Before the Europeans arrived, there were more than 50 million Native Americans living in North and South America. More than 10 million Native Americans lived on the land in North America that became the United States. After Europeans arrived in North and South America, millions of Native Americans died from diseases brought by Europeans. Many Native Americans also died from wars and conflicts with Europeans.
By the 1600s, there were about 6 million Native Americans living in the Americas, and about 1 million Native Americans still living in North America.
THE COLONIAL PERIOD (1607 - 1776) In 1607, the country of England created its first permanent settlement in North America. It was called Jamestown. This started the period in American history called the Colonial Period. It lasted from 1607 - 1775. During the Colonial Period, England created 13 colonies in North America.
Many colonists who settled in Jamestown came to North America because they wanted economic opportunities. Some colonists believed that it would be easier to buy land for farming in North America. Others thought they could find valuable metals like gold and silver.
The first years in Jamestown were difficult for the colonists. Many died from hunger, disease, or the cold winter weather. Colonists and Native Americans also fought over who would control the land. Both colonists and Native Americans died during the fighting.
ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE: THE USCIS CIVICS TEST TEXTBOOK
Illustration of the town of Pomelock by John White. Courtesy of the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation collection.
A scene of a busy street in Jamestown around 1650. Courtesy of the National Park Service.