Manifest Destiny, as a term for westward expansion, was not used until the 1840s. Its predecessor was the Doctrine of Discovery, a legal tradition by which Europeans and Americans laid legal claim to the land of the indigenous people that they discovered. In the United States, the British colonists who had recently become Americans were competing with the English, French, and Spanish for control of lands west of the Mississippi. Who would be the discoverers of the Indians and their lands, the United States or the European countries? We know the answer, of course, but in this book, Miller explains for the first time exactly how the United States achieved victory, not only on the ground, but also in the developing legal thought of the day. The American effort began with Thomas Jefferson's authorization of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which set out in 1803 to lay claim to the West. Lewis and Clark had several charges, among them the discovery of a Northwest Passage—a land route across the continent—in order to establish an American fur trade with China. In addition, the Corps of Northwestern Discovery, as the expedition was called, cataloged new plant and animal life, and performed detailed ethnographic research on the Indians they encountered. This fascinating book lays out how that ethnographic research became the legal basis for Indian removal practices implemented decades later, explaining how the Doctrine of Discovery became part of American law, as it still is today.

Explore Native American Cultures! with 25 Great Projects introduces readers to seven main Native American cultural regions, from the northeast woodlands to the Northwest tribes. It encourages readers to investigate the daily activities—including the rituals, beliefs, and longstanding traditions—of America’s First People. Where did they live? How did they learn to survive and build thriving communities? This book also investigates the negative impact European explorers and settlers had on Native Americans, giving readers a glimpse into the complicated history of Native Americans. Readers will enjoy the fascinating stories about America’s First People as leaders, inventors, diplomats, and artists. To enrich the historical information, hands-on activities bring to life each region’s traditions, including region-specific festivals, technology, and art. Readers can learn Native American sign language and create a salt dough map of the Native American regions. Each project is outlined with clear step-by-step instructions and diagrams, and requires minimal adult supervision.

The Ancient Pueblo people, also known mistakenly as the Anasazi, were a prehistoric Native American culture located around the present day "Four Corners" areas of the Southwest United States. This area encompasses the Colorado Plateau, and extends from central New Mexico to southern Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The topography of this panoramic region varies greatly, including high plateaus, vast horizontal mesas, sleep walled canyons, and sandstone windows and bridges sculpted by water erosion. In cliff areas with harder stone, rock overhangs formed and served as building sites for adobe dwellings often accessible only by rope or rock climbing. Numerous national parks and monuments such as Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater and Chaco Canyon provide stunning scenery and a well-preserved window into the area's fascinating prehistoric past. Divided geographically, this expanded edition includes tips on visiting reservations, attending ceremonies, buying arts and crafts, and adjusting to "Indian time". The revised format provides easy reader access to a wealth of information, and includes dozens of new sites, selected places to stay, eat and shop, a calendar of various powwows and other tribal ceremonies, a section on language, points of interest, maps, and 16 pages of full colour photographs. The book also examines locations such as the Gila Cliff Dwellings Monument, the Taos Pueblo, and The Denver Art Museum, which houses an extensive collection of North American native art.

This insightful guide explores the pre-Columbian native civilizations that thrived in North America, revealing a diverse range of cultures, languages, and customs. Particularly interesting is the examination of the various adaptations necessary for life in a continent that ranges from the arctic to the sub-tropic, including effective techniques for farming, fishing, and hunting. The devastating impact of European contact and conquest is described, as is the inspiring story of cultural survival in the face of near extinction. The modern life of native North American peoples and the ways in which they are keeping their heritage alive are also celebrated.