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

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Dunbar-Ortiz prioritizes the term “Indigenous people” over “American Indians” or “Native Americans.”

• How does using language bestowed on Indigenous people by other cultures, like “American Indians” and “Native Americans” minimize the agency and humanity of Indigenous people? (topic sentence)
• Examine the various terms used for Indigenous people. What points made in the text show the ways in which they are problematic?
• In your concluding sentences, sum up the connection between language as a tool and theme of the colonialist legacy.

2. The Founding Fathers and early presidents in the United States largely viewed Indigenous people as “primitive” and “savage,” and those views were embedded in their various political policies.

• How can examining the logic and motive of major early American figures help one to better understand the enduring legacy of colonialism and its racist origin? (topic sentence)
• Name and discuss 3-4 major early American figures and their policies that served to displace Indigenous people.
• In your concluding sentences, discuss the ways in which the military and diplomatic tools used by early American figures would likely be considered by present-day standards.

3. Indigenous peoples often face the choice of cooperating with their subjugators or struggling against them.

• What sort of “choices” were/are Indigenous people given by European settlers/modern day white policy makers that seem unfair? (topic sentence)
• Using examples from the book ranging from the early American period to the modern era, discuss 2-3 difficult choices Indigenous people faced over time.
• In your concluding sentences, connect these unfair choices to one of the major themes of the text.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Choose one of the Indigenous nations that Dunbar-Ortiz covers and explain their experiences with European settlers. What factors influenced their decisions regarding warfare and territory? How are their descendants addressing past problems today?

2. Analyze the role of literature, newspapers, and educational theories in promoting Manifest Destiny. How did the depiction of Indigenous peoples influence the public’s perception of them? Why did prominent civil rights advocates have a blind spot regarding these groups?

3. How does the United States’ past treatment of Indigenous nations influence its current domestic and foreign policies? What measures would you recommend improving opportunities and sovereign rights for these nations?