Native Americans, a Brief History

Native Americans

A Brief History

By Patrick Mendez

8/5/2012

Throughout US History, Native Americans have played a large role in what America has become today. As one of the most powerful countries in the world, The United States was once a continent inhabited by a unique and colorful culture, and much changed after its discovery by an “outside party” hundreds of years ago. Since then, the many different tribes that inhabited this land have faced trials and tribulations that include genocide, disease, poverty, violence, and eventually a basic “acceptance” into what is modern day American culture, while maintaining traditions and practices from the culture that defined many Native American tribes. Through the many experiences mentioned above, concerns and politics within American culture, and legislation that both assisted and opposed Native American culture, Native Americans have a definite staple in what has built this Nation, and not always in the light of peace.

When being taught of this country’s discovery, many children today are being taught that Christopher Columbus was a hero, and his discovery was the beginning of our beautiful country. While his discovery is pivotal in the story of the United States, not everything that occurred in that time was of a peaceful, unified nature. It is said in his diaries exclusively that his intentions were to “discover wealth that belonged to someone else, and seize it by any means necessary.” (Churchill, 1994)Upon the discovery of America in 1492, Columbus intended to do just that. One year after his discovery, Columbus returned with an “Invasion force” that was supplied by the Spanish “government,” and appointed himself as the Governor of the Islands and Mainland of America. Upon doing this, many “laws” were put into place, including acts of slavery and genocide of the Native Taino Tribes. This greatly reduced the Native American population, leaving over six million dead. This near extinction...