Native Americans

Native Americans came to America thousands of years before any European ever laid eyes on it. Over time they developed a new society and unique way of life. Native Americans, who have lived in this country thousands of years longer than the Europeans, had a distinct way of life, a unique culture, an interesting religion, and have affected the course of history for all of the people of the United States.

Origins of the Native American

Over thousands of years the Indians that lived in the Americas spread throughout the land. Eventually, they spread throughout both North and South America. The first Native Americas came to America between 10000 BC and 18000 BC from Asia. Christopher Columbus landed in America in 1492. When he reached America and saw the natives, he believed that he had sailed around the world and they were Asian Indians. Thus, they were then misnamed Indians.

Culture

Since the Native Americans inhabited such a large area, the cultures of tribes can vary from area to area, but there are still many similar themes throughout their cultures. As a whole, the Native Americans were known for hunting. Most Native Americans lived in a patriarchal society. Men usually went to war and hunted while the women stayed at home, cooked, and took care of the children. Their music usually consisted of drumming and rattling, but in some tribes they did use other simple instruments. Indians are also known for their art including painting, pottery, jewelry, and sculptures.

Religion

The religion of the Native Americans is both very unique and very confusing. Their religion is peyote. For thousands of years they have worshipped under the hallucinogenic properties of the peyote cactus. They have a polytheistic religion with one main god and several smaller gods. They also used many different stories, most of which included animals, to describe events that they could not understand. Contact with the Europeans also spread Christianity to the Native Americans. Many missionaries, especially French-Canadian ones, lived with the Native Americans and converted many of them.

Indians Forced onto Reservations

As Europeans moved westward and settled communities they forced many Native Americans westward. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 made it possible for treaties to be made to exchange land east of the Mississippi River for land west of the Mississippi River. Thousands of Cherokee Indians were killed on the Trail of Tears in which they were forced to move westward. After many different battles, the Indians were finally forced, on January 31, 1876, onto reservations.

Native Americans today

Today, many Native Americans live on reservations. There are currently 563 reservations and most of them are located in the western states. On these 563 reservations, there are approximately 2.8 million Native Americans. These reservations are exempt from U.S. laws. Many of these Native Americans own livestock and are farmers. Although some Native Americans are wealthy, many are in poverty. There are also many Native Americans living off reservations. These people live all over the world and most of them are of mixed blood, not pure Native Americans.

Conclusion

Native Americans are very unique peoples. They are an import part of history for the Americas and are still a big part of the United States every day. It is important that everyone respects their culture and religion.