Native Americans

Native American refers to the indigenous people who first settled in the americas. They are also referred to as "Natives" or "Indians".

North American Natives, peoples who occupied North America before the arrival of the Europeans in the 15th century. They have long been known as Indians because of the belief prevalent at the time of Columbus that the Americas were the outer reaches of the Indies (i.e., the East Indies). Most scholars agree that Native Americans came into the Western Hemisphere from Asia via the Bering Strait or along the N Pacific coast in a series of migrations. From Alaska they spread east and south. The several waves of migration are said to account for the many native linguistic families, while the common origin is used to explain the physical characteristics that Native Americans have in common (though with considerable variation)—Mongolic features, coarse, straight black hair, dark eyes, sparse body hair, and a skin color ranging from yellow-brown to reddish brown.

• 1492: Columbus arrives in AmericaBlue Cloud: American Indian History
• 1520: Aztec Empire at Mexico City falls to Hernando CortesBlue Cloud: American Indian History
• 1565: First European colony set up in Jamestown, VirginiaBlue Cloud: American Indian History
• 1622: First Indian uprising in an English colonyBlue Cloud: American Indian History
• 1778: First treaty between United States and Delaware Indiansemayzine.com 1776-1830: Native America
• 1830: Indian Removal Act passed by CongressPBS: Indian Removal Act
• 1892: Federal law prohibits the sale of liquor to Indiansemayzine.com 1776-1830: Native America
• 1934: Wheeler-Howard Act passed to protect Native CultureHistory Link: Wheeler-Howard Act
• 1979: American Indian Religious Freedom ActCornell University Law School: American Indian Religious Freedom Act