- "Native Americans, sometimes called First Americans or Indigenous Americans, are the Indigenous peoples of the United States or portions thereof, such as American Indians from the contiguous United States and Alaska Natives."
The history of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the land that is now a state prior to European settlement. Understanding Native American history is essential to understanding the cultural and social contexts in which European settlement took place, as well as the lasting impact of colonialism and forced removal of indigenous peoples.
Pre-Columbian Era: This period spans from the earliest known human arrivals in North America over 15,000 years ago until the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.
Early Contact and Exploration: This covers the period from Columbus's arrival to the first European settlements in North America and the interactions between Native Americans and European explorers.
Colonial Era: This period covers the establishment of European colonies in North America, and the conflicts, trade relations, and cultural exchanges between Native Americans and Europeans during this time.
Treaty Making and Removal: This period is characterized by the signing of treaties between Native American tribes and the United States government, and the forced relocation of many tribes to reservations in the 19th century.
Indian Wars: This covers the conflicts between Native American tribes and the United States government, often resulting in military engagements and battles.
Assimilation Policy: This covers the United States government's efforts to force Native Americans to assimilate into American culture, which included boarding schools and the outlawing of traditional practices.
Contemporary Issues: This includes topics like the ongoing struggles for indigenous sovereignty, cultural preservation, and access to resources and education in modern times.
Specific Tribal Histories: This includes a more in-depth look at the histories, customs, and traditions of particular Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, Navajo, or Inuit.
Pre-Columbian History: The history of indigenous peoples of America that predates the arrival of European colonizers in 1492.
Colonial History: The history of Native American tribes during the period of colonization and contact with European settlers.
Reservation Era: The era following the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated reservation areas.
Native American Wars: A series of conflicts between Native American tribes and United States government forces spanning from the 17th century to the late 19th century.
Cultural Preservation: The movement to protect and preserve Native American languages, customs, beliefs, and practices.
Leadership and Governance: The evolution of the political and social systems of Native American tribes throughout history.
Religious Traditions: Traditional Native American religious beliefs and rituals, including shamanism, animism, and vision quests.
Art and Literature: The rich history of Native American art, literature, and storytelling, including traditional folk tales, music, and dance.
Political Activism: The struggles of Native American activists to achieve greater political and legal rights, including the fight for tribal sovereignty and the recognition of treaties.
Modern Issues: Contemporary issues affecting Native American communities, including health care, education, economic development, and environmentalism.
- "The United States Census Bureau defines Native American as 'all people indigenous to the United States and its territories, including Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.'"
- "The European colonization of the Americas that began in 1492 resulted in a precipitous decline in Native American population because of newly introduced diseases (including weaponized diseases and biological warfare by European colonizers), wars, ethnic cleansing, and enslavement."
- "The United States... continued to wage war and perpetrated massacres against many Native American peoples, removed them from their ancestral lands, and subjected them to one-sided treaties and to discriminatory government policies."
- "When the United States was created, established Native American tribes were generally considered semi-independent nations, as they generally lived in communities separate from white settlers."
- "The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871 ended recognition of independent Native nations and started treating them as 'domestic dependent nations' subject to applicable federal laws."
- "The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States who had not yet obtained it."
- "However, some states continued to deny Native Americans voting rights for several decades."
- "Titles II through VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 comprise the Indian Civil Rights Act, which applies to the Native American tribes of the United States and makes many but not all of the guarantees of the U.S. Bill of Rights applicable within the tribes."
- "Since the 1960s, Native American self-determination movements have resulted in positive changes to the lives of many Native Americans."
- "Today, there are over five million Native Americans in the United States."
- "78% of whom live outside reservations."
- "The states with the highest percentage of Native Americans in the U.S. are Alaska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota."
- "This law did preserve the rights and privileges agreed to under the treaties, including a large degree of tribal sovereignty."
- "The actions of tribal citizens on these reservations are subject only to tribal courts and federal law."
- "That Act appears today in Title 25, sections 1301 to 1303 of the United States Code."
- "When the United States was created, established Native American tribes were generally considered semi-independent nations."
- "The European colonization of the Americas... resulted in a precipitous decline in Native American population because of newly introduced diseases (including weaponized diseases and biological warfare by European colonizers), wars, ethnic cleansing, and enslavement."
- "The United States... subjected them to one-sided treaties and to discriminatory government policies."
- "Though there are still many contemporary issues faced by them."