What was the greatest impact on the Native Americans? No joking this is hard work?
348389
The introduction of deadly and debilitating diseases to which they had no immunty from the invading european horde. Add gunpowder, alcohol and tobacco and you have a pretty good idea of the negative impact our forefathers brought to the indigenous people of America. Smallpox infected blankets, passed out deliberately by our wonderfull army, decimated entire tribes and spread rapidly across the nation.
746563
Where do you get your information that the settlers were stealing from Indian graves?  And if this is true, you're putting way to bad of a slant on it.  The settlers of Massachusetts were a very religious group that would just steal unless it was a matter of survival more than likely.  What would you do for your family in a life and death situation?  Don't taint our country's history by making the settlers at Plymouth sound like a group of selfish and careless people.  Their first winter was very difficult, and they had to learn how to live all over again.  As for teaching this to elementary students, I think they would be a little young to understand the whole truth.  An older group of students would be able to grasp the details better and know that nothing was malicious in their acts, whatever their acts may have been.  Regardless of the truth, it should be told.  The truth shouldn't be twisted, but made to be understood.  Obviously there are adults out there that can't grasp the meaning behind some things either.
737436
The Native Americans got screwed.
855948
They didn't have immigration laws back then.  The first native Americans that met the settlers liked and helped them.  Other tribes weren't so nice on the intrusion of their land,(the territory they were aware of and hunted in etc) even if it was other Native Americans.  You act like like they had maps and all abided by the same rules and cultural practices and met once a year to toke the peace pipe and compare notes.
1167210
I totally agree with kyle w....  \nThis country has never been "dependent on no one", unless you want to count the time before the Brits came over here to found a new country.  The native American indians were dependent on no one but themselves.  America, as a country has always traded, imported, and exported with other countries.\n\nYou definitely need to do some research.
828172
I am not Native American but would like to share with you the texts that helped me to better understand the Native American culture and my understanding of the atrocities that occurred. Many Native Americans were killed, raped, starved, displaced and betrayed by the settlers to America. The quote from Chief Red Cloud above is probably the simplest and most accurate way to portray the betrayal of his people. \n\nMany tribes were reduced to a minisclule fraction of thier numbers in mass masacres (in which only the white men had rifles) - the most famous of these was the massacre at Wounded Knee. Eventually the tribes in thier dwindling numbers were resigned to reservations and virtually starved because of the fact that they now had only limited hunting lands and the settlers had slaughtered (almost to extinction) the buffalo - which was the Native Americans staple food source. A very similar thing happened here in Australia to our Aboriginal tribes.\n\nThere is so much to know on this topic and I would advise looking into these:\n\n"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown (book)\n\n"Savagery and the American Indian" by Ken Kirby (film documentary)\n\nand checking out this web site for any more documentaries on your Native People.\n\nhttp://shenandoahfilms.com\n\nYou will not only learn of the atrocious behaviour of an ignorant government through this but will hopefully discover a culture which is rich in warmth, respect and mysticism.
464415
At first, the Native Americans were probably curious.  While some tribes might have been prone to instigating trouble - many other tribes might have been open to the idea of a new group of individuals living in harmony beside them.\n\nWhat they found was group of people with very little respect for the land and its native people.  The English settlers (I'm refering to the Pilgrims up here in MA) weren't nice people and they weren't interested in cultivating meaninful relationships with natives unless it could provide them with useful knowledge to farm or hunt.  Once the Native Americans learned of the true nature of the colonizing English I'm sure they became weary of their presence.  Wars broke out - remember?  \n\nWere the English right to enter a territory that was already being lived in by others and trying to ungratefully utilize resources?  Would you want someone barging into your backyard and say "Hi I'm going to live here now - even though you've work hard your entire life for this little plot of land in the universe...oh and I'm gonna need some food, want to go grocery shopping for me?" \n\nI think you'd get rather ticked off.\n\n**\nKit4info:  You would like ME to learn MY American history?  If you are so ignorant to the treatment of the Native Americans by English settlers then you should not be responding to this question.  Research King Phillip’s War (1675-1676).  The cause of this war was due to what I said previously: mistreatment of the Natives.   Specifically: disrespect of Natives and continued expansion of the settlers.  The war involved the Wampanoag, Iroquois and Mohicans (western territories), Narragansett, Podunk,  and Nipmuck to name a few.  When war broke out most Natives sided with Phillip, a few who had converted to Christianity fought with the English, others were neutral.  Read this excerpt: \n\n “King Philip’s War was one of the bloodiest and most costly in the history of America. One in ten soldiers on both sides was injured or killed. It took many years for Plymouth and the other colonies to recover from damage to property\nThe outcome of King Philip’s War was devastating to the traditional way of life for Native People in New England. Hundreds of Natives who fought with Philip were sold into slavery abroad. Others, especially women and children, were forced to become servants locally. As the traditional base of existence changed due to the Colonists’ victory, the Wampanoag and other local Native communities had to adapt certain aspects of their culture in order to survive.”  \n\nDid I say that I think we should all leave because this land we live upon was stolen?  No – so what are you talking about “dinosaurs” for?  I am not “parroting” anything I am stating historical facts, my dear:  The Puritan settlers and their leaders were not nice people – not the innocents seeking religious freedom that you seem to think.  The majority of Native American tribes up here were NOT happy with what was happening around and did not like these intruders, although they tried to live beside them for several years, they quickly grew weary of their presence.  That was the question I read and that was what I answered.  No need to speak so condescendingly in order to gain a sense of authority because your argument is unfounded, illogical and worthless.  To deny any of these facts would be absurd; have you EVER taken an early American history class?  Someone was denied a school fieldtrip to Plimoth Plantation as a child and it shows.
