Comparative History of the United States (early draft)

Comparing Histories of the United States,

"The American Pageant, 14th Edition" (2006) and "A History of the United States of America, On a Plan Adapted to the Capacity of Youth" (1834) compared. Abbreviated as TAP and AHUSA respectively.

Both texts are targeted at Highschool aged students, with American TAP geared towards modern AP US History courses. AHUSA was directed at secondary school students earlier in American history.
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A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TIMELINE

Ancient Times: Indians originate, most likely from Asia, crossing the Bering Strait. The origin of North America itself is not discussed.

11th Century AD: Claimed date for Norwegian discovery of New World. The Icelander Biorn discovers 'Vineland', probably Newfoundland. This is quite plausible, but evidence remains limited.

1170: Claimed date for Welsh discovery of New World. Extremely unlikely.

1435 or 36: Christopher Columbus born to respected woolcomber in Genoa.

~1470: Columbus is a highly gifted sailor curious about reaching India. He believes that western passage to India is possible, evidenced by the appearance of driftwood by westerly winds, and the corpses of 2 people of an unknown race washing up on the Azores islands.

1492: Voyage of Columbus begins, behest of Spain. Discovers San Salvador, IE Cat Island in the Bahamas. Also discovers Cuba and Hispaniola. Many literary tropes in the story.

Natives are copper-red, naked, and have long black hair. They believed Spaniards to be "children of the sun." They view the ships as animals.

1493: Columbus returns to Spain.

1497: John and Sebastian Cabot discover Newfoundland and claim it for England, and soon the continent itself. On their return, they explore the coast from Virginia to Florida.

1498: Columbus discovers the continent of America on his 3rd voyage, landing near the Oronoco river delta. Falsely accused of evils by his enemies, he is brought back to Spain in changes and loses his governorship of the New World.

1499: Americus Vespucius, a Florentine explorer who had accompanied Columbus, gives a vivid description of the New World, such that it comes to bear his name, rather than that of Columbus.

1506: Christopher Columbus dies. He never realized that the New World was not Asia.

1524: John Verrazano, a Florentian, explores North America on behalf of France, describing Florida and much of the East Coast in detail.

1534: James Cartier discovers Gulf of St. Lawrence.

1535: Cartier discovers Isle of Orleans and Montreal Island. The settlement of Hochelaga is on Montreal Island. Montreal is derived from "Mount Royal", as Cartier referred to it.

1539: Ferdinand de Soto begins his expedition, travelling from Cuba to Florida.

1540: Cartier attempts to settle North America near the Isle of Orleans, but fails due to lack of supplies.

1541: Cartier abandons his settlement. de Soto discovers the Mississippi River while searching for gold. He had also encountered the Chickasaws.

1542: de Soto dies during his expedition. A few of his followers survive and return to Cuba.

1584: Sir Walter Raleigh sends two vessels to the Eastern Seaboard, arriving in North Carolina, and trading with natives at Roanoake island. Queen Elizabeth names the land 'Virginia' in honor of her own virginity.

1585: Raleigh attempts to settle Roanoake, but the colony quickly falls to distress.

1586: The settlers of Roanoake return to England with Francis Drake.

1602: Bartholomew Gosnold discovers Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Elizabeth Island. He builds a storehouse on Elizabeth island but does not settle it.

Before 1607: There are probably no more than 150,000 natives in what would become the Thirteen Colonies. Racially the natives are homogenous, tall, with red skin, black eyes, and long, black, coarse hair. Apprehensive and intelligent, usually friendly and respectful. Brave in warfare, sullen in anger, and extremely vengeful. Would not cave in to torture.

Hieroglyphics, but no literature, education focused on warfare, hunting, and fishing. Language is unsophisticated, highly metaphorical. Limited industry. Very simple agriculture focused on corn, beans, peas, potatoes, and melons. Medicine unsophisticated. Disease uncommon.

