Native AmericansThe story of the Native Americans - or American Indians -is one that is unique, tragic and inspiring. It is unique because the Indians were the original inhabitants of the American continent and experienced every phase of its European settlement. It is tragic because the conflict between the Indians and whites paralleled the experience of peoples throughout the world who have come in contact with expanding, industrialized societies. It is an inspiring story because the Native Americans, although lost much of their land in the 19th century, have survived, have asserted their political and economic rights, and have succeeded in retaining their identity and culture despite the onslaught of modern civilization. Today Native Americans are full citizens of the United States. They are proud of their own cultural heritage, which they are trying to protect and maintain. Marks of that heritage can be found all over the United States. Many of the names on United States maps Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, and Kansas - are Indian words. Indians taught the Europeans how to cultivate crops such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco. About half of the Indians in the United States live in large cities and rural areas throughout the country. The Remainder live in about 300 federal reservations (land set for their use). Today, there are about 1,4 million Native Americans, which is believed to be more than there were when the first European explorers arrived in the New World.
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