Lord Acton said, “The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by its minorities.” In the late 1800’s the security of the minorities in the southwest was in serious jeopardy. For the Apache’s the security was promised but rarely upheld by the American government. The minimal security the Navajo enjoyed vanished by 1846. Men like Kit Carson desired but often failed to maintain the peace and security for these Indian tribes.
Kit Carson’s actions and the actions of others began the deterioration of the Indian culture in the southwest. The decline of the Indian southwest was caused by the idea of Manifest Destiny, which led to Indian confinement to reservations and the decline of Native American society.
The idea of Manifest Destiny led the Americans to war with Mexico. In 1846, America gained control of what is now the Southwest. With this acquisition, America inherited years of Navajo-Mexican warfare. The Mexicans became American citizens; the Natives, being Indians, did not. Therefore, Indians were punished for attacks on Mexicans but not vice-versa (Brown 14). General Stephen Watts Kearney put it this way, addressing the Mexicans: 'The Apaches and the Navajos come down and carry off your sheep and your women whenever they please. My government will correct all this. They will keep off the Indians, protect you in persons and property " (L.
Bailey 2). American officials, in an attempt to halt conflict between the Indians and the new settlers, prevent expensive wars, and open up lands to white settlers, created reservations for the Indians, crowding the Indians into areas and constricting them from finding or growing food. Wi...
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...hwest might still thrive today.
Bibliography
Bailey, Lynn. The Long Walk. Pasedena: Socio-Technical Books, 1970.
Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. Chicago: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
Debo, Angie. Geronimo The Man, His Time, His Place. University of Oklahoma Press, 1976.
Hurtado, Albert L, ed. Major Problems in American Indian History. Lexington, Massachusetts, D.C. Heath and Company, 1994.
Quaife, Milo Milton. Kit Carson’s Autobiography. University of Nebraska Press, 1935.
Simmons, Mark S. “Kit and the Indians“ University Press of Colorado, 1996. Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, 1868.
Utley, Robert M. The Indian Frontier of the American West 1846-1890. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1984.
White, David. It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New History of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.
In this essay, the author
Explains that the security of the indian southwest was in serious jeopardy in the late 1800's. the minimal security the navajo enjoyed vanished by 1846.
Explains that kit carson's actions and others began the deterioration of the indian culture in the southwest. the idea of manifest destiny led to indian confinement to reservations and the decline of native american society.
Explains that the idea of manifest destiny led the americans to war with mexico.
Explains that american officials created reservations for the indians, constricting them from finding or growing food, and adding more people to the united states in general.
Explains that the first people attracted by the opening of the land were miners, followed by entrepreneurs to capitalize on new mining settlements. the tension came to a head in 1860 when an apache chief, mangas coloradas, visited the mining camp alone in good faith.
Explains that the disappearance of an eleven-year-old boy in one of the cattle raids began a bloody chain of events in apache history. lieutenant bascom was sent with about 50 men to recover the missing boy.
Analyzes how cochise denied having anything to do with the boy and cut his way out of the tent. he took three hostages from a stage station and offered an exchange.
Explains that the government created a plan to contain the indians, despite the fact that it was indian land being invaded.
Opines that the sacredness of this obligation shall never be lost sight of by the saidgovernment, when providing for the removal of indians from any portion of said territories, or for its settlement by citizens of the united states.
Explains that in 1871 congress appropriated seventy thousand dollars for the apaches of arizona and new mexico upon reservations, furnishing them with subsistence and other necessary articles, and to promote peace and civilization among them.
Describes how general oliver otis howard met with the warm springs apache and was told of their removal and placement in the tularosa valley.
Explains that the tularosa reservation was abandoned and the apaches settled in warm springs. the agent john clum liked indians and treated them with respect.
Explains that indian – white relations were in the best state since the 1860s, but the indian office began to carry out the concentration policy. this cruel and stupid uprooting of barely tamed hostiles brought eleven more years of apache wars.
Explains that the apaches were not the only victims of the american pursuit of manifest destiny. in 1863, american general james carleton told the navajo that there would be no peace until they left their homeland and went to a small reservation called bosque redondo.
Analyzes how the government used brutal and ruthless tactics to deal with the indians.
Explains how the army attacked navajos on sight and attempted to destroy their ability to make a living, by killing animals and burning land.
Analyzes how carleton gave an order to kill every navajo off the reservation without a pass in 1865.
Explains that james carleton and kit carson were american military leaders involved in indian affairs. carson grew up in a hostile indian country, where war parties of indians gather and arrange themselves to do battle.
Explains that the constant struggles between the american military and the indians inched its way into the lives of the trappers.
Explains that many trappers had to absorb the cultures and attitudes of the native americans. carson married a few indian maidens and accepted indian speech, costume, and modes of conduct.
