Summary
The cultural and territorial clash between Native Americans and European settlers represents a significant and tragic chapter in the history of the United States. Prior to European contact, Native Americans were organized in disparate communities individually governed by a council of elders, making comprehensive political negotiations with the colonizing Europeans problematic. Furthermore, diseases carried by Europeans, such as smallpox and influenza, devastated Native American populations. However, in the 1960s many Native American groups began to advocate for expanded civil rights and the restoration of lost properties, helping to rebuild these shattered communities. The financial gains from casinos and hunting and fishing rights, for example, have contributed to better living conditions for many Native Americans in the 21st century.
The Native Americans explores the history and customs of this ethnic group. Covering everything from the foods they ate and how they dressed to popular pastimes, political activity, and more, this engaging and informative new title is ideal for students and immigration history buffs alike.
Specifications
Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Index. Glossary. Box features. Further reading lists.
About the Author(s)
General editor Rodney P. Carlisle earned his B.A. in history from Harvard and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of California in Berkeley. He is a former chair of the history department at Rutgers University in Camden, where he taught for more than 30 years, specializing in 20th-century history. Carlisle is now professor emeritus there. He has written and edited many articles and more than 30 books on history, including Facts On File's Handbook to Life in America set.