Men hunted, fished, and fought, women prepared food, cared for children, tilled fields. Men danced and hunted for fun. Dress varied based on weather. Lived in wigwams, covered by tree bark to remain dry. Cuisine was simple. Used money called 'wampum', small beads on belts.

Women badly oppressed, men were indolent and unsocial. Few close friendships, language too simple to converse. Very warlike, and lazy when not fighting. Used bows and arrows. Some regional variation. Tortured captured opponents. Governed by absolute monarchs.

Believed in two gods, a good god and an evil god, and worship both. Also worshipped minor gods representing supernatural phenomena. Marriage often temporary, polygamy common. Women treated as slaves and often raped.
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THE AMERICAN PAEGENT

33,000 BC: Earliest plausible date for arrival of Proto-Amerindians across Bering Strait.

8000 BC: Last Glacial Period ends. Rising sea levels cut Asia from North America.

5000 BC: Sophisticated maize-based agriculture in Mexico.

1200 BC: Corn agriculture in American Southwest. Pueblo people construct advanced irrigation systems.

1000: Maize, bean, and squash agriculture in Southeastern United States. 'Three sisters' farming enables dense populations among Creek, Chocktaw, and Cherokee.

1000: Scandanavians land on Newfoundland, naming it 'Vinland.' Settlement attempts proved unprofitable and were abandoned.

1300: By this time, Anasazi and Mississipian cultures in decline. Dense settlements deteriorate, probably due to natural climate change.

1450: Portuguese sailors develop the Caravel and discover shipping routes to West Africa. Early colonialism begins in trade with West African states, including slavery.

1488: Bartholomew Diaz rounds the Cape of Good Hope.

1492: Columbus reaches America. Misidentification of America as India leads to 'Indian' misnomer for the native peoples. 'Columbian exchange' begins. This includes the exchange of diseases that begin to spread as epidemics across the New World. Syphillis reaches Europe.

1493: Columbus attempts to settle Hispaniola.

1494: Treaty of Tordesillas divides New World between Spain and Portugal.

Late 1490s: Encomienda system develops, early New World slavery which greatly diminishes indigenous population.

1498: Vasco de Gama reaches India by sea. John Cabot explores Northeastern coast and claims it for England.

1513: Vasco Nunez Balboa discovers Pacific Ocean.

1513-1521: Ponce de Leon explores Florida.

1519-21: Hernan Cortes conquers Mexico. Aztec Capital of Tenochitlan rivalled European cities in size.

1519-22: Magellan's voyage is the first to circumnavigate the world.

1524: Verrazano explores Eastern Seaboard.

~1520: Horses introduced to Mexico soon spread across North America, and are adopted by Plains tribes in particular.

1534: Cartier explores St. Lawrence River.

1539-1542: Hernando de Soto explores Southeastern US.

1540-42: Francisco Coronado explores Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas.

1542: Cabrillo explores the coast of California.

1542: By this time, the population of Hispaniola has dropped from around 1 million Taino to 200 Taino, due primarily to disease, as well as extreme oppression by the Spanish settlers.

~Late 1500s: Great leader Hiawatha unites the Iroquious Confederacy.

1565: Spanish build St. Augustine fortress in Florida.

1580: Francis Drake plunders Spanish colonies and treasure ships, secretly funded by English monarchy.

1583: Humphrey Gilbert urges colonization of New World, but dies before it can be attempted.

1585: Walter Raleigh attempts to colonize Roanoke Island in 'Virginia', named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, but the colony dissapears mysteriously.

1588: Defeat of Spanish Armada begins the era of English dominance over the North Atlantic.

1598-99: De Onate abuses Pueblo people in modern New Mexico on his expedition through the Southwest, mutilating captured victims.

1606: Virginia Company established to colonize North America.

before 1607: In general, Native Americans lacked both the ability and desire to greatly alter the natural world. Deliberate forest fires were used, however, for hunting grounds. The 'wild' appearance of America at contact is largely a reflection of low indigenous population--no more than 4 million natives across all of North America. Cultures varied wildly across the continent.