An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Introduction-Chapter 2

1. What was the first law passed by the United States?

2. As of the date of the Introduction, to what number did the Indigenous population drop from 15 million upon the arrival of European colonists?

3. After the initial migration out of Africa over 20,000 years ago, what 3 areas in the Western Hemisphere did humans occupy?

4. In 8000 BCE, what plant was the central focus of the Mayan agricultural and religion?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. In 1-2 sentences, what is the general idea behind the “unifying origin story” of the United States, according to the authors?

2. What is the issue with the novel The Last of the Mohicans and the statue The End of the Trail?

3. What do the authors mean when they say the early Europeans had a “culture of conquest”?

Paired Resource

Incredible Inventions by the Ancient Maya

• This video showcases the sophisticated achievements and inventions of ancient Mayan culture, supplementing the author’s argument that early Indigenous civilizations were not “primitive,” as colonialist settlers purported, but quite advanced.