Paleo-Indians Essay

Who the earliest settlers were in the United States is controversial, as is where they came from and how they got here. A few different scientist has done studies on this and came up with different theories. Some believe they came by foot from Asia across the Bering Strait during the Ice Age while following mammoths for food (Shultz, n.d.). Others believe they came by boat following whales and searching for fish to eat. There are a few different theories. With this said, what we do know is the earliest settlers were the Paleo-Indian; how they got here or from where they came from is basically irrelevant.
The Paleo-Indian moved all over North America from 10,000 to 15,000 years ago; these years are known as the Paleo-Indian era. These Indians adapted easily to different ways of life. Some hunted and others fished to provide for their families and lifestyle, these tribes tended to move a lot. Others found the places for farms and were able to lay down ties and make for stationary homes. All provided a well stabled life for themselves and their tribes, which in time aided in the Native North American population growth.
Next came the Archaic Era believed to have been 2,500 to 10,000 years ago. In this time, crops grew of different kinds and added even more to the population. The

need to travel and hunt herd animals was lessened, this as well helped by not putting those in danger of not making it back from the hunt. Most, however, ended up in this era farming to survive when the season was available and went back to the hunt when crops were not in season. Some of the more settled tribes seemed to be more advanced building entire cities for their tribes.
Last was the Pre-Columbia Era from 500 B.C.E to 1492 C.E.

had the largest and most well-known tribes. These were known as the Anasazi’s and the Mississippians. The Anasazi were a large civilization in what we now know as New Mexico and the Mississippians were found just miles from what is now St. Louis. The Anasazi lived and built what seemed now to be apartments several stories tall. These buildings were part of their livelihood as they conducted their trades here. The Mississippians also built cities, yet made networks of crossroads for easier or better means of trade and travel. The Anasazi’s did not make it to the European meetings, however the Mississippians were still growing

strong.
The year before Columbus landed here, bringing the great Columbia Exchange the Indian population was thriving. They spoke a vastly large amount of languages, some of their very own making. They had many different tribes and had developed well practiced rituals socially and in religion. The Northeast had many more Indian tribes that were more of smaller tribes that stayed to themselves. They lived off the land and hunting as had in the past. They stuck together, took shelter surrounded by forest, and formed very close bonds within.

Reference
Schultz, K. (n.d.). HIST. Retrieved from https://www.betheluniversityonline.net/cps/default.aspx?SectionID=5860&tabid=154#1