Introduction for Students

What do you think of when you think of American History?

Do you think about the Pilgrim's desire for religious freedom as they boarded the Mayflower? How about the angry colonists dumping tea into the harbor at the Boston Tea Party? Some of you may recall the words "All men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence or the tension between the North and the South in the Civil War. All of these are essential and exciting events in our country's history, but there are many more stories that lie beneath these major events that you will learn this year and your job is to make sure those stories are not overlooked. They are the stories of the American Indians.

How did the history of the United States impact American Indians?

This LibraryQuest is your chance to dig deeper and investigate the impact our country’s history had on the people who arrived thousands of years before the European settlers even set sail for the Americas.

Why are these stories important?
American Indian History Reflection Page (pdf)

Take a look at this map before you answer that question.

Find this globe on the page that is linked here and watch for the animation.
The green on the map represents land that was occupied by American Indians.

Take time to reflect on what you see after you watch what happens to the map over time.