AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Native Populations in the Northwest & Present-Day California (Day 6/309)

Welcome to day 6 of APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Today I will be introducing Native Populations of the Northwest and Present-Day California while focusing on how they both transformed and adapted to their environment.

A screengrab of the interactive mapping website Native Land. NATIVE LAND

This region has both a cold, dry polar climate in the North and a temperate Mediterranean-like climate in the South.

Aleuts catching halibut at the mouth of the Akootan Pass, Bering Sea, Alaska Wikimedia Commons

The Aleut people, indigenous to present-day Alaska, were skilled hunters and gatherers and relied heavily on the vast resources of the ocean. The Aleuts made efficient use of the resources available to them by utilizing all parts of the animals they hunted.

A map of California tribal groups and languages at the time of European contact. Wikimedia Commons

Many distinct indigenous groups in California practiced intentional land management techniques including controlled burning and cultivating native plants such as acorns, wild grains, and other edible plants. They employed techniques like selective planting, weeding, and irrigation to enhance crop yields.

Diverse groups in the region experienced a varied climate as they adapted to and transformed their environment.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the causes of European exploration in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!