The topic of extinct tribes is one of the most tragic pages in the history of the United States. It is important to understand that colonization and subsequent American government policies led not only to the disappearance of individuals but entire cultures, languages, and peoples. Scale of the Tragedy in Numbers Before the arrival of Europeans, an estimated 1.5 to 5 million indigenous people lived on the territory of what is now the United States. By the beginning of the 20th century, their number had decreased to approximately 237–250 thousand. This catastrophic decline was the result not only of wars but also of forced migrations, diseases, and the destruction of the accustomed way of life. Tribes That Disappeared Forever Historical documents and official statements mention specific peoples that have ceased to exist as separate communities. New England and Eastern Seaboard Tribes. As a result of conflicts with colonists and policies of displacement, such tribes as the Pequot, Mohegan, and Massachusetts completely disappeared. Their lands were seized, and they were either destroyed or assimilated. Florida Tribes. After a series of wars (especially the Third Seminole War, which ended in 1858), fewer than 200 survivors of numerous Florida tribes remained, hiding in the Everglades swamps. Other groups, such as the Calusa, disappeared completely. Texas and Louisiana Tribes. Sources mention as almost extinct the Karankawa on the Texas coast and the Chitimacha in Louisiana, of which only small groups remained. Other Extinct Peoples. Old lists also include the Fall Indians and other groups that had ceased to exist as independent entities by the time of systematic records. How It Happened: The Policy of Destruction The disappearance of tribes was not a coincidence. Generals of the American Civil War, such as William Sherman and Philip Sheridan, openly spoke about the need to resolve the Indian question through destruction. Sheridan is attributed w ... Read more