Native American And The Early Republic Essay

Native Americans, or Indians, as they were mistakenly called, have been the “pathetic footnotes to the main course of American history” (Axtell 981). But James Axtell, the author of Colonial America without the Indians: Counterfactual Reflections, would beg to differ. He says that instead, Indians played a key role in making America great. James Murray gives another term to describe America’s greatness: America’s “exceptionalism.” Throughout his article Axtell makes many points as to why Indians played a vital role in “American Exceptionalism”. He even says that America wouldn’t have been colonized nearly as soon if the Indians were gone, because Columbus would know he was not in the Indies and move on. So because they simply existed in the first place, Axtell says they were significant in the history of our country. Furthermore, he says Indians specifically played a vital role in the exceptionality of America’s early economy, culture, and historical events and places.

Through the nineteenth century around one hundred thousand Indians were compel to move westbound far from their territory. There were five Indian tribes that

Native American’s greeted the new colonists in a friendly, welcoming manner from the start. The new colonists considered this a sign of weakness, stating how easy it would be to dominate the native people. When Columbus arrived, there were 12-15 million Native Americans in the Americas, in 1890 there was under 250,000, with 98% of the population gone. With the belief in Manifest Destiny, the colonists forced the Native American’s off their own land, farther and farther from where they originated from, and eventually onto reservations, removing them from their way of life and their culture. During the transition from their homeland to reservations, many of the Native American’s died due to disease, cold, hunger, and the hardships of travel. Along with the annexation, the colonists demanded assimilation.

In 1830, the Jackson administration instated the Indian Removal Act. This act removed the Native Americans from their ancestral lands to make way for an increase of additional American immigrants. This act forced many Native American tribes from their homes including five larger tribes, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creek, and Seminole. These tribes had populations were estimated to be around 65,000 people strong that lived in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. (Foner, 2012) The American Indians fought for their rights and beliefs through the American court system. Their other objective other than fighting for their rights was but in the end, they were forced out of their homes to move

The Indian Nations lost nearly half their land due to the Reconstruction treaties of 1866, which required the land lost to be used for resettlement of more Indian tribes. Indian populations within Indian Territory did not change much from 1865 to 1900, but the non- Indian populations soon outnumbered the Indian populations six to one (Baird and Goble, p 126). Lane – Pomeroy Plan pushed by the Kansas representatives, James Lane and Samuel Pomeroy, to pressure the Federal government to remove more Indians to Indian Territory (Baird and Goble, p 131). The Homesteading movement increased pressure to relocate Indians to Indian Territory to open up more lands in surrounding states for settlement. Upwards to 15,000 Indians were relocated to Indian Territory during the Second Trail of Tears (Baird and Goble, p 131). The increased diversity between Indian tribes and the growing non-Indian population created a tension for Indians to maintain control of Indian Territory, which grew worse as the territory edged closer to statehood.

During the end of the nineteenth century, the United States had formed policies which reduced land allotted to Native Americans. By enforcing these laws as well as Anglo-American ideals, the United States compromised indigenous people’s culture and ability to thrive in its society.

Ever since Columbus and the Conquistadors landed in the New World starting in 1492, natives of those lands have constantly subjected to being treated as lesser beings. One of the reasons for immigration to America in the 17th century was so that the civilized British might colonize and Christianize the savage, brutish Natives. The idea of Native Americans being lesser than the British-American immigrants continues to this do, though not quite so out-spoken. It was most prominent in the 1800’s when numerous tribes where forced to march to designated Native American reserves.

How the Indian Removal act of 1830 impacted the Native American community is by the false promise of new lands from relocation. In Document 1 by Andrew Jackson states “attempting to reclaim them from their wandering habits and make them a happy, prosperous people.”Both of these document show how even though they were forced out of their homes they were sent to “live & prosper” but actually kwer sent to live as savages.

The Indian removal was a 19th century course of action to forcefully migrate Native Americans. This originated from tribes living on land east of the Mississippi River being forced to move to the west from their own territory. The settlers were impatient for lands, and had harassed the government to gain more Indian Territory. However, throughout the seemingly “innocent” relocation process majority of Native American tribes were deceived through treaties and terribly treated thus fostering

As another decade started, so completed another lifestyle for the Cherokee. Many thousands moved to an Indian area where they were guaranteed to stay undisturbed. Be that as it may, history rehashes itself when the whites kept on stressing for more land, more cash, and more power. As they moved farther west, so did the Indians. Indian Territory progressed toward becoming Oklahoma, and their region wasn't theirs any more

As the white settlers took the Native American land, they were abandoned and displaced. Which is why the United States government put the Native Americans on reservations. Native Americans had a difficult time adjusting to life on the reservations. The land wasn’t as rich as it was in the land that was taken by the white settlers. (outside info)

The Indian Removal Act was passed that moved the all of the Indian Tribes and many died on the way to the new established territory for Indians

("Plight of the Indians < Growth and Transformation < History 1994 < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and Beyond") Because of this, villages have been destroyed for doing nothing but mourning. When Native Americans

In the 18oo's Native Americans and the United States government didn't get along so well. Native Americans were forced out of their land and forced to move somewhere else because the Americans wanted their land. Native Americans have suffered greatly. After World War II they didnt suffer as much as they did.

            The Native Americans were forced to change their religion, culture, and ways of living to live as a white man. They had no say they either had to accept and if they did not there would be repercussions. According to Dr. Gayle, he states