Enroll in Native American Studies: Historical Perspectives with Dolphin STEM Academy

Course Overview

When European settlers first arrived in the Americas, they found the continent already inhabited.
The cultural differences between the Native Americans and Europeans, as well as their desire
to occupy the same land, often led to conflict. Tensions increased over time as Europeans
moved westward to establish settlements. The US government, eager for more land, imposed a
number of controversial policies on Native Americans, including assimilation, forced removal,
and military intervention. This course examines the persecution of Native Americans and their
fight for civil rights and recognition throughout US history.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
Describe the different cultural regions of the Native American groups on the North American continent.
Consider indigenous people’s perspectives on colonization.
Explain why tribal confederacies were created.
Identify ways in which European presence affected the Native American people.
Interpret the effects of ethnocentrism on tribal-federal relations.
Consider the effects of federal programs to remove and relocate, or assimilate Native Americans.
Describe the effects of the boarding school experience by reading the words of Native American children.
Analyze the outcomes of assimilation through both European and Native American perspectives.
Discuss the long-term ramifications of boarding schools.
Analyze the effect of the California gold rush on the Native American people.
Understand the relationship that Native Americans have historically had with the natural world.