University:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Course:
HIST 1160 | U.S. History to 1865
Academic year:

2024
Views:

57

Pages:

3
Author:

Harsh P.

Lecture Notes: Native Americans Professor: Dr. Jane Smith Date: September 19, 2023 I. Introduction to Native Americans ● Indigenous peoples of North America ● Diverse cultures, languages, and traditions ● Estimated arrival in North America ● Beringia land bridge theory ● Evidence from archaeology ● Population estimates and distribution II. Pre-Columbian Native American Cultures A. Paleo-Indian Period (Approx. 15,000-8,000 BCE) ● Nomadic hunter-gatherers ● Use of Clovis points ● Clovis culture sites B. Archaic Period (8,000 BCE - 1,000 CE) ● Transition to settled life ● Agriculture, pottery, and tools ● Development of trade networks C. Woodland Period (1,000 BCE - 1,000 CE) ● Mound-building cultures (e.g., Adena, Hopewell) ● Agriculture advancements ● Ceremonial centers D. Mississippian Period (800 - 1600 CE) ● Emergence of complex societies ● Cahokia Mounds ● Social hierarchies and trade routes III. Native American Tribes and Nations A. Eastern Woodlands Tribes ● Cherokee, Iroquois Confederacy, Powhatan Confederacy ● Hunting, farming, and trading ● Social structures and governance B. Plains Tribes ● Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche ● Nomadic buffalo hunters ● Tipis and communal living C. Southwestern Tribes ● Navajo, Hopi, Apache ● Pueblo architecture ● Irrigation systems D. Pacific Northwest Tribes ● Chinook, Haida, Coast Salish ● Rich in natural resources ● Totem poles and potlatches E. Great Basin Tribes ● Shoshone, Ute, Paiute ● Desert adaptation ● Basketry and resourcefulness IV. Native American Religions and Spirituality A. Animism and Pantheon of Spirits ● Belief in the interconnectedness of all living things ● Spirits of nature, animals, and ancestors ● Shamanic practices B. Rituals and Ceremonies ● Sweat lodges, vision quests, and sun dances ● Importance of the medicine wheel ● Role of the tribal elder C. Impact of European Contact on Native Beliefs ● Introduction of Christianity ● Suppression of indigenous spiritual practices ● Revival movements in the 19th and 20th centuries V. European Contact and Native American Response A. Early Encounters (15th-17th centuries) ● Columbus and the Caribbean ● Spanish conquest of Aztec and Inca empires ● French and Dutch interactions with eastern tribes B. Impact of Disease* ● Smallpox, measles, and other epidemics ● Drastic population declines ● Weakening of native societies C. Conflict and Colonialism* ● Jamestown and Plymouth settlements ● The fur trade and the Beaver Wars ● Treaty of Easton and Pontiac's Rebellion D. Forced Relocation and Removal* ● Trail of Tears (Cherokee) ● Indian Removal Act of 1830 ● Reservations and loss of ancestral lands VI. Native American Resistance and Activism A. Indian Wars* ● Battle of Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand) ● Nez Perce War ● Massacre at Wounded Knee B. Red Power Movement* ● American Indian Movement (AIM) ● Protests, occupation of Alcatraz, and Wounded Knee II ● Achievements in civil rights and tribal sovereignty C. Contemporary Issues* ● Land rights and environmental activism ● Cultural preservation and language revitalization ● Casino gaming and economic development VII. Conclusion ● Ongoing struggles and resilience ● The importance of acknowledging indigenous perspectives ● Continuing efforts for reconciliation and justice