Alot has been written about the Trail of Tears and how "Native Americans" were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands to locations farther west. While I don't condone the manner in which it was done, I wonder - "Was it such a bad thing?"
In order to assess the situation, one must remember that the United States in the early 19th century was in a state of expansion. The United States wanted access to lands controlled by various Indian tribes. To me, I see this as nothing more than a war in which one nation takes lands from another nation. Native Americans were given a peaceful option- join the United States or move elsewhere. Those Indians who chose not to join the U.S. knew their options and made their decisions thusly.
The Indian Removal Act paved the way for further expansion west for the United States, ultimately leading to the country as we now know it.
To put myself in the shoes (or moccassins) or the Native American people, it was a horrible time. But thus is the nature of war.
Jason Herbert
AMH 1041
TR 10:05
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3 comments:
I wonder if I am reading this post wrong or possibly just getting the wrong impression. The removal of Native Americans from there tribal lands, while understanding our nations expansion desires at the time, was done in a very horrible manner. The offers to become a part of the United States and "do as we do" mentality required that the Native Americans give up their culture and become paper cut outs of the people (mostly missionaries)that were teaching them. The children were not allowed to speak in their native language, wear their native clothing or practive their tribal rituals. I don't see how giving up everything they believed in and all the land they had always lived on could be remotely considered fair or a choice at all. "Give us all your lands and become one of us or die", Wow, what a choice.
Our country provided the tribes with rancid meat, alchol and other harmful and unecessary things that has led to the destruction of the Native American population.
I apologize, I posted a comment about the "Indian Removal Act" post on 9-19 at 7:36 pm and didn't sign my name.
Kate Rudolph
AMH 1041
10:05 to 11:20 T and R
Isn't "give us all your lands and join us or die" essentially the war making philosophy of all conquering peoples through history? I haven't read many papers from the Romans apologizing to the Gauls. And I'm positive that Attila never sent a Hallmark card after he, in turn, sacked Rome.
I think most Americans are not far enough removed from the situation. The conquering of the American West happened less than two hundred years ago. Terrible things were done to these people, without a doubt. But, these things were not done without historical precedence.
Ultimately, nations are subject to the most basic of nature's laws: survival of the fittest. European immigrants were stronger, more disease resistant, arrived in greater numbers, and most importantly had greater technology than their native adversaries.
Going a step further, one could argue that the current Native American populations here in the United States should not be given any additional rights (tax breaks, etc.) than any non-Native American people. Ultimately, we are talking about a conquered nation(s) that was not strong enough to fight off an invading people and were forced into annihilation.
Jason Herbert
AMH 1041
TR 10:05
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