Final answer:
Early textbooks stereotyped Native Americans as noble savages lacking civilized traits, justifying the dispossession of their lands. This contrasts with scientific perspectives that highlight the complex cultures and agricultural revolutions of Native Americans following pre-Clovis migration patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first humans and Native Americans to settle in North America have been portrayed in textbooks with various stereotypes. Early descriptions framed them as noble savages, living in harmony with nature but supposedly lacking legal systems, concepts of time, or the use of money. This led to the perception that they were uncivilized, did not fully deserve rights comparable to White, Christian Europeans, and that their lands were available for taking. These stereotypes were instrumental in justifying the progressive dispossession of Native lands, particularly during the establishment and violation of reservation boundaries.
Scientifically, it is agreed that the Americas were first settled by a pre-Clovis population, though major archaeological questions still exist about their migration patterns. Native Americans were not idle during the almost 12,000 years of isolation from Eurasia; they developed sophisticated cultures and agricultural practices, including the cultivation of staple crops. The Clovis first paradigm suggests that after crossing over from Asia, these populations hunted large animals but recent evidence suggests a more complex prehistory.
European settlement in North America led to the exploitation and abuse of Native Americans, with attempts to enslave them and denial of U.S. citizenship, since they were viewed as citizens of other nations. Despite the fact that Native American tribes were designated as sovereign, conflict arose as American settlers moved west, often ignoring the rights and treaties established with Native tribes.