Long before European settlers arrived, Indigenous nations lived across the land that would become the United States. By 1776, Native American tribes had well-established cultures, governments, trade networks, and spiritual traditions. Colonial expansion deeply affected these communities, often through displacement, broken treaties, and conflict.
Indigenous nations were not a single group. Hundreds of distinct tribes existed, each with its own language, leadership, and way of life. Some nations traded with colonists, while others resisted settlement to protect their lands and sovereignty.
During the Revolutionary period, Native nations faced difficult choices. Some allied with the British, believing Britain might better limit colonial expansion. Others sided with the colonists or tried to remain neutral. Regardless of their position, Indigenous communities often suffered devastating consequences.
The American Revolution did not bring freedom to Native nations. In many cases, westward expansion accelerated after independence, leading to further loss of land and autonomy.
Understanding Indigenous history is essential to understanding America’s founding honestly. Indigenous nations were not bystanders—they were active participants in a changing world, navigating survival amid forces beyond their control.
As we commemorate America’s 250th birthday, acknowledging Indigenous presence and experience helps tell a fuller, more truthful story of 1776.