621586
What about what the Native Americans did to the white man?!?!? Convincing those poor, hapless Euros to take over this seriously polluted land with all of these toxic pesticides and cow sh!t and those ugly cement housing developments everywhere?\nAnd THEN, when they didn't ALL die of diseases right off the bat and the early US government had to chase them all over hill and dale to murder rape, pillage and small pox 'em out of the rest of the place?  Really.  Why can't people just stand still for genocide once in awhile?  They're always trying so hard to defend their families and stuff.  Seems like it would be EXHAUSTING for the perpetrators.
585879
I think that fighting and exterminating the native Americans was a very unnecessary action, they should have made more peace treaties and live together as one community, that might have stopped the great wars and battles a long time ago, and less innocent people would have died.
7938
Uhm... I think you've got things just a little bit distorted, lol. It's not the Indians who became the first Mormons. According to the Mormon philosophy, the first Native Americans were European settlers who turned brown when they first migrated to the new land. Hence, the first Native Americans.\n\nSo, perhaps the question you should be asking is, why don't Europeans (Whites or Caucasians) turn brown when they integrate into Native American culture?
177034
It makes me sick inside when I think of that subject. I actually had a very charismatic History Teacher, he informed us when our books were trying to brainwash us. What is truly sad is that white people didn't stop with the Indians. They oppressed many cultures. Don't worry though. Our time here on earth isn't judged in groups. We all face that alone.
259006
Yeah make sure you date it properly seeing how American Indian's history may easily go back 6000 years!Now if you only are concerned with the European invasion there is absolute proof of the Viking in north America in the 1100s!
1044542
The native Americans were in touch with themselves in a way that we are not. Nor can we be . Too many people to much noise it's hard to find quiet. Yes I think that the Indians could do many more things then we can imagine. And they called them savages    God wept
895860
Totally agree with you Steve. I personally did not do anything to anyone. Indians killed Indians Blacks enslaved Blacks. I don't see them jumping on the bandwagon to pay anyone off for the "crimes" of thier ancestors. Everyone needs to get over the past and live for today and the future
52326
The Native Americans ,although unique people,are PEOPLE.They have their differences too.And the Chiefs were often at odds with each other on this subject.Many tribes split because of it.Some peaceful leaders,like washakie of the Shoshones made peace with the whites,while those like Quanna Parker of the Comanches fought desperately to resist removal.The Seminoles under Osceola,and Billy Bowlegs led their people into the everglades to avoid removal.So you see,they all dealt with things differently.The Natives are not all one people,but MANY individuals,with many individual leaders,tribes,ect.
417662
Yeah I know.  Our ancestors are a bunch of bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  At least I have a little Indian blood to erase some of the guilt.  \nTo be on more of a serious note.  The population has to be regulated to some extent.  Its already hard to get a job as it is.  Coming from a small town years ago there was a outbreak of Latinos/Mexicans.  Alot of them were illegal.  They took the farming jobs and well just say everything broke loose.  Locals in the area had to attempt to find work and those that didn't had to dip into the government programs.  Its just a huge chain reaction.  Kinda self explanatory if you think hard enough about it.
166442
I'm so sorry no one gave you any good answers about the plains Indians.  Der!  Your project is probably way past due but here is some:\nAngie Debo-great American author was able to get to know many Indians personally including Geranimo and wrote really good honest books on Indians.  \nSimon Ortiz-  Or Indians in American History by Hoxie.  Or Bury my Heart at wounded knee by Dee Brown(that one is sad and hard to read but good!!). \n\nDo a search on books.  Best to get really good historical books.  \nEnjoy anyways!