Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Why This Matters

This question asks who lived in America before the Europeans arrived. The answer is American Indians or Native Americans. These two terms are both accepted by USCIS, and you only need to say one of them.

American Indians had been living on the land that is now the United States for thousands of years before European explorers and colonists arrived. They were not one single group. There were hundreds of different tribes and nations, each with their own languages, cultures, and ways of life. Some tribes, like the Navajo and Cherokee, are still well known today. Others lived in every region of what is now the United States, from the forests of the Northeast to the deserts of the Southwest and the plains of the Midwest.

When Europeans began arriving in the late 1400s and 1500s, the lives of Native Americans changed dramatically. European settlers took their land, brought diseases that killed millions of Native people, and forced many tribes to move far from their homes. This painful history is an important part of American history that the USCIS test expects you to know. Understanding that American Indians were the original inhabitants of this land shows that you respect the full story of the country you are joining, not just the parts that came after Europeans arrived.

Key Facts

• American Indians (Native Americans) lived in America for thousands of years before Europeans came
• There were hundreds of different tribes with distinct languages and cultures
• Major tribes include the Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Apache, and Iroquois
• European arrival led to loss of land, disease, and forced removal of Native peoples
• Both "American Indians" and "Native Americans" are accepted answers

Common Mistakes

• Saying "Mexicans" or "Spanish", these are not correct; the question asks about people before Europeans
• Saying a specific tribe name without saying "American Indians" or "Native Americans", a tribe name alone may not be accepted
• Confusing this question with who discovered America, the question is about who already lived here

Study Tip

Remember the key word "before." The question asks who was here before Europeans. The answer is simple: American Indians or Native Americans. They were the first people on this land. If you remember "first people," you will remember the answer.