Download Review questions for Northeast

Review questions for Northeast
To get the most benefit from preparing these questions, make your answers
concise and write them up in outline form – that way they will be easier to
study from. Note that although I generally use the past tense here to conform to
your text – the present tense could be used in many instances. For example, the
League of the Iroquois still exists and the Great Law is still in operation, etc. Be
certain to supplement your answers with information from class where
appropriate.
1. What were the three principal language families found in the Northeast? In
what regions were they spoken? Name two representative cultural groups for
each family.
2. What were the three primary types of political organization present in the
northeast? Describe them.
3. Why and how was warfare conducted? What were its goals?
4. Outline the key points relating to social organization and economics. What
was wampum and what was its function?
5. What were the primary purposes of most ceremonies? What was the Green
Corn Ceremony? What was the significance of dreams?
6. What were the original five nations of the Iroquois? What group became the
sixth nation of the confederacy? Where did it come from and when?
7. Who were Deganawida and Haion’hwa’tha’ and what did they accomplish
together?
8. Why did the Iroquois get involved in the American Revolution and what effect
did their involvement have on them at the conclusion of the war?
9. Who was Handsome Lake and what did he accomplish?
10. Describe Iroquois settlements. How often did they move and why? What are
the four basic levels of Iroquois political organization?
11. Outline the structure and operation of the League of the Iroquois. How were
the individual nations organized relative to one another? Describe the processes
of deliberation and decision-making within and among nations. How were
decisions reached? Who was/is Thadodaho? What is the Great Law? How
were/are sachems selected? What does the term Pine Tree Chief refer to?
12. Outline Iroquois social organization. What was the primary social unit? How
were residence and descent organized? What was the domain of women? Of
men? What was the principle behind the division of labor? What was the status
of women? What sodalities were most important?
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13. Outline the major life cycle events. What qualities were admired in men?
How did dream fulfillment relate to the normal expectations for male behavior?
14. What was the basis of economic life for the Iroquois? How did men and
women contribute to food acquisition and production?
15. What was the underlying purpose of most Iroquois ceremonies? What was
recognized in the “Thanksgiving” speech? Describe the yearly ceremonial cycle.
What were the Four Sacred Rituals? What was the Condolence Council? How
were the ill healed?
16. Describe the ways in which the Seneca are working to maintain their
culture today. [Hint: this question refers to material in the video.]
17. Where was/is the territory of the Ottawa located?
18. Briefly outline the political and social organization of the Ottawa. How were
they organized? What was their primary social unit and how was descent
reckoned?
19. What was a manitou and why was it important?
20. How did the Ottawa differ from the Iroquois with respect to their
subsistence economy?