Stolen Native Americans Who Shaped US History

Historian Linford D. Fisher discusses the enslavement of 600,000 Native Americans between 1492 and 1880 and its impact on tribal societies.

Between 1492 and 1880, about 600,000 Native Americans were enslaved in what would become the United States. That's the figure estimated by historian Linford D. Fisher in his book Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in US History — one of the books shortlisted for the 2026 Kendall History Prize. In today's episode, he talks to Matt Elton about the extent of slavery, the impact it had on tribal communities, and its legacy today.

Emily Brief is a senior content producer (podcast) at HistoryExtra

This page contains History Extra content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before downloading anything, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, select "Accept and Continue" to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.