American Indians

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Timeline: American Indians

Years: c. 30,000 years ago - 1973	Subject: History, Regional and National History
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191736827

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BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 30,000 years ago	With the sea level falling, a land bridge (known as Beringia) forms between Siberia and Alaska, enabling humans to enter the continent of America Go to Bering land bridge in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Science Migration Asia East Asia Society North America Canada United States
c. 15,000 years ago	Apparent marks of cutting, on animal fossils preserved in the La Brea tar pit in Los Angeles, suggest human activity in the area at this time Go to Palaeo‐Indian in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Science North America United States Archaeological evidence reveals that the central plains of north America by now have a widespread human population Go to Plano cultures in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory North America Canada United States
15,000 to 10,000 years ago	Hunter-gatherers gradually extend their territory far into South America Go to Guitarrero Cave, Peru in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory South America
8000 BCE	As the ice cap recedes, hunter-gatherers move up the eastern side of America into Newfoundland and the prairie provinces of Canada Go to Maritime Archaic in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory North America United States As temperatures warm, the sea level rises, submerging the Bering land bridge and isolating the Siberian immigrants as the aboriginal Americans Go to Bering land bridge in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Prehistory Neolithic South America North America Canada United States
c. 1000 BCE	By now the mammoth, the giant bison and the horse are all extinct in America, partly because of the warming climate and partly because of the success of humans with spears Go to Clovis culture in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE 1000-600 BCE North America Burial mounds feature in the Ohio valley, built first in the Adena culture and then by Hopewell tribes Go to Adena Complex in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE 1000-600 BCE Architecture American architecture Religion North America United States
1535	Cartier, welcomed by the Huron Indians, gives their island in the St Lawrence river the name of Montreal Go to Montreal (Canada, France, USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Exploration Society North America Canada
c. 1580	Five tribal groups form a League of Five Nations, commonly known as the Iroquois League or Confederacy, against their common enemy the Huron Go to Iroquois Confederacy in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics North America
c. 1585	The English artist John White paints the everyday life of the Secotan Indians of America Go to White, John (1585–93) in The Oxford Companion to American Literature (6 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Arts Painting American painting British painting Politics Conquest and colonization Social and domestic American art British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America United States
1608	John Smith claims (many years later) that when captured by Indians he was saved from execution by Pocahontas, daughter of the chief Go to Pocahontas (c. 1595–1617) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization British colonial America British empire Empires North America United States
1613	The American Indian princess Pocahontas is taken hostage by Jamestown colonists in the first Anglo-Powhatan war Go to Pocahontas (c. 1595–1617) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1614	Pocahontas is baptized a Christian and marries John Rolfe, one of the Jamestown colonists Go to Pocahontas (c. 1595–1617) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1616	Pocahontas fascinates Londoners when she arrives with her husband to publicize Jamestown Go to Pocahontas (c. 1595–1617) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Britain 1500-1750 Social and domestic British Isles British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America United States John Smith publishes A Description of New England, an account of his exploration of the region in 1614 Go to Smith, John (1580–1631) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature American literature English literature Literature in English Politics Conquest and colonization Exploration British Isles British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America United States
1621 autumn	The Mayflower settlers in Plymouth offer thanksgiving for their first harvest, eating turkeys in a celebration shared by local Indians Go to Pilgrims in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Social and domestic British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America United States
1622	A sudden attack by Powhatan Indians, led by their chieftain Opechancanough against the English colony at Jamestown, results in the death of more than 300 settlers Go to Powhatan Indians in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1626	Peter Minuit purchases the island of Manhattan from local Indians and calls the place New Amsterdam Go to Minuit, Peter in New Oxford American Dictionary (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Dutch empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1637	War between English colonists and Pequot Indians brings disaster to the Pequots but safeguards the settlement of Connecticut Go to Pequot War (1636–1637) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1648	Iroquois raids drive the Huron west to the Great Lakes Go to Iroquois Confederacy in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Migration Society North America
1675	A sudden uprising by the Wampanoag Indians against the new England settlements begins the conflict known as King Philip's War Go to King Philip's War (1675–76) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization War British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1680	The Pueblo Indians of New Mexico rise against the Spanish, killing 21 missionaries and some 400 colonists Go to Pueblo Revolt in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Protest and rebellion Latin America North America United States
1682	William Penn achieves peace for Pennsylvania by negotiating a treaty with the local Lenape (or Delaware) tribes Go to Penn, William (1644–1718) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1722	The Iroquois League becomes known as the Six Nations, after the Tuscarora join the group Go to Iroquois Confederacy in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics North America
