Christopher Columbus
discovered America in 1492
WRONG
Christopher Columbus was the first European to see foot in what was to be called America
The north American continent was already inhabited
Columbus made a mistake
Probably the people who are called Indians nowadays travelled from Alaska to Syberia (Beringia = route).
Columbus arrived to the New World in 1492
The first people to inhabit North American were of Asian origin.
They made the journey from Alaska by crossing the Bering Strait.
Native Americans or Indians?
It corrects historical error made by Columbus
It honours Native Americans by recognizing the importance of their role as original Americans
Two completely opposed stereotypes
The Noble savage – they were seen as happy, innocent creatures of nature. They had ancient customs, ancient practices.
The Bloodthirsty savage (The Ignoble Savage) – according to it Native Americans were cruel, deprive beings who took pleasure in killing.
White Men wanted to convert Indians into Christianity. Indians refused to accept Christianity, the White Men decided to get rid of them. Some tribes were expelled from the area they used to live.
The most tragic period for Native Americans – 1860 -1890 ( Civil War and Post Civil War)
The extinction of American Indians
Smallpox
Chickenpox
Measles
Common cold
Pneumonia
They have never been exposed for these sicknesses and they were easily dying. ( no anti-bodies)
Today
There are about 2mln of American Indians
Number of Indian tribes – over 500 recognized tribes
62% of them live in large American cities
The remainder – 38% live on reservations ( It's up to them where they want to live)
A reservation is a land set aside for the Native American use
Indian reservations
There are about 300 federal reservations
West of the Mississippi River
in 30 states
No Indians have to stay on reservation
Life on a reservation
On some reservations the Indians keep to have their own way of living = combination of tradition and modern life. Government provide them education, healthcare.
Navajo Reservation – the largest reservation in United States.
Apache reservation – one of the richest reservation in USA.
Reservation citizens can not get the employment. ( highest alcoholism rate and suicide rate)
They live below poverty line.
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
The American government finally recognized Indians as American people.
*Wampanoag – the tribe who helped English people (Pilgrim Fathers) survive.
Squanto helped them fertalize the land.
Cherokee – they used to live in American South. They were expelled from their territories.
Cherokee Trail of Tears
they had to settle on Oklahoma
when the first Men encountered them, they presented the high level of culture.