Native American History Introduction

What are some terms used to refer to the people who first lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

• • American Indians

• • Indigenous peoples

• • Native Americans

• All the answers are correct

Why were Native Americans called Indians?

• • Because the name Indian sounded similar to the name that they used to refer to themselves

• • Because they first came from the land of India

• • Because Christopher Columbus thought he landed in the Indies and assumed the natives were Indians

• • Because the first explorers to come to the Americas were from India

Before the Europeans arrived, Native Americans only lived in the western half of the United States.

• True

• False

What is a group of Native American peoples based on their culture and language usually called?

• • A Dynasty

• • A Clan

• • An Empire

• • A Tribe

How do archeologists know about the history and culture of Native Americans?

• • By stories passed down from previous generations of Native Americans

• • By digging up tools used by Native Americans

• • From notes written by the first Europeans to arrive in the Americas

• • All of the answers are correct

Where do most of the descendants of Native Americans live today? Choose all the correct answers.

• On reservations

• In tribes

• In the wilderness

• There are no descendants of Native Americans still alive

• In various places around the country and the world

Which of the following are names of Native American tribes? Choose all the correct answers. 

• • Seminole

• • Apache

• • Cherokee

• • Navajo

• • Raiders

What are the lands that the United States government set aside for Native Americans called?

• • Plains

• • Colonies

• • Counties

• • Reservations

• • Boroughs

The Native American tribes were often warring with each other prior to the arrival of the Europeans.

• False

• True

About how many Native American tribes have there been?

• • billions

• • millions

• • thousands

• • hundreds