Native Amercian History

by Sunny | Last Updated: January 11, 2005

The Natives, or ‘Native Americans’ were many different groups of indigenous nations within North America at the time of the ‘discovery’ of America by European states. While a large majority of Native Americans were decimated by disease and warfare in result to the arrival of the Europeans, many nations still survived till modern times, including the Iroquois, Anishinabeg, Cree and Pueblo. Other peoples often confused with as being aboriginal include the Eskimos and the Canadian Metis. Contrary to former historical belief, the native nations were not savage or uncivilized, yet had intricate social and diplomatic structures, as well as well established cultures.

Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the indigenous peoples are assumed to have arrived from Asia across Beringia (a former landbridge between Alaska and Siberia) at least 12,000 years ago. While the scientific community agrees with this theory for the arrival of the indigenous peoples, some indigenous nations do not support the notion that their ancestors migrated to North America. When the Europeans arrived, the indigenous nations in direct contact with them often received manufactured goods and horses which would later become a predominant trading commodity with the Europeans, especially the French, during the late 17th century fur trade. While the British and the Spanish often did not have close relations with the indigenous peoples, the French are an exception as many French colonists lived close to or with the natives, especially the Huron nation. The indigenous people would often perform diplomacy with different European nations, usually in response to both groups having a common enemy, or due to economic interests.

In America during the 18th century, the indigenous people of several nations, notably the Iroquois Confederacy, had been accused of commiting massacres against the colonists who had originally taken the land of the indigenous nations. In effect, the colonists retaliated, and indigenous nations which were neutral were often substantially effected by the actions of both sides of each conflict. While the early 1800’s had observed many indigenous nations assimilating or adapting into the American culture, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 lead to their expulsion into reservations which were often on the land of other indigenous nations. As the westward expansion of settlers greatly effected the newly-created reservations, a series of conflicts broke out in the late 19th century, known as the Indian Wars. Although there were many well known militaristic engagements during this period, the Indian Wars eventually ended in 1890 with the massacre of native people at the Battle of Wounded Knee.

In what was to become Canada, the indigenous peoples, often referred to as First Nations or Aboriginals, were also affected greatly by the colonial movements of the European nations. While the indigenous peoples were placed on reserves, the Indian Act established a set of laws which ordained that the indigenous peoples had the right to give away their land with treaties. In this respect, conflicts such as the Indian Wars were not as extreme within the boundries of British North America.

Lastly, although the indigenous nations retained their nations despite attempts to assimilate or remove them during the 1500’s to the 1800’s, the indigenous peoples were formidable foes as well as beneficial allies to the Europeans during this period. The indigenous peoples performed military strategies, as well as cultural values which strongly influenced the colonial areas in North America.