today, Virginia Indians maintain their strong cultural heritage about through drumming, singing, dance, art, jewelry, clothing, Werowocomoco and crafts, pottery, and storytelling. historic Jamestown. Virginia Indians contribute to American society as active citizens who vote, hold office, and work in communities. VS.3 JAMESTOWN STANDARD VS.3A Explain the reasons for English colonization • England wanted to establish an American colony to REASONS FOR COLONIZATION increase her wealth and power - to compete with other European nations. Some European countries, including England, were in competition to increase their wealth and power by • England hoped to find silver and gold in America. expanding their empires to America. • An American settlement would furnish raw The first permanent English settlement in America was materials while opening new markets for trade. Jamestown, founded in 1607 as an economic venture. 3 | Page Jamestown STANDARD VS.3D • Jamestown was primarily an economic venture. 1619 - GENERAL ASSEMBLY • The stockholders of the Virginia As Jamestown grew, Virginia’s system of government Company of London financed the evolved. settlement of Jamestown. System of government • Jamestown, founded in 1607, became the first permanent English settlement in British North In 1619, the governor of Virginia called a meeting of the America. General Assembly. • The General Assembly included two citizen STANDARD VS.3B representatives, called burgesses, from each of the REASON FOR JAMESTOWN LOCATION divisions of Virginia along with the governor’s council, and the governor. The location and physical characteristics of the • They met as one legislative body. At that time, only Jamestown site influenced the decision to settle there. certain free adult men had a right to take part. The English believed the natural resources at The current Virginia General Assembly dates back to 1619 Jamestown would benefit England. with the establishment of the General Assembly and its When the settlers arrived in 1607, they founded Jamestown burgesses in Jamestown. on a narrow peninsula bordered on three sides by the James • It was the first elected legislative body in English River. North America giving some settlers the opportunity – Today, Jamestown is located on an island in the to take part in controlling their own government. James River due to the erosion of the Jamestown House of Burgesses peninsula. By the 1640s, the burgesses became a separate legislative
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