African and american indian societies tended to be matrilineal, which means people traced their heredity through their mothers. only women would be the heads of families. men could not inherit property. women were in control of the social institutions. only mothers could act as political leaders.

The correct answer is that people traced their heredity through their mothers.

In matrilinear societies, the importance of heredity is explained according to the mother or a female relative. For example, if your father comes from one state and the mother comes from another, you are a citizen of the mother's state and will be treated as such even though you might live in another state.