Native Americans - Family Life

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• Girls commonly married between the ages of 15 and 17, and boys from about 18 to 20. Marriages were arranged by the parents, who were from different clans.
• Women outnumbered men two to one. A man could have many wives, depending on how able he was to provide for them. Women made and owned all the household goods. Men owned their weapons and their clothing.
• Children were important to the prosperity of the group. Children were treated like responsible individuals and members of the group almost from infancy, in order to let them develop into self reliant adults.

How do they compare? Native Americans | French Settlers | African Slaves

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96