Native Ground: Indigenous Communities and Colonization Before 1900

“Native Ground” will introduce students to the depth of Native American history in what is now the United States, as well as its diversity. From this foundation, the course will move to consider the implications of the invasion from Europe, the founding of European colonies, and the eventual (not inevitable) establishment of the United States and its expansion across Native North America. The course will emphasize the resilience of Indigenous communities in the face of relentless colonial pressure. Along the way, students can expect to learn about several related topics, including the historiography of Native America and the image of the “Indian” in the American mind.
Matt Jennings joined the Macon State College (now Middle Georgia State University) faculty in 2007, after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. His research interests include Native American history, early American history, and the history of violence. He is currently studying the relationship between Native American peoples and the mounds at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and the intertwined history of tourism and archaeology at the site, as well as homeland-oriented displays in tribal museums in Oklahoma. Matt has also studied Thomas Paine’s interactions with Native Americans and the roots of John Brown’s ideas about violence. His current research includes work with the Acme Brewing Historical Society and Georgia and a study of the Ocmulgee River region during the War of 1812, as well as side trips into pop culture history. He has presented numerous papers, and published several books, including _New Worlds of Violence_, _The Flower Hunter and the People_, and _Ocmulgee National Monument: A Concise History with Field Notes_.