Background

As far as natives go, I would imagine something similar to our timeline, in which up to 90% of the native population has died from various plagues (smallpox, infuenza, etc.) Here is a nice map of the tribe locations at first contact. I would imagine something similar to our own timeline, just from the other coast. Tribes are pushed east from the immigation/conquest.

For the rest I am trying to imagine a world that had no renaissance, but didn't need one as there were no dark ages. In my mind, science and engineering would be farther along than in our TL. This one needs more discussion and research, I think.