1754	The British colonies negotiate with the Iroquois at the Albany Congress, in the face of the French threat in the Ohio valley Go to Albany Congress (1754) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century French and Indian War Politics War British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 French empire Europe Empires Wars and Revolutions North America United States
1763	Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, leads an uprising of the Indian tribes in an attempt to drive the British east of the Appalachians Go to Pontiac (c. 1720–69) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Protest and rebellion British colonial America European empires from 1415 Europe Empires North America United States
1791	An Indian raid on an American military camp beside the Maumee river leaves more than 600 US soldiers dead Go to Harmar's Defeat in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1795	Indian tribes, at peace talks in Fort Greenville, cede much of Ohio to the USA Go to Greenville, Treaty of in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics North America United States After the Fort Greenville concessions, the Shawnee leader Tecumseh emerges as a champion of Indian territorial rights Go to Tecumseh (c. 1768–1813) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Protest and rebellion North America United States
1796	George Washington selects the Cherokee Indians for an experiment in adaptation to 'civilization' Go to Cherokee in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Conquest and colonization US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States
1808	Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa set up a permanent base in Indiana, calling it Prophetstown Go to Tecumseh (1768–1813) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics North America United States
1817	Andrew Jackson, attacking settlements in Spanish Florida, launches the first of three wars against the Seminole Indians See this event in other timelines: 19th century War US presidents Rulers and politicians North America United States
1821	The spoken language of the Cherokee Indians is captured in written form – an achievement traditionally attributed to Sequoyah Go to Sequoya in New Oxford American Dictionary (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English North America United States
1828	The Cherokees adopt an American-style constitution and publish the first American-Indian newspaper Go to Cherokee in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1829	The state government of Georgia declares that it is illegal for the Cherokees to hold political assemblies Go to Cherokee in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Persecution and repression North America United States
1830	Congress passes the Indian Removal Act, to push the American Indian tribes west of the Mississippi Go to Indian Removal Act in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1838	Five American Indian tribes are forcibly escorted to a new Indian Territory west of the Mississippi in the process that becomes known as the Great Removal Go to Indian reservations in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1855	Longfellow publishes his American Indian epic, The Song of Hiawatha, in an irresistibly catchy metre Go to Hiawatha, The Song of in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Literature American literature Literature in English Poetry North America United States
c. 1865	The Plains Indians are threatened by settlers pressing west, building railways and slaughtering buffalo Go to Plains Indians Wars in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1868	George Custer leads federal troops in the massacre of more than 100 American Indians, on an official reservation beside the Washita river Go to Cheyenne Indians in The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1872	The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad cuts through the territory reserved for American Indians, bringing hordes of 'boomers' Go to Indian Territory in The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1877	The Nez Percé Indians are led by Chief Joseph in a war against the US army Go to Joseph, Chief (1840–1904) in The Oxford Companion to American Military History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War North America United States
1887	The Dawes Severalty Act deprives American Indians of their tribal lands, giving each instead an allotment of up to 160 acres Go to Dawes Severalty Act (1887) in The Oxford Companion to United States History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
c. 1888	An American Indian visionary, Wovoka, launches a new religion that will bring the dead back to life, calling it the Ghost Dance Go to Wovoka (c. 1865–1932) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Religion North America United States
1889	The first Land Run into Oklahoma has settlers galloping in from noon to claim territory previously reserved for American Indians Go to Oklahoma (USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization North America United States
1890	Hundreds of Sioux Indians are killed by US troops in a massacre at Wounded Knee Creek Go to Wounded Knee, Battle of (1890) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization Persecution and repression Terrorism and assassination North America United States
1907	A Midwest region, including what remains of the reserved Indian Territory, is included in Oklahoma when it joins the Union as the 46th state Go to Oklahoma (USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Politics North America United States
1927	Archaeologists, excavating the bison remains at Folsom, find an ancient spear point embedded in the skeleton - first proof of the Folsom culture Go to Folsom Tradition in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century North America
1929	An American Indian teenager, Ridgely Whiteman, finds the remains of a butchered mammoth near Clovis in New Mexico - first evidence of the Clovis culture Go to Clovis culture in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century North America
1968	AIM (American Indian Movement) is founded to improve the status of native Americans, or American Indians Go to American Indian Movement in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Politics North America United States
1973	Activists of the American Indian Movement survive a ten-week siege at Wounded Knee, winning international attention Go to American Indian Movement in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Politics North America United States

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date: 13 May 2025

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