Without a doubt, one event in the history of Native Americans overshadows all others in its impact on their culture - the discovery of the Western Hemisphere by European explorers. This catastrophic event is the main focus of The First Americans, which, having given an overview of Aboriginal concepts and history, traces the tumultuous relationship between Native Americans and Western settlers.

Wertz explains the relationship between Native Americans and their cultural roots in the modern world, tracing their history into the contemporary era. It is illustrated throughout with artworks, maps and photographs as well as painstakingly researched documents from US archives and private collections.