Native American
People
Native American tribes were found throughout the United States prior to arrival of European settlers. Native American tribes believed that the entire tribe should have access to the land, including hunting groups, and property belonged to everyone and not individuals. For the majority of time prior to European settlement, Native Americans lived in peace and harmony, and would often work and help neighboring tribes.
The arrival of Europeans often meant disease, mostly smallpox, wiped out millions of Native Americans. Some tribes lost as many as 90% of their population due to disease brought over from "The New World."
Shortly after the American Revolutionary War, President George Washington wanted to make Native American Indians citizens of the newly formed United States of America.
Manifest Destiny was an idea created by the United States stating that it was their right to expanded Westward and take any and all land until they reached the Pacific Ocean.
In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which relocated all Native American Indian lands to locations West of the Mississippi to help promote the expansion of the United States. This resulted in many conflicts and forced marches to these new areas known as the Trail of Tears.
The result of the Trail of Tears was the creation of Indian Reservations across America. The darker red indicates places where Native Americans were forced. The states with the largest Native American population are Alaska; New Mexico; South Dakota; and Oklahoma.
Some Native Americans have a unique relationship with the United States because they may become to nations or tribes and follow a different set of rules while in those areas.
Beginning in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement, Native Americans started becoming more established in 'modern' America and became to teach and preserve their languages and traditions for future generations.
While there is still a lot of work to do, Native American owned television stations; newspapers; and businesses are becoming more widespread. Additionally, many colleges and universities now offer Native American studies, which help bring awareness about past traditions to public.
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