Displacing Indigenous Peoples Revision Notes | History Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

1.  European Expansion and Colonisation

• From the 18th century, European settlers migrated to North & South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
• Native peoples were pushed out, displaced, or assimilated.
• Colonies were European settlements under their "mother country."
• Independent states emerged when colonies gained independence.
• Cultural erasure occurred as native names of rivers and cities (e.g., Ohio, Mississippi, Wollongong) remained, but indigenous presence diminished.

2. European Imperialism & Settler Colonies

Expansion of European Powers

• Spain & Portugal dominated Latin America but did not expand further.
• France, England & Holland expanded into North America, Africa, and Asia.
• The British East India Company controlled South Asia, annexed land, built railways, and taxed landowners.
• In Africa, European presence was initially limited to coastal trade, but full colonisation began in the 19th century.

Settler Colonies and European Domination

• British settlers dominated Australia, Canada, and America.
• Dutch settlers (Boers) controlled South Africa.
• English became the dominant language, except in French-speaking Canada.

3. Native Societies in North America Before Colonisation

Geography and Resources

• North America had diverse landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Mississippi River, and Appalachian Mountains.
• The region had abundant natural resources such as forests, oil, gas, and minerals, which played a key role in later industrialisation.

Life of the Indigenous Peoples

• The first inhabitants arrived from Asia via the Bering Strait around 30,000 years ago.
• They relied on hunting, fishing, maize cultivation, and gathering for food.
• There was no private land ownership—land was used communally.
• Trade was based on gift exchange rather than commerce.
• Oral traditions were strong, with rich storytelling, arts, and textiles.

4. European Encounters and Native Displacement

Early Interactions

• Fur and fish trade flourished with native help.
• French traders along the Mississippi found natives engaged in regional trade.
• Europeans introduced alcohol, leading to addiction among natives.
• Tobacco was introduced to Europe by natives.

European Perception of Natives

• Europeans viewed natives as ‘uncivilised’ due to their lack of written language and permanent settlements.
• Rousseau admired them as ‘noble savages’ for their simplicity and purity.
• Wordsworth believed they lacked imagination.
• Washington Irving, who had met natives, described them as humorous and intelligent.

5. Expansion and Native Displacement

Westward Expansion of the USA

• Territorial expansion occurred through the Louisiana Purchase (1803) from France, Alaska’s purchase (1867) from Russia, and the conquest of southwestern USA from Mexico.
• Native inhabitants were not consulted or compensated.

Forced Migration & Conflicts

• In 1832, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation, but President Andrew Jackson ignored it.
• The Trail of Tears (1838) saw 15,000 Cherokees forcibly removed, with over 25% dying on the way.
• The US-Indian Wars (1865-1890) ended with native groups defeated and confined to reservations.
• In Canada, the Metis Rebellions (1869-1885) were crushed by British authorities.

6. The Impact of European Settlers

Environmental and Economic Changes

• Forests were cleared for agriculture.
• Railways were built for faster settlement and trade.
• Bison were hunted to near extinction by 1890, ending the natives’ hunting-based economy.

Slavery in North America

• Africans were enslaved to work in southern plantations.
• Slavery was abolished in 1865 after the US Civil War, but racial discrimination persisted.

Canadian Expansion

• Canada became a Confederation in 1867.
• French Canadians sought autonomy, leading to self-rule later.

7. Australia’s Colonisation and Indigenous Displacement

Arrival of Europeans

• The Dutch first sighted Australia in 1606.
• In 1770, James Cook claimed it for Britain.
• By 1788, it was used as a penal colony where convicts from Britain were sent.

Effects on Aboriginal Peoples

• 90% of Aborigines died from disease, land loss, and conflicts.
• Land was taken over for sheep farms, wheat farming, and mining.
• Many were forced into hard labor under conditions close to slavery.
• In 1855, Chinese immigration was banned due to racial policies.

8. Indigenous Resistance and Recognition

Resistance Against Colonisation

• Armed uprisings occurred in the USA (1865-1890) but were crushed.
• Canada’s Metis Rebellions (1869-1885) failed.
• Australia had no treaties with natives, and land was simply taken.

Modern Recognition & Apology

• In 1928, a US report exposed poor health and education in native reservations.
• The Indian Reorganisation Act (1934, USA) gave limited land rights to natives.
• In 1969, Canadian protests led to the recognition of native rights in the 1982 Constitution Act.
• In 1992, the Australian High Court ruled in the Mabo Case that terra nullius (land belonging to no one) was invalid.
• In 1999, Australia’s "National Sorry Day" was observed as a formal apology for past injustices.

9. Conclusion: Changing Perceptions of Natives

• Natives, once seen as primitive, are now recognised as communities with distinct cultures and histories.
• There has been a shift towards respecting native rights, land claims, and heritage.
• Museums, literature, and academic research now preserve native histories.
• The transition from colonial oppression to multicultural societies is ongoing in Canada, the USA, and Australia.

Final Takeaways

• European expansion led to the displacement and marginalisation of indigenous peoples.
• Industrialisation and agricultural expansion came at the cost of native lands.
• 20th-century reforms have attempted to restore justice, but challenges remain.
• Native voices, cultures, and histories are now gaining global recognition.