Final answer:
The history of the United States includes the genocide of Indigenous peoples through various policies and actions. Indigenous populations were almost completely wiped out through slaughter, wars, forced removal, and the loss of land and resources. Today, Indigenous peoples account for approximately 1% of the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genocide, the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation, is a term that defines the actions taken against Indigenous peoples through various policies and their impact. Entire populations were almost wiped out completely. In the Plains, the tribes were devastated by wholesale slaughter of buffalo, the main source of food, shelter, clothing, and considered spiritually significant. Additionally, countless wars have been waged against tribes within the U.S., resulting in some tribes becoming extinct. Furthermore, forced removal and the loss of land and resources has also been devastating. At one time in this country's history Indigenous people comprised 100% of the population. During the 1920's, however, Indigenous peoples faced near extinction, totaling a population of only 250,000. Today, Indigenous peoples account for approximately 1% of the population.