Native American Timeline |
| 1492 |
Columbus discovers (???) America. |
| 1500 |
Sixty million Natives begin decline to approximately one million in
1900 |
| 1520 |
The Aztec Empire at Mexico City falls to Hernando Cortes |
| 1531 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe appears to Juan Diego at Tepeyac |
| 1537 |
Pope Paul III issues letter, SUBLIMUS DEUS, after long fight by Fray
Bartolome del las Casas for better treatment of Indians. |
| 1565 |
First permanent European settlement, St. Augustine. |
| 1604-35 |
Champlain explored and colonized Northeast for France. |
| 1607 |
First permanent English colony at Jamestown, Virginia. |
| 1611 |
First Jesuits sent to New France. |
| 1616 |
Smallpox epidemic ravages Natives along New England coast. |
| 1619 |
First English missionaries, 50 Anglicans, sent to Virginia.First
slaves from Africa land in Virginia. |
| 1620 |
Mayflower arrived at Plymouth to found first colony in New England. |
| 1622 |
First Indian uprising in an English colony (Virginia). |
| 1636-37 |
Pequot War. The only Indian naval engagement. |
| 1638 |
First Reservations, established by Puritans near New Haven, CT. |
| 1675 |
King Phillip War. Metacom, known by whites as King Phillip, protested
Reservation system; was executed. |
| 1680 |
The Pueblo Revolt begins at Taos Pueblo. |
| 1756-63 |
French and Indian War. English defeated the French and took possession
of entire Northeast by 1763. |
| 1767 |
Secularization of missions in new Mexico, ending Spanish mission
program there. |
| 1768 |
British give back control of Indian affairs to colonies. |
| 1769 |
Spanish occupied California and established first missions. |
| 1778 |
Continental Congress made first treaty with Indians (Delawares). |
| 1789 |
United States Constitution ratified by the states; Indian rights
reaffirmed. |
| 1790 |
Congress enacted first law regulating trade and land sales with
Indians. |
| 1803 |
Louisiana Purchase; Lewis and Clark expedition. |
| 1819 |
First appropriation ($10,000) to civilize Indians. |
| 1824 |
Bureau of Indian Affairs established in War Department. |
| 1827 |
Cherokee Republic, formed in an attempt to avoid forced removal. |
| 1830 |
Indian Removal Act passed by Congress; legalized removal of all
Indians east of Mississippi to lands west of the river. |
| 1832 |
Chief Justice John Marshall issued opinion that state law does not
apply to Indians on tribal lands; position of Commissioner of Indian
Affairs established in War Department. |
| 1834 |
Administrative structure of Bureau of Indian Affairs amplified; Trade
and Intercourse Act, including prohibition of sale of intoxicants to
Indians and need for a license to travel in Indian land. |
| 1837 |
Smallpox epidemic on the Plains. |
| 1839 |
Father De Smet's first journey west contacted Yanktons. Continued
journeys until death in 1873. |
| 1849 |
Bureau of Indian Affairs shifted to Interior Department. |
| 1851 |
Fort Laramie Treaty. |
| 1861-65 |
Civil War in United States. |
| 1862 |
Minnesota Uprising of Sioux; 38 hanged at Mankato. |
| 1865-69 |
Building of Union Pacific Railroad. |
| 1867 |
The U. S. buys Alaska. |
| 1870 |
Grant's Peace Policy continued to 1881; First sum earmarked for
federal education of Indians. First Ghost Dance Movement, Prayer to
prevent immigration. |
| 1871 |
Congress passed law putting an end to further treaties with Indians. |
| 1874 |
Grey Nuns from Canada arrive in Fort Totten, Dakota Territory;
employed by U.S. Government. |
| 1876 |
Battle of Little Big Horn (Custer). Abbot Martin Marty from Indiana
arrived at Standing Rock Reservation; established St. Benedict's
Mission. |
| 1877 |
Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War. |
| 1878 |
Congress appropriated first funds for Indian police. |
| 1880 |
Marty made Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Dakota Territory. |
| 1887 |
Dawes General Allotment Act passed by Congress. |
| 1888 |
Holy Rosary Mission on Pine Ridge Reservation staffed by Jesuits. |
| 1890 |
Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge. Ghost Dance. Last major bloodshed
involving Indians and the U.S. Government. |
| 1892-97 |
More laws providing for schools and giving truant officers the right
to force Indian children to attend school; federal support of church
schools withdrawn. |
| 1911 |
Ishi, the last Yahi Indian. |
| 1919 |
Father Sylvester Eisenman, OSB came to Yankton Reservation; beginning
of Marty mission. |
| 1924 |
All Indians declared citizens of U.S. |
| 1934 |
Wheeler-Howard Act, passed to protect Native Culture. |
| 1969 |
American Indian Movement (AIM) begins to form. |
| 1979 |
American Indian Religious Freedom Act (P.L. 95-341 ). |
Native American Indians Index