The Western Hemisphere

What comes to mind when you hear the word invention? You may think of items such as the automobile, the light bulb, and the cellular phone. For prehistoric peoples, however, inventions came in much different forms. Archaeologists consider the Clovis point to be one of the first American inventions. A Clovis point is a sharp object made by chipping pieces of brittle stone, such as obsidian. Paleo-Indians attached them to spears for hunting. One of the most interesting things about Clovis points is where they are found—all over North America. This suggests that early peoples in the Americas had some form of shared culture. It also suggests that different groups came into contact with one another. How might geography have shaped the spread of Clovis culture? How might it have affected the development of other prehistoric cultures?

A totem pole is a large log that is carved and painted. Totem poles are usually made from red cedar trees. They often feature animal faces such as wolves, eagles, orcas, and salmon. Peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America create totem poles for many reasons. They may mark graves or honor important people. Others are placed near water as a sign of welcome to visitors. The use of totem poles is one of many shared characteristics of the peoples of the Northwest Coast. What do the materials and design of totem poles say about how people were affected by the geography where they lived? How else did the lands that people lived on influence their cultures?

The ruthless pursuit of treasure and glory was just one reason people wished to explore and colonize the Americas. In the 1500s and 1600s, many European explorers heard the legend of El Dorado, a city made of gold. They explored the Americas to find places like El Dorado that would bring them gold and wealth. Modern historians and archaeologists know that El Dorado did not exist. However, Europeans did find gold elsewhere in the Americas. The arrival of Europeans would have significant consequences for the peoples and resources of these two huge continents.

Voting in elections is an important part of democracy. Citizens head to the polls for local, state, and national elections to make their voices heard. They vote on issues that are important to their communities and their state. They also reelect leaders or choose new leaders to represent them in the government. There are many democracies in the Western Hemisphere, all of which include some form of voting. What are other important features of a constitutional democracy?