Explains that the fight between indians and the american military caused many injustices, including the atrocities that carson was ordered to commit towards the native americans.
Explains that carson's loyalty to the united states gave him a sense of duty, leading him into acts against those who taught him survival in the wild. he was feared and sought after to lead many war parties against the native americans.
Explains that carson's knowledge of the indians' plan of attack would give him even more power and authority among the united states military.
Analyzes how kit carson's relationship with native americans enabled him to have inside knowledge of indian battle techniques. the navajo, who at first had good relations with carson, were forced to live on an unsuitable reservation.
Cites bailey, lynn, bury my heart at wounded knee, debo, angie, urtado and quaife.
It had previously been the policy of the American government to remove and relocate Indians further and further west as the American population grew, but there was only so much...
In this essay, the author
Opines that panzeri, peter. 1995. little big horn 1876: custer's last stand.
Describes mcmurtry's book, oh what a slaughter: massacres in the american west: 1846-1890.
Describes wagner, frederic, and macfarland and company. participants in the battle of little big horn.
Analyzes how ltc george armstrong custer failed to effectively apply mission command as a warfighting function during the battle of little bighorn.
Throughout the comparatively recent history of the United States, there have been many obstacles that the relatively young nation has had to overcome. Even before the nation had obtained its independence from Britain, there were conflicts with the Natives of the new land. Then wars were fought for other countries benefit, on their own soil. Then, of course, there was the Revolutionary War, fought in the late 1770’s, in which British colonists rose up against their British fathers in order to gain economic, religious and political freedom. After the acquirement of their independence as a nation, there were still many conflicts that the fledgling country had to worry about. The continent of North America was still controlled by other European superpowers, not to mention the multitudes of Native Indians that populated the lands west of the Appalachians. In order to combat other world powers as well as increase their own wealth, trade, and influence, the Americans adopted an attitude of ‘Manifest Destiny’, in which westward expansion was priority and their right. This however, led to more troubles and conflicts with the Natives of the land. The Indians west of the Appalachian m...
In this essay, the author
Describes tecumseh's early life, birth and influences, american events, religious support, campaigning throughout the frontier, treaty of fort wayne, battle of tippecanoe, weakening of the confederation, war of 18121.
Explains that the american frontier-men found a major obstacle in the shawnee leader, tecumseh, as he wielded more power than any other north american indian before him.
Explains that tecumseh was the son of puckeshinwau, a chief of the kispapocoke clan, and methoataske, who belonged to the creek tribe.
Explains that tecumseh had a mixed upbringing in his formative years, and his encounters with the americans were often negative.
Analyzes how tecumseh hated turning away from the indian traditions and wanted the natives to return to their previous way of existence, one of living off the land and not at the mercy of traders.
Explains that tecumseh formulated a plan to counter the threat the americans posed, which he spent most of his life trying to fulfill.
Explains that tecumseh was aided in spreading his idea by his brother, tenskwatawa the prophet, who through trances, dreams and hallucinations developed a native religion which rapidly gained support throughout the tribes.
Describes how the brothers built prophet's town on the shores of the tippecanoe creek in present-day indiana, where they lived by the old traditions peacefully.
Narrates how governor harrison called indian chiefs to fort wayne, where he obtained their signatures on a treaty, ceding three million acres of land in indiana, some of which belonged to tribes not present.
Narrates how tecumseh took three hundred warriors with him to meet harrison at vincennes. he presented the indian cause with such eloquence that the interpreter had a hard tome following him.
Explains that tecumseh was set on war and hoped for british support against the americans. he crossed into canada to obtain support from the british. harrison wanted an excuse to attack village while they lacked their powerful leader.
Describes how tecumseh was flung into war before he could construct a strong indian union.
Analyzes how tecumseh was furious when he returned from his travels in the spring of 1812. the majority of the inhabitants of prophet's town were gone, and the growth of his confederation had been delayed.
Explains that the battle of tippecanoe diminished much of the power that tecumseh and his brother once held, but there was still a chance for his plan to succeed: the coming war between britain and the united states.
Explains that the united states declared war against britain, sending agents to the frontiers to enlist indians, but the british saw them as a definite force multiplier.
Narrates how tecumseh decided to side with the british and took command of the indians. he argued passionately against joining the americans.
Narrates how he visited the southern tribes and told them that the americans would make them give up their traditions so they had to fight back. the british forces soon arrived at pensacola gave guns and ammo to the tribe.
Analyzes how the war was evenly matched between the natives, the british, and the americans until september 10th, 1813, when commodore perry of the american navy gained control of lake erie.
Opines that tecumseh was the greatest indian leader of his era. he succeeded in stopping the american westward movement into indian territory by creating a united indian front and later assisting the british in the war of 1812.
Cites bearcroft, bw, blodget, brian, coit, margaret, and debo, angie. the last fighting indians of the american west.
