Native American History Timeline - Key Events and Figures

This timeline chronicles the significant events and figures in Native American history from pre-Columbian times to the present day.

Pre-Columbian and Early European Contact

• 1492: Christopher Columbus lands in the Caribbean, mistakenly identifying the locals as "Indians."
• 1513: Juan Ponce de Leon makes contact with Native Americans in Florida.
• 1521: Ponce de Leon is fatally wounded by Native Americans.
• 1539: Hernando de Soto explores the South with captured Native American guides.

Key Figures

• Pocahontas (c. 1595): Daughter of Chief Powhatan, involved in early English-Jamestown relations.
• Tecumseh (1768-1813): Shawnee leader who opposed U.S. expansion.
• Sacagawea (c. 1788-1812): Assisted Lewis and Clark as a guide and interpreter.
• Chief Joseph (1840-1904): Led the Nez Perce during conflicts with U.S. government.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

• Native Americans allied with the French against British forces.
• 1756: Start of the Seven Years' War.
• 1763: Pontiac's Rebellion against British expansion.

U.S. Government Policies and Conflicts

• Indian Removal Act (1830): Signed by President Andrew Jackson, leading to the Trail of Tears.
• Sand Creek Massacre (1864): U.S. troops attack Cheyenne and Arapaho camps.
• Battle of Little Bighorn (1876): Sioux and Cheyenne forces defeat Custer's troops.
• Dawes Act (1887): Allowed division of Native American lands.

Assimilation and Resistance

• Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1879): Assimilation school for Native American children.
• Wounded Knee Massacre (1890): U.S. forces kill hundreds of Lakota Sioux.

20th Century Developments

• Indian Citizenship Act (1924): Grants U.S. citizenship to Native Americans.
• American Indian Movement (AIM) (1968): Founded to address Native American rights and issues.
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978): Protects Native American religious practices.

Modern Developments

• 1990s: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
• 2000s: Efforts to change offensive sports team names and mascots.
• 2021: Deb Haaland becomes the first Native American U.S. cabinet member as Secretary of the Interior.

This timeline highlights the resilience and resistance of Native Americans throughout history, showing both the struggles and achievements of Indigenous peoples in the United States.