An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States presents a comprehensive historical account of Native American experiences from pre-colonial times through the present day. The book is part of Beacon Press's ReVisioning series, which examines U.S. history from perspectives often excluded from mainstream narratives. Dunbar-Ortiz documents the complex relationships between Indigenous peoples and European settlers across four centuries of American history. The text examines military conflicts, land disputes, treaties, and resistance movements through firsthand accounts and historical records. This historical analysis challenges conventional narratives about American expansion and settlement, examining concepts like Manifest Destiny and the Doctrine of Discovery. The book traces how these ideas influenced government policies and military actions toward Native American nations. Through its examination of colonization, warfare, and Indigenous resistance, the book presents a critical perspective on the foundations of American society and institutions. The work raises questions about historical memory and national identity in the United States.

Readers describe this as an unflinching examination of U.S. history from an indigenous perspective, with many noting it changed their understanding of American colonization and settlement. Readers appreciated: - Clear documentation and extensive research - Connection of historical events to modern issues - Exposure of lesser-known incidents and policies - Challenge to traditional historical narratives Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Repetitive content in later chapters - Some readers felt the tone was too angry - Limited coverage of pre-colonial indigenous life Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (3,000+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Changed everything I thought I knew about American history" - Goodreads "Important but difficult read" - Amazon "Sometimes feels like a textbook rather than narrative history" - Goodreads "Could have used more indigenous voices and perspectives" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 The author grew up in rural Oklahoma as a tenant farmer's daughter and has Cherokee, Choctaw, and European ancestry, giving her a deeply personal connection to the subject matter. 🔹 The Doctrine of Discovery, discussed extensively in the book, originated from 15th-century papal bulls that gave Christian explorers the right to claim "discovered" lands, and remains cited in U.S. Supreme Court cases. 🔹 The book received the 2015 American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, which recognizes outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community. 🔹 An adapted version of this book titled "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People" was published in 2019, making this crucial historical perspective accessible to younger readers. 🔹 Before becoming a historian, Dunbar-Ortiz was actively involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM) during the 1970s and worked extensively with the United Nations on indigenous peoples' rights.