The Indian Frontier of the American West tells a story of the different Indian tribes and whites from 1846 to 1890. This period of time is very famous in American history. It produced some of the most widely heard of names in the battles between Indians and whites. These names include Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe, Sitting Bull of the Oglala Sioux, Cochise, Geronimo, and Mangas Coloradas, and John Ross of the Cherokee Nation. These names are still very respected among historians and are seen throughout history books used in schools across the nation. These names were involved in many battles with whites in the middle of the nineteenth century. In this book, Robert Utley describes how many different Indian cultures survived between 1846 and 1890. Utley also spent some time in discussing how Americans felt about Indians. This book also talked about how the American government was run, and how they dealt with the different Indian cultures. This book had a couple of interesting stories in it also. The dozens of cultures depicted in this book really made it somewhat interesting to read.
In this essay, the author
Analyzes how robert utley's the indian frontier of the american west tells a story of different indian tribes and whites from 1846 to 1890.
Narrates the story of yellow wolf, a strong and wise cheyenne indian. he was known for his leadership in battles with the utes, pawnees, kiowas, and comanches.
Opines that grant's peace policy was based on christianity and peace, rather than force of arms, and called for men of religious conviction to be appointed to agency posts.
Describes colonel ely s. parker as one of the strongest forces guiding grant. he betrayed his racial origins and became a fixture in both the white and indian worlds.
Analyzes the wars that broke out in light of the peace policy. the policy was to place all indians on reservations, where they could be kept away from settlements and travel routes.
Opines that the struggle of indians in the 1800's symbolizes the struggles that some american indian people still go through today.
West, Elliott, Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers and the Rush to Colorado, (University Press of Kansas,
In this essay, the author
Analyzes how the rapid expansion of white settlements across the front range signified the end of their nomadic way of life and new growth and promise for the white population.
Analyzes how elliott west presents a convincing argument for the reasons for conflict between not just two human groups, but also between humans and their environment.
Cites west, elliott, contested plains: indians, goldseekers and the rush to colorado, university press of kansas.
Analyzes the history of the american west in elliot west's book, contested plains: indians, goldseekers and the rush to colorado.
One of the critical tasks that faced the new nation of the United States was establishing a healthy relationship with the Native Americans (Indians). “The most serious obstacle to peaceful relations between the United States and the Indians was the steady encroachment of white settlers on the Indian lands. The Continental Congress, following [George] Washington’s suggestion, issued a proclamation prohibiting unauthorized settlement or purchase of Indian land.” (Prucha, 3) Many of the Indian tribes had entered into treaties with the French and British and still posed a military threat to the new nation.
In this essay, the author
Describes the significant treaties, policies, and events that defined us government and native american relations.
Explains how the treaties, doctrines, and congressional acts affected the lives of indian tribes within the limits of the united states.
Explains that government trading houses suffered economically and private trading interests succeeded in bringing about the abolition of this institution via an act of congress may 6, 1822.
Explains that the issue of indian removal increased as georgia pressed the federal government to hold to its promise of april 24, 1802, in exchange for the state’s western land claims.
Explains that the oregon, kansas, texas, and gadsden purchase territories were acquired within this period. the discovery of gold in california in 1849 initiated a flood of immigration west.
Explains that the united states was engaged in a civil war that tested the union. the government used this might to control the increased indian hostilities in the west.
Explains that the removal and relocation had tremendous consequences for many of the eastern tribes. the bureau of indian affairs replaced their council governments.
Explains that the 1950s, an era of strict conformity, nourished the red scare (communism).
Analyzes how the american struggle for defining democracy used the relations with the indian unwittingly as its tool.
Explains that the us government was careful not to antagonize the indians and sought to treat them with mutual respect.
Explains the end of the infamous indian wars and the massacre of 230 sioux at wounded knee on the pine ridge reservation.
Explains that the meriam report of 1928 set the tone of the fourth period of us and indian relations.
Explains that congress passed public law 280, which changed the tribal relationship with the federal government and affected tribal self-determination.
States that the current period of indian relations began with the presidential election of john kennedy and the era of civil rights.
Cites bailey thomas a., kennedy david m, the american pageant: a history of the republic, lexington, massachusetts, d.c. heath and company, and brown, dee.
The movement westward during the late 1800’s created new tensions among already strained relations with current Native American inhabitants. Their lands, which were guaranteed to them via treaty with the United States, were now beginning to be intruded upon by the massive influx of people migrating from the east. This intrusion was not taken too kindly, as Native American lands had already been significantly reduced due to previous westward conquest. Growing resentment for the federal government’s Reservation movement could be felt among the native population. One Kiowa chief’s thoughts on this matter summarize the general feeling of the native populace. “All the land south of the Arkansas belongs to the Kiowas and Comanches, and I don’t want to give away any of it” (Edwards, 203). His words, “I don’t want to give away any of it”, seemed to a mantra among the Native Americans, and this thought would resound among them as the mounting tensions reached breaking point.
