Overview of Native American History

Sep 18, 2024

History of Native Americans

Origins and Early History

  • Indigenous people of the U.S. except Hawaii; known as Native Americans, American Indians, Indigenous Americans.
  • Name "Indian" given by Columbus, who thought he landed in the Indies.
  • History began tens of thousands of years ago.
  • Migration across Bering land bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the Ice Age.
  • Spread southward into Mexico and beyond; by 1000 BC, covered nearly the entire continent.
  • Developed diverse languages and civilizations over time.

Development of Societies

  • Tribes formed by using natural resources.
  • Cultivated crops like corn and squash; raised animals such as turkeys, llamas, guinea pigs.
  • Hunted deer, bison, sea mammals, and caught fish using efficient methods.
  • Mound building marked centers of governance; mounds used for palaces, temples, and burial sites.
  • Cities comparable in size to those in Europe and Asia, with admired architecture.

European Contact and Impact

  • Post-1492 European exploration and colonization changed perceptions of Old and New Worlds.
  • Initial contact in Florida and Gulf Coast by Spanish explorers.
  • Population decline from 16th to 19th centuries; largely due to epidemic diseases like measles, chickenpox, cholera.
  • Columbian Exchange introduced new species; horse became significant to Native American life.

Colonial and U.S. Expansion

  • Colonization for farmland and settlement; led to conflicts with Native tribes.
  • During American Revolution, Native Americans mostly sided with British.
  • U.S. expansion led to treaty negotiations for land, often conflicting with state and settler interests.

U.S. Policies and Conflicts

  • Post-Revolution policy aimed to 'civilize' Native Americans (Civilization Fund Act of 1819).
  • Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to Trail of Tears.
  • Ongoing conflicts in the 19th century, termed Indian Wars (e.g., Dakota War, Great Sioux War).
  • Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 marked a significant and tragic event.

20th Century Developments

  • 1919: Citizenship granted to Native Americans who served in WWI.
  • Continued discrimination and voting barriers.
  • 1924: Indian Citizenship Act granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans.
  • Ongoing controversies over federal jurisdiction, tribal sovereignty, and cultural practices.

Note: This summary is based on a lecture transcript on Native American history. For further details, review comprehensive historical texts or relevant academic resources.