Native Peoples of North America

Join the Smithsonian and an award-winning professor to recount an epic story of resistance and accommodation, persistence and adaption, and extraordinary hardship and survival.

Overview

Course No. 8131

History is subjective, shaped by the perspectives and information we receive. This course, in partnership with the Smithsonian, provides new insights into American history by exploring the experiences of indigenous peoples. Professor Daniel M. Cobb offers a multidisciplinary view, challenging common myths and revealing the history of Native Americans from the Seven Years’ War to modern times. This 24-lecture series changes how we understand American history, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of native cultures over centuries.

Video Lessons

01: Native America: A Story of Survival

Explore the rich and vibrant cultures of Native Americans and challenge misconceptions about their past. Duration: 38 min

02: The Columbian Exchange: New Worlds for All

Dive into the impacts of the Columbian Exchange and how it reshaped perceptions of Native Americans. Duration: 31 min

03: The Native South and Southwest in the 1600s

Examine pre-invasion cultures and the impact of Spanish exploration in the American South and Southwest. Duration: 32 min

04: Werowocomoco and Montaup in the 1600s

Discover how Native Americans and newcomers forged connections and transformed each other’s worlds. Duration: 30 min

05: Iroquoia and Wendake in the 1600s

Learn how the Iroquois and Wendat navigated European colonization while maintaining autonomy. Duration: 29 min

06: Indian-European Encounters, 1700-1750

Study how Native Americans retained or lost lands through treaties and conflicts with Europeans. Duration: 32 min

07: The Seven Years’ War in Indian Country

Reexamine the French and Indian War from the perspectives of indigenous peoples. Duration: 30 min

08: The American Revolution through Native Eyes

Understand Native American experiences during the American Revolution as allies or neutral parties. Duration: 31 min

09: Indian Resistance in the Ohio Country

Explore Native resistance and the impact of treaties following the American Revolutionary War. Duration: 31 min

10: Indian Removal: Many Trails, Many Tears

Learn about the Cherokee Trail of Tears and the broader implications of Indian Removal policies. Duration: 32 min

11: Native Transformations on the Great Plains

Challenge traditional views of Native Americans in the West with new perspectives. Duration: 29 min

12: Indians, Manifest Destiny, and Uncivil Wars

Analyze the impacts of Manifest Destiny and the Civil War on Native American lands and rights. Duration: 33 min

13: Native Resistance in the West, 1850s-1870s

Meet leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and explore their resistance against U.S. expansion. Duration: 32 min

14: The Last Indian Wars?

Investigate the struggles of Native tribes in the Far West and Southwest against U.S. policies. Duration: 31 min

15: Challenging Assimilation and Allotment

Learn about Native strategies against assimilation and land allotment policies in the late 19th century. Duration: 32 min

16: American Indians and the Law, 1883-1903

Explore Native legal battles to protect rights and lands against U.S. governmental pressures. Duration: 30 min

17: The Ghost Dance and the Peyote Road

Discover how religious movements like the Ghost Dance offered hope and renewal to Native communities. Duration: 31 min

18: Native America in the Early 1900s

Examine how Native Americans defied extinction predictions by engaging in various public arenas. Duration: 33 min

19: American Indians and World War I

Understand Native Americans’ involvement in WWI and its effects on citizenship and sovereignty. Duration: 31 min

20: Making a New Deal in Native America

Reveal how Native communities navigated the New Deal era and pursued self-government. Duration: 33 min

21: American Indians and World War II

Learn about Native American contributions to WWII and the challenges they faced afterward. Duration: 31 min

22: Indian Termination or Self-Determination?

Explore the impact of the Cold War on Native American rights and the reassertion of sovereignty. Duration: 35 min

23: Native Radicalism and Reform, 1969-1978

Follow Native activism during the 1970s and its intersections with broader social movements. Duration: 32 min

24: Reasserting Rights and Tribal Sovereignty

Discover contemporary struggles for Native rights, including gaming, repatriation, and self-governance. Duration: 40 min