Native Americans
Native Americans are the original inhabitants of North America. For thousands of years before European arrival, hundreds of distinct tribes lived across the continent, each with unique cultures, languages, and traditions.
Major Culture Groups
Native American tribes are often grouped by the region they lived in, since the environment shaped their way of life.
| Region | Tribes | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Woodlands | Iroquois, Algonquin, Delaware | Hunted deer, fished, built longhouses and wigwams |
| Great Plains | Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche | Followed buffalo herds; lived in teepees; horseback riders |
| Southwest | Navajo, Hopi, Apache | Built adobe homes (pueblos); farmed corn, beans, squash |
| Pacific Northwest | Chinook, Haida, Kwakiutl | Relied on salmon fishing; built totem poles; plank houses |
| Southeast | Cherokee, Creek, Seminole | Farmed; lived in permanent villages; mound builders |
The Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy (also called the Haudenosaunee) was a powerful alliance of six nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora.
Their democratic government — with representatives from each nation, checks on power, and rights for members — is believed to have influenced the framers of the US Constitution.
Women held significant power in Iroquois society: they owned the longhouses, controlled food supply, and chose the sachems (leaders).
Contributions and Legacy
Native Americans made lasting contributions to American life:
- Agriculture — corn (maize), potatoes, tomatoes, squash, beans, chocolate, and tobacco were all cultivated by Native peoples and are now eaten worldwide
- Medicine — many modern medicines derive from plants Native Americans used
- Language — hundreds of US place names come from Native languages: Mississippi, Ohio, Michigan, Chicago, Manhattan
- Governance — democratic ideas from the Iroquois Confederacy may have influenced the Founding Fathers
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.