Government and Warfare
Government
Families and whole clans joined together to form tribes. Hundreds of tribes lived in America when Columbus arrived in 1492. Each tribe lived in its own area, shared the same language and had its own religion. The leader of the tribe was called a chief. Decisions were made at meetings of the tribal council. Members were important people of many different families.
Chief American Horse was a famous Sioux leader
Image: BPL, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Warfare
Indians often fought against other tribes because it was sometimes the only way to settle disputes.
The bow and arrow was the most common weapon of the Indians. Some tribes put poison on the arrowheads. Many Indians fought with spears and tomahawks.
When an Indian defeated his enemy, he often took his scalp as a prize to show to others. Killing an enemy tribesman often made a warrior famous and respected.
When white people came to North America, Indians bought guns and other new weapons from them.
Weapons of North American Indians
Words
- arrowhead = the sharp, pointed end of an arrow
- bow and arrow = a weapon made out of a long, curved piece of wood; the ends are connected with a string; you shoot long, thin and pointed pieces of wood with it
- common = much used
- defeat = to win against
- enemy = people you don't like and fight against
- join together = get together
- poison = something you eat or drink that may hurt or even kill you
- respected = if other people like you because you have done good things
- scalp = the skin on top of your head
- settle disputes = to end arguments
- share = to have together
- spear = a pole with a sharp point on one end
- tomahawk = a light axe used by Indians
- tribal council = when members of a tribe get together to discuss important things
- tribe = group of people who have the same way of life and the same language; they are ruled by a chief
- tribesman = a male member of a tribe
- warrior = a very brave fighter
- weapon = something you use to attack a person with