Events with tag - Native American

January 1, 21001 BC

First Native Americans Migration

Archaeological evidence reveals that the first humans reached North America at least 23,000 years ago, challenging previous theories that suggested arrival around 13,000 years ago. Multiple migration waves occurred, with people crossing from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge and along Pacific coastal routes.

January 1, 1450

Formation of Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy was established around 1450 as a unified alliance of five Native American nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. This sophisticated political system created one of the earliest forms of democratic governance in North America.

January 17, 1524

Verrazzano's Atlantic Coast Exploration

Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano conducted the first European exploration of the Atlantic coast from Florida to New Brunswick under French commission, covering over 5,000 nautical miles and making significant discoveries including New York Harbor.

July 22, 1587

Lost Colony of Roanoke Disappearance

In 1587, 117 English settlers established a colony on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. When Governor John White returned in 1590 after a supply mission to England, he found the settlement completely abandoned with only the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a fence post.

May 14, 1602

Discovery of Cape Cod

English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold discovers Cape Cod during his expedition aboard the Concord, naming the peninsula after the abundant cod fish found in its waters. This historic voyage established one of the earliest English connections to what would later become the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

May 14, 1607

Founding of Jamestown

The establishment of Jamestown in 1607 marked the first successful permanent English settlement in North America, setting the foundation for colonial America and future United States.

December 16, 1607

Pocahontas and John Smith First Meeting

In December 1607, an 11-year-old Native American girl named Pocahontas allegedly saved the life of English explorer John Smith at Werowocomoco, though the authenticity of this account remains debated by historians.

December 21, 1620

Mayflower Pilgrims Land at Plymouth Rock

After a 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mayflower Pilgrims made their historic landing at Plymouth Rock, establishing the first permanent English settlement in New England. This momentous event marked the beginning of European colonization in the region.

September 1, 1621

First Thanksgiving Celebration

In autumn 1621, 52 English Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered at Plymouth Colony for a three-day harvest festival, marking what would become known as the First Thanksgiving in American history.

September 1, 1621

First Thanksgiving Celebration

The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in autumn 1621 when 50 Plymouth colonists and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered for a historic three-day harvest celebration, marking the Pilgrims' first successful corn harvest in the New World.

June 20, 1675

King Philip's War

A devastating conflict between New England colonists and Native Americans led by Metacom (King Philip) that resulted in massive casualties and reshaped colonial America's future.

April 1, 1699

First European Settlement on Mississippi River

In 1699, Fort de la Boulaye became the first permanent European settlement along the Mississippi River, following Robert de La Salle's historic 1682 expedition that claimed the territory for France. This establishment marked a crucial turning point in North American colonial history.

May 28, 1754

French and Indian War Begins

The French and Indian War erupted in 1754 when British and French colonial powers clashed over control of the Ohio River Valley, leading to a seven-year struggle that would reshape North America's political landscape.

June 19, 1754

Albany Congress

The Albany Congress was a pivotal colonial gathering held from June 19 to July 11, 1754, bringing together representatives from seven British colonies. Led by Benjamin Franklin, the congress aimed to address colonial defense and Native American relations while proposing the first framework for unified colonial government.

October 7, 1763

Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was a landmark royal decree issued by King George III following Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War. It established a boundary along the Appalachian Mountains to restrict colonial settlement and protect Native American territories.

May 14, 1804

Lewis and Clark Expedition Launches

The Lewis and Clark Expedition embarked on their historic journey from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri, launching a three-year exploration of the American West that would revolutionize the mapping and understanding of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

August 1, 1819

Fort Snelling Establishment

Fort Snelling, established in 1819, was a strategic military outpost built at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, serving as the first permanent U.S. government presence in the Minnesota Territory.

March 11, 1824

Bureau of Indian Affairs Established

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was established as a federal agency within the War Department to manage relations between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, marking a shift from military to civilian administration of tribal affairs.

May 28, 1838

The Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears was a tragic forced relocation of Native American tribes between 1831-1850, resulting in thousands of deaths. Under the Indian Removal Act, approximately 60,000 Native Americans were forced to leave their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States for territories in present-day Oklahoma.

June 25, 1876

Battle of Little Bighorn

The Battle of Little Bighorn was a decisive victory for Native Americans against U.S. Army forces led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The battle took place on June 25-26, 1876, along the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, resulting in the death of Custer and his entire command.

May 13, 1915

Native American Day

A significant cultural observance honoring America's indigenous peoples, first initiated in 1915 by Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian who persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to recognize the 'First Americans.'

January 9, 1918

Battle of Bear Valley

The Battle of Bear Valley in southern Arizona marked the final armed conflict between Native Americans and U.S. military forces, involving Yaqui fighters and a U.S. Army cavalry unit. This historic engagement ended centuries of warfare between indigenous peoples and the United States government.

June 2, 1924

Indian Citizenship Act

A landmark legislation that granted full U.S. citizenship to approximately 125,000 Native Americans who previously lacked this status, marking a pivotal moment in American civil rights history.

June 18, 1934

Indian Reorganization Act

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was a pivotal legislation that ended the destructive allotment era and restored Native American tribal sovereignty. It provided framework for tribal self-governance, land restoration, and cultural preservation.

January 1, 1957

Native American Voting Rights Journey

Despite the 15th Amendment granting voting rights to all citizens in 1870, Native Americans faced systematic discrimination and were the last group to gain full voting rights in the United States, with Utah finally granting these rights in 1957.

November 20, 1969

Alcatraz Island Occupation

In November 1969, 89 Native American activists occupied Alcatraz Island for 19 months, transforming the abandoned federal prison into a symbol of Indigenous resistance and bringing national attention to Native American rights.

October 17, 1988

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed by Congress, establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for tribal gaming operations in the United States. This landmark legislation balanced tribal sovereignty with federal oversight and has led to a $34 billion gaming industry supporting hundreds of tribal communities.