In this essay, the author
Analyzes how president grant's "peace policy" led to a series of hostilities that were ruthlessly fought by the u.s. army.
Explains that the conquering of the american west took form in the economic expansion into the frontier of america.
Analyzes how the phrase 'manifest destiny' enraptured the united states during the late 1800's.
Analyzes how the expansion of the railroads in the west led to economic troubles in 1893, when three major rail companies declared bankruptcy.
"Chapter 2 Western Settlement and the Frontier." Major Problems in American History: Documents and Essays. Ed. Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, Edward J. Blum, and Jon Gjerde. 3rd ed. Vol. II: Since 1865. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. 37-68. Print.
In this essay, the author
Analyzes how the frontier became the place where many races blamed others for their problems, such as after the gold rush in california.
Explains that whites didn't allow blacks to vote despite the 15th amendment, while in the western frontier, they did. labor unions discriminated against blacks, restaurants and hotels were selective on whom they served, and housing segregation became common.
Explains that the mormons relocated to utah to plant and irrigate the land in which they were settling, which caused many people to hate them and discriminate them, such as missourians.
Explains that the wobbles were shot at as armed vigilantes and policemen tried to prevent them landing. whites attacked a colony of strikers killing two women and eleven children.
Analyzes how many racial groups who were being oppressed had to fight for civil rights and stop racially violence and discrimination.
Explains that immigrants from asia and europe came to the united states looking for a better future. in california, the whites attack the chinese blaming them for taking all of the jobs that were supposed to be for them.
Explains that chapter 2 of major problems in american history: documents and essays was written by elizabeth cobbs hoffman, edward j. blum, and jon gjerde.
Analyzes how patricia nelson limerick describes the frontier as a place of racial tension predominately.
Townsend, Kenneth William. World War II and the American Indian. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 2000. 145-48. Print.
In this essay, the author
Evaluates the extent to which the navajo code talkers assisted the american military during wwii, focusing on their involvement in transmitting military messages in their native tongue.
Explains that native american code transmission began in world war i with the choctaw indians, who were called "instrumental" in the attacks on germans in wwi.
Explains that the navajo and comanche indian code talkers were secretly awarded congressional gold medals for their contributions to america's victory over the japanese empire in world war ii.
Analyzes how dr. william c. meadows wrote the comanche code talkers of world war ii to explore his interest in the native americans and their contributions to american military affairs.
Explains that navajo code talkers and the unbreakable code was published on the central intelligence agency's website as a "featured story" in 2008.
Explains how the american military used comanche code talkers, which were native americans who would encrypt messages in code and then put it into their rare, native-american language.
Analyzes the irreplaceable value of the navajo code versus other codes used by the american military during wwii.
Concludes that the navajo code talkers' contributions were invaluable to the american war effort during wwii. they were instrumental in several major battles, like iwo jima.
Summarizes the hearing before the committee on indian affairs united states senate one hundred eighth congress second session on contributions of native american code talkers in american military history.
Cites meadows, william c., "navajo code talkers and the unbreakable code." central intelligence agency.
Describes takaki, ronald t., townsend, kenneth william, and nelson.
All in all, the treatment of the American Indian during the expansion westward was cruel and harsh. Thus, A Century of Dishonor conveys the truth about the frontier more so than the frontier thesis. Additionally, the common beliefs about the old west are founded in lies and deception. The despair that comes with knowing that people will continue to believe in these false ideas is epitomized by Terrell’s statement, “Perhaps nothing will ever penetrate the haze of puerile romance with which writers unfaithful to their profession and to themselves have surrounded the westerner who made a living in the saddle” (Terrell 182).
In this essay, the author
Analyzes how the idea of the western frontier of american history has been unjustly and falsely romanticized by the movie, novel, and television industries.
Explains that the vision of the west as it is commonly known is a myth. the herding business began in 1848, when texas cattle drovers herded their livestock north towards missouri.
Explains that the cattle herders' "historical significance is not to be found in beneficial contributions to the nation welfare, for they are worthy of note for the political corruption they engendered."
Explains that the cowboys refused to comply with this legislation and the cattle herding business was blatantly illicit. the range rights system was upheld in courts because the corruption of the "cattle kingdom" had infiltrated the judiciary system.
Explains that the zenith of the herding era occurred after the american civil war to the eighteen eighties.
Explains that cattle herding and cowboys were controlled by stockholders and other powerful influences. they also had to deal with investigators who observed movements along the range.
Argues that the frontier thesis, proposed by frederick jackson turner, disregards all of the atrocities which the americans expanding westward brought upon the natives americans.