History
Before the Europeans came to America, the Natives of the land lived a mostly peaceful life, rich with culture. Contrary to many people's beliefs, Native Americans were not savages. They lived in communities sometimes thousands large, they set up homes and their own type of "government" (chieftains, elections) and lived in harmony other than wars with other tribes. They also had the confederacy's or agreements between tribes there biggest one was the Iroquois confederacy.
They had a strong set of beliefs in spirits, believing everything had meaning and a spirit, including things like the sky, animals, rivers, and plants. Suddenly, in the 1600's, white men settled on their land. Many of the Native Americans were peaceful toward the European settlers, but the settlers were mostly less so. Their objective was to take the land and live a free life, and they thought the Native Americans were savages. The natives were taken advantage of, their resources being taken by the white men in exchange for worthless items and fake friendship. Some settlers would slaughter whole villages of innocent people, women and children included, then raze them. Eventually, the Europeans wanted more than the land they had, and instead of a small settlement they began building more and more. The Native Americans had a right to their home, and many would try to oppose the rising force of the soon to be Americans.
The wars that happened over trying to maintain their homeland are generally known as the American Indian Wars, and they lasted from the earliest colonial settlement until 1890. These wars resulted in increasing population pressure, as well as new diseases spreading across the land of the Native Americans. Historians estimates about native deaths due to diseases such as smallpox range from as small as 2 million to 100 million deaths, with an estimated 90% of the native population dead. In 1838, the US government decided the Natives were a threat to peace in the colonies, and led 15,000 Natives on a "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma, where 4,000 of the 15,000 died just on the journey. By the 20th century, less than 250,000 Native Americans were alive, most living in small communities in a few states.
They had a strong set of beliefs in spirits, believing everything had meaning and a spirit, including things like the sky, animals, rivers, and plants. Suddenly, in the 1600's, white men settled on their land. Many of the Native Americans were peaceful toward the European settlers, but the settlers were mostly less so. Their objective was to take the land and live a free life, and they thought the Native Americans were savages. The natives were taken advantage of, their resources being taken by the white men in exchange for worthless items and fake friendship. Some settlers would slaughter whole villages of innocent people, women and children included, then raze them. Eventually, the Europeans wanted more than the land they had, and instead of a small settlement they began building more and more. The Native Americans had a right to their home, and many would try to oppose the rising force of the soon to be Americans.
The wars that happened over trying to maintain their homeland are generally known as the American Indian Wars, and they lasted from the earliest colonial settlement until 1890. These wars resulted in increasing population pressure, as well as new diseases spreading across the land of the Native Americans. Historians estimates about native deaths due to diseases such as smallpox range from as small as 2 million to 100 million deaths, with an estimated 90% of the native population dead. In 1838, the US government decided the Natives were a threat to peace in the colonies, and led 15,000 Natives on a "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma, where 4,000 of the 15,000 died just on the journey. By the 20th century, less than 250,000 Native Americans were alive, most living in small communities in a few states.
Current Status
To day they live with us or on reservations. they have a populations of 5.2 million according to the 2010 Census with Oklahoma has the highest number of native Americans. a lot live in the western US but there a lot in North Carolina. There are still disputes though over the NFL team " the red skins" but their team name stands.
Rights
Thankfully, the Natives have normal citizen rights today. Although they are a minority, their rights are being actively protected.
Natives American Rights Fund (NAFS) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to defending and asserting the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals worldwide. Their main goals are to preserve the tribal existence, protecting tribal natural resources, promoting Native American human rights, accounting for the governments of Native Americans, and developing Indian laws and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
The movement for Native American rights expanded in the 1960s, resulting in the creation of the American Indian Movement. The American Indian Movement is a Native American advocacy group in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a plan that focuses on retaining spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty among the Natives.
Natives American Rights Fund (NAFS) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to defending and asserting the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals worldwide. Their main goals are to preserve the tribal existence, protecting tribal natural resources, promoting Native American human rights, accounting for the governments of Native Americans, and developing Indian laws and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
The movement for Native American rights expanded in the 1960s, resulting in the creation of the American Indian Movement. The American Indian Movement is a Native American advocacy group in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a plan that focuses on retaining spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty among the Natives.