Frederick Jackson Turner’s “frontier thesis,” presented in 1893, influenced how American history was understood, particularly about the West. Turner described the West as a place where settlers lived gracefully, often at the cause of Native Americans, who were pushed out of the narrative. The Wounded Knee Massacre implanted this perspective in 1890 when U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, and for many, this event marks the final big moment in Native American history. In some cases in history, it is said that Native Americans, at this point, disappeared from the historical stage.
As the reader reading these stories, we can still look back on the contribution and the resilience that Native people have made to history. They weren’t just victims; they were also trying to shape their futures in the process. They adapted to their new lives and still continued to push through all the challenges they faced and instead of failing, grew into a system that was more focused on politics, economy, and natural survival instincts. Suppose we acknowledge both the hardships faced and the strength and survival of Native peoples. This allows us to move beyond the narrative of the frontier and recognize Native Americans as contributors to American history.