History 240.01
Native American History

OVERVIEW

Catalog Description: “This course examines Native Americans' distinctive histories, cultures, and relations with non-Indian peoples and states. The course will include discussion of how the Native American past continues to influence Native and non-Native peoples in the present.”

This course will survey the history of Native North Americans from ancient to recent times, but will emphasize events in what became the United States. We will touch on a variety of topics, including politics, diplomacy, and economics, as well as social/cultural topics such as religion, gender, and race. Particular attention will be paid to the interactions among American Indians, Europeans/Euro-Americans, and other non-Indians because of the enormous impact these interactions have had and continue to have on both indigenous and non-indigenous populations.

PURPOSE/GOALS

By the end of the course, you should have a demonstrable understanding of Native American history.
More generally, as a Social Science course, History 240 should help you to do at least some of the following:

conduct social science research
think analytically about social phenomena
understand and apply social science theories, concepts, and categories
read and analyze works dealing with social science issues
write a clear, concise, and organized paper
present ideas orally in a clear, concise, and organized fashion
understand and evaluate evidence related to social issues
demonstrate a knowledge of the history and theory of social thought
demonstrate a knowledge of major historical periods and social trends
demonstrate an understanding of various cultural perspectives
comprehend the social origins and significance of the diversity of human behavior