Native Americans

Definition

Native Americans refer to the indigenous peoples who inhabited North America before European colonization. They had diverse cultures and societies across different regions of the continent.

Related terms

Treaty System: This refers to agreements made between Native American tribes/nations and European colonizers or later with United States government officials regarding land rights or provisions for peaceful coexistence.

Trail of Tears: This was a forced relocation policy implemented by the United States government in which thousands of Native Americans, particularly Cherokee people, were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands and marched to reservations in the West.

Indigenous Resistance: Throughout history, Native American tribes engaged in various forms of resistance against colonial powers. This includes armed conflicts like the Sioux Wars and nonviolent movements such as the American Indian Movement (AIM).