Who inhabited the lands before they were divided up by US?

The lands now known as the United States of America were inhabited by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century. These indigenous peoples had diverse cultures, languages, and ways of life, and they occupied distinct regions of the continent. Some of the major groups include:

1. Arctic: Inuit, Aleuts, Yupik, and other indigenous groups lived in the Arctic regions.

2. Northeast: The Iroquois Confederacy and other Algonquian-speaking tribes dominated the Northeastern woodlands.

3. Southeast: The Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and other Southeastern tribes resided in this region.

4. Plains: Comanches, Sioux, Blackfeet, and other Plains Indians were nomadic hunters and gatherers who lived in the vast grasslands.

5. Southwest: Pueblo peoples such as the Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, and Apache, as well as other indigenous tribes, inhabited the Southwestern deserts and plateaus.

6. California: Diverse groups like the Ohlone, Miwok, Chumash, and Yokut resided in California, each with unique cultural traditions.

7. Pacific Northwest: Coastal Salish, Tlingit, Haida, and other Northwest Coast tribes occupied this region, relying on fishing and gathering as their primary means of sustenance.

It is important to recognize the rich diversity and contributions of these indigenous nations and cultures to the history of the Americas.