An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz Summary

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reexamines U.S. history through the lens of Indigenous experiences, exposing centuries of settler colonialism, genocide, and land dispossession. The book dismantles founding myths, documents systemic violence against Native nations, and highlights persistent Indigenous resistance—from precolonial times to modern movements.

This book is essential for readers seeking a decolonized perspective on U.S. history, educators revising curricula, and activists addressing systemic injustice. Its accessible academic style appeals to both general audiences and scholars of Indigenous studies, offering critical insights into settler-colonial policies and their lasting impacts.

Dunbar-Ortiz argues that U.S. expansion relied on genocidal policies codified through the Doctrine of Discovery and settler-colonial warfare. She emphasizes how myths of "manifest destiny" erased Indigenous sovereignty and how systems like forced assimilation (e.g., boarding schools) perpetuated cultural erasure. The book also underscores Indigenous resilience as a counter-narrative to U.S. exceptionalism.

Dunbar-Ortiz identifies Andrew Jackson’s presidency as a culmination of anti-Indigenous violence, particularly through the Indian Removal Act (1830) and Trail of Tears. She contextualizes his actions not as an aberration but as an extension of foundational U.S. policies designed to eliminate Native populations and seize land.

The Doctrine of Discovery—a 15th-century papal decree—is framed as the legal bedrock for European colonization and U.S. land claims. Dunbar-Ortiz explains how this doctrine justified dispossessing Indigenous nations by labeling their territories "terra nullius" (empty land), a myth perpetuated in U.S. law and culture.

The narrative highlights centuries of Indigenous activism, including armed struggles (e.g., the Seminole Wars), legal challenges to treaties, and modern movements like Standing Rock. Dunbar-Ortiz portrays resistance as integral to Indigenous survival and a challenge to America’s origin story.

Some critics argue the book’s focus on genocide oversimplifies nuanced historical interactions, while others praise its unflinching critique. Conservative voices contest its challenge to patriotic narratives, but scholars widely recognize it as a pivotal work in decolonizing history.

The book links past policies like land theft and assimilation to contemporary struggles such as pipeline protests and federal recognition battles. Dunbar-Ortiz asserts that understanding this history is vital for addressing ongoing systemic inequities.

Dunbar-Ortiz draws on treaties, oral histories, government documents, and Indigenous scholarship. Notable examples include the Treaty of 1868 with the Sioux Nation and testimonies from survivors of boarding schools, providing firsthand accounts of colonialism.

Unlike conventional narratives that marginalize Indigenous perspectives, Dunbar-Ortiz centers Native voices and frames the U.S. as a settler-colonial state. The book rejects heroic myths of "discovery," instead emphasizing exploitation and resistance.

The book provides context for modern debates about reparations, land repatriation, and racial justice. Its analysis of institutional racism and erasure informs movements like #LandBack and challenges to colonial monuments.

A historian and activist, Dunbar-Ortiz grew up in Oklahoma with Indigenous roots. A co-founder of the Women’s Liberation Movement, she combines academic rigor with decades of advocacy, reflected in her critique of U.S. imperialism and support for Indigenous sovereignty.