The 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland, which was located between New England in the north and Maryland and Virginia in the south, has received little attention from most historians of colonial America. The New Netherland Project was formed in 1974 under the sponsorship of the New York State Library and the Holland Society of New York…

Social historians are taught that historical changes are caused by large social and economic forces, rather than great individuals; and so they study groups of people, broad economic movements, and underlying institutional structures that change slowly over time. But the general public demands information about the individual person told through…

Following passage of legislation to end the practice of drawing up treaties with the American Indians in 1871, President Ulysses S. Grant implemented a "Peace Policy" aimed at persuading the Indians of the uselessness of resistance. The Indian delegations' visits to Washington were one tactic in the control strategy the government used…

A collection of 20 short biographies of American Indian warriors, statesmen, prophets, and scholars highlights leaders in the often tragic, yet inspiring, saga of North American Indians. Most of the heroes and heroines whose lives are briefly described were chiefs; some of them have become famous around the world. All were leaders in a great…

The Disney film "Pocahontas" appears to be an attempt to respond to growing cultural diversity, calls for multiculturalism, and strong female role models in the United States. This paper provides an analysis of the film, examining how Disney's claims to the creation of positive, pro-social representations of women and Native Americans in…

This curriculum unit offers students the opportunity to become researchers of history. The curriculum is organized among three sections: (1) "Context," students are introduced to early seagoing peoples, their ideas and technologies, and to related ideas from Renaissance Europe; (2) "Voyages," students conduct individual…

This guide to searching for "America: History and Life," a bibliographic database offering resources on topics in social sciences, humanities, and arts in the United States and Canada, covers subject scope, selection and coverage, document types and records, combined entries, subject indexing, personal names, geographic names, historical periods,…

Presents a 2- to 3-hour teaching unit dealing with conflict between Whites and Indians, taking as an example the Black Hawk War. The reports of Chief Black Hawk and of historian Billington (sources for both are given) are taken as a basis for discussion. (IFS/WGA)

Describes the American Indian "Holocaust," decimation of Indian populations following European discovery of the Americas. European and African diseases, warfare with Europeans, and genocide reduced native populations from 75 million to only a few million. Discusses population statistics and demographic effects of epidemics, continuing infection,…

A children's book author explains why she chose to write "Encounter," an accurate story of Christopher Columbus's first meeting with the gentle Taino tribe 500 years ago. The article presents suggestions for using "Encounter" as a springboard for activities to help elementary students interpret history. (SM)

Reviews the life of Columbus and European conditions that led to the age of exploration. Discusses how the ethnocentric legend of the "discovery" of America grew as part of the glorious history of Western civilization. Examines the doctrine of discovery as a European agreement legitimizing exploitation of indigenous peoples. (SV)

Reconsiders myths about Christopher Columbus. Discusses the importance of presenting students history in all its complexity. Suggests that students must see that the people who have occupied center stage at crucial moments are not without weakness and fears. Urges students to raise critical questions concerning historical figures. (MG)

This interview with Christopher Paul Curtis, an award-winning author of novels for young readers, discusses combining elements of the author's own family heritage with American history; writing about race that appeals to black and white readers; the history of race relations; the use of humor; and thinking about the audience. (LRW)

This social studies curriculum guide for grade 10 in Manitoba, Canada, examines the characteristics of the physical and social environments of North America and analyzes the interrelationships among them. The primary focus is on Canada and the United States with a secondary focus on Central America. The study has been divided into the following…

Presents three documents related to the Columbus Quincentenary and indigenous populations. Includes the Declaration of Quito (Ecuador) of July 21, 1990; the final text of the Declaration of Xelaju (Guatemala); and the document "After the 500 Years: Indigenous and Peoples' Unity Proposals for Political Action." (CFR)