14,000 Years in 5 Minutes: The Spirit of Native America

Native American history spans over 14,000 years, beginning with the migration of diverse, complex societies across the Americas. These indigenous cultures, numbering over 50 million people pre-1492, developed sophisticated governments, trade networks, and agriculture. Following European arrival, they endured massive population loss from disease and conflict, forced removal (e.g., Trail of Tears), and assimilation policies, yet maintain enduring, sovereign nations.

• Early Inhabitants & Culture: Ancestors arrived via a Beringia land bridge from Asia, creating diverse cultures across 10 main regions like the Plains, Southwest, and Northeast. Early, sophisticated civilizations built large cities such as Cahokia.
• European Contact & Impact: Beginning in the 16th century, colonization introduced diseases and led to violent conflicts over land, significantly reducing Native populations.
• Key Conflicts & Displacement: The Indian Wars, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), were fought against US expansion. The Indian Removal Act (1830) forced tribes to relocate, most notably the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears.