AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Native Populations of the Great Basin & Great Plains (Day 4/309)

Welcome to day 4 of APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Today I will be introducing Native Populations in the Great Basin and Great Plains.

One of the key objectives in AP US History is to understand how American Indians both TRANSFORMED and ADAPTED TO their environments.

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

While the climate in this region is varied, these areas are known for having hot summers, cool/cold winters, and are relatively dry.

Indigenous Peoples of the Great Basin and Great Plains Encyclopedia Britannica

Groups in this region, including the Shoshone, and Ute, lived primarily nomadic lifestyles- meaning they moved with the seasons and followed animal migrations. Many were skilled hunters, gatherers, and foragers, adapting their movements based on the availability of resources.

Ute Tipis Colorado Historical Society

The Ute adapted their dwellings to the varying environments they inhabited. They constructed temporary structures, such as tipis, using wooden poles and covering them with animal hides. These portable dwellings provided flexibility during their seasonal movements.

So as the climate was a deterrent to large permanent civilizations, groups in the region adapted by living a more nomadic lifestyle with smaller groups of people.

Join me tomorrow as I explain life in the Northeast, Mississippi River Valley, and Atlantic Seaboard before European conquest in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!