National Humanities Center — Humanities Education Programs

Fighting for Native America: The Southeast American Indian Response to the American Revolution

The American Revolution was not simply a conflict between Britain and the American colonies. Indigenous nations throughout North America faced difficult decisions about whether to support the British, the Americans, pursue their own diplomatic interests, or defend their sovereignty independent of both powers. These choices reflected distinct political goals, cultural priorities, and strategies for survival.

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Dates
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Format
Location
Virtual
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This event is from National Humanities Center — confirm details there before registering.

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Webinar Details

The American Revolution was not simply a conflict between Britain and the American colonies. Indigenous nations throughout North America faced difficult decisions about whether to support the British, the Americans, pursue their own diplomatic interests, or defend their sovereignty independent of both powers. These choices reflected distinct political goals, cultural priorities, and strategies for survival.

This webinar explores the varied responses of Southeastern Indigenous nations during the Revolutionary era, highlighting leaders and communities whose experiences are often overlooked in traditional narratives of the Revolution. Through these histories, participants will gain a broader understanding of Native sovereignty, diplomacy, and political decision-making during a transformative period in American history. Educators will leave with approaches for helping students examine the Revolution from multiple perspectives and incorporate Indigenous voices into their study of the nation’s founding.

Descriptions on this page were excerpted from National Humanities Center's own published materials.