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When and how did the first people migrate to the Western Hemisphere?

Paleoanthropologists (scientists who study fossil remains of ancient peoples) speculate that a group called Paleo-Indians migrated to the Western Hemisphere (North and South America and the surrounding waters) from Asia during two periods: the first, between 50,000 and 40,000 B.C.; and the second, between 26,000 and 8,000 B.C. Scholars believe that during the Pleistocene glacial epoch (the late Ice Age, which ended about 10,000 B.C.) a natural bridge over the present-day Bering Strait connected North America (Alaska) and Asia (Russia). It was over this bridge that the first people were able to migrate. After their arrival the Paleo-Indians moved throughout North and South America. By 8,000 B.C. primitive hunters were living in Tierra del Fuego, which forms the southernmost part of South America.

Further Information: Hirst, K....

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1. The Americas
   1. When and how did the first people migrate to the Western Hemisphere?
   2. Were the Vikings the first Europeans to reach North America?
   3. Were the Spaniards the first Europeans to reach North America after the Vikings?
   4. When was the first authenticated European landing in North America?
   5. Why did Spain authorize Columbus to search for a westward route to the Indies?
   6. Where did Columbus first land in the New World?
   7. Did Columbus make any important discoveries in the Americas?
   8. Why does controversy surround Christopher Columbus?
   9. Who were the conquistadors?
   10. What contributions did the Europeans make to the Americas?
   11. How did America get its name?
   12. How was Hernán Cortés able to claim Mexico for the Spaniards?
   13. Who was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca?
   14. Who was Montezuma?
   15. What were the Seven Cities of Cibola?
   16. Who were the first Europeans to explore the Mississippi River?
   17. What were the Spanish holdings in the New World?
   18. What were the French holdings in the New World?
   19. What were the Dutch colonial holdings in the New World?
   20. Did Sweden have any colonies in the New World?
   21. What was the Lost Colony?
   22. Were the Pilgrims explorers?
   23. Were African slaves the first source of labor in the English colonies?
   24. What was the goal of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
   25. How were the Puritans different from the Pilgrims?
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   2. Who discovered the southwest passage to the Orient?
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   9. Who were the first people to reach the North Pole?
   10. Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?
   11. Who was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest?
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   3. Why was the Cherokee Nation forced to walk the Trail of Tears?
   4. What caused more Irish people to emigrate to the United States in the mid-1800s?
   5. When did major waves of immigration to the United States occur?
   6. How many immigrants arrived at Ellis Island, and what did they experience there?
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   6. Who was the first woman in space?
   7. What was the first animal sent into space?
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   10. What new discoveries have been made by the Hubble Space Telescope?