History of Native Americans (Members Only)

A detailed, realistic drawing of a Native American man wearing a traditional feathered headdress and patterned clothing, looking solemnly ahead with dark shading and intricate textures in the feathers and face.

History of Native Americans

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing, showing a nude male figure in two superimposed positions with arms and legs apart, inscribed in both a circle and a square, symbolizing proportion and symmetry.

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Perspective

Our digital history of Native Americans is about the indigenous peoples of the United States. There are 574 federally-recognized tribes living within the United States, and about half of them live on Indian reservations.

The ancestors of living Native Americans arrived in what is now the United States at least 15,000 years ago, and probably much earlier. They came from Asia, via the land strait that then spanned the Bering Strait. This migration gave rise to a vast array of societies and cultures.

Starting with the arrival of Columbus in 1492, Europeans brought a host of new diseases. This resulted in a precipitous decline in the Native American population from some 115 million at the time of contact to just several millions when the Pilgrims arrived 100 years later. It caused colonial settlers to wage continuous war and perpetrate massacres against many Native American peoples. Finally, they removed them from their ancestral lands to the inhospitable lands of “Indian Territory”, and subjected them to lopsided treaties and discriminatory government policies through modern times.

That said, here’s our assortment… please enjoy! When you’re done perusing a map, click the ⇠ back arrow link in the upper left of your screen (not the < link), and you’ll be back here. Any problems, please get in touch at terrence@wisdommaps.info.

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Abstract artwork featuring brown and reddish overlapping leaf or feather shapes outlined in white, set within a square border on a white background.

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Index

Native Americans Index | Society: Origins • Migration • Population • Communities | Power | Economy | Thomas Jefferson Administration | Marshall Court | Five Civilized Tribes | White Settlement | Removal | Trail of Tears | Second Great Removal Alternatives to Removal | Ghost Dance | Federal Government | Black Hawk War | Seminole Tribe | Southern Tribes | Early 20th Century | Tribal View

A portrait of a Native American man with long dark hair, wearing a feathered headdress, bead necklace, and fringed clothing, holding a decorated ceremonial staff with red and white details against a neutral background.

Native Americans: Index

A group of Indigenous people gather outside several tipis on a grassy plain, with mountains in the background. Some are sitting or standing, and a burial platform with objects is visible on raised poles nearby.

Society

Oval painting of a Native American village at sunset, showing numerous tipis, people walking and riding horses, with rolling hills and trees in the background under a yellow-orange sky.

Society: Origins

A colorful map showing migration routes of human populations across Eurasia and Oceania, with arrows in various colors representing different genetic lineages and paths of movement.

Society: Migration

A black-and-white illustration depicts an early human settlement with people sitting, working, and gathering around simple huts made of sticks and branches in a grassy, open landscape.

Society: Population

Ancient cliff dwellings built into the side of a rocky cave, with numerous stone structures and rooms partially sheltered by the rock overhang and surrounded by trees.

Society: Communities

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A dramatic painting shows a chaotic scene of conflict between armed European settlers and Indigenous people, with weapons raised and a fire burning in the background. Figures appear to be fighting and struggling.

Power

Illustration of Indigenous people gathered around large, earthen mounds with a structure on top, depicting a scene from an ancient Mississippian mound-building civilization.

Economy

A political cartoon depicts Native Americans sitting on rocks while two white men, one dressed as a frontiersman, offer them documents. The Native Americans appear wary as the men gesture toward the papers and land around them.

Thomas Jefferson Administration

Portrait of a Native American man named Big Snake wearing traditional clothing, with a bear claw necklace and a feather in his hair, alongside a decorated staff and patterned background.

Marshall Court

A black-and-white illustration of a wagon train traveling across the plains, with people riding horses and driving covered wagons, depicting a scene from the American westward expansion.

White Settlement

Five portraits of Indigenous leaders are shown, each labeled with a tribe name: Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw, and Seminole. Each person wears traditional or historical attire.

Five Civilized Tribes

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Political cartoon showing a giant figure labeled Cherokee Nation pinned down while smaller figures representing different groups take pieces from its body. Signs and papers reflect issues like removal, treaties, and oppression.

Removal

A group of Indigenous people walk along a dusty trail in a dry, sunlit landscape, leading several horses loaded with supplies. The scene is set against distant mountains and sparse vegetation.

Trail of Tears

A somber drawing depicts a group of Native Americans walking through snow, some on foot, others on horseback, carrying their belongings. The mood is bleak, with muted colors and a distant, cloudy sky.

Second Great Removal

Three Indigenous people walk through a lush forested landscape, carrying belongings on their backs and using sticks for support; sunlight filters through the trees.

Alternatives to Removal

A group of Indigenous people dance and celebrate outdoors in traditional clothing, surrounded by grass and sunlight, with arms raised in joyful movement.

Ghost Dance

A historical poster reads Indian Land for Sale and advertises land for sale in the West, with details about prices and payment, featuring an image of a Native American man in traditional attire.

Federal Government

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A painting of a Native American man with a red feathered headdress, wearing a white shirt, beaded necklaces, and a red cloth draped over his shoulder. He faces forward with a calm expression.

Black Hawk War

A black and white drawing of several Native Americans standing on a riverbank, with some bending to gather water or fish, surrounded by trees and grassy wetlands.

Seminole Tribe

Black-and-white image showing many people panning for gold along a riverbank, with tents set up nearby and mountains in the background, depicting a historical gold rush scene.

Southern Tribes

A detailed drawing of a Native American man wearing a feathered headdress, looking slightly to the side. The image is rendered in shades of dark purple and white, highlighting the intricate feathers and expression on his face.

Early 20th Century

A Native American man, identified as Great Bear of the Delaware tribe, wears a fur headdress with a horn, earrings, a large necklace, and a red and yellow blanket draped over his shoulders.

Tribal View

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A drawing of a nude male figure with outstretched arms and legs, superimposed in two positions within a circle and a square, illustrating Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man.