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“Murder is murder, and somebody must answer. Somebody must explain the streams of blood that flowed in the Indian country in the summer of 1838. Somebody must explain the 4000 silent graves that mark the trail of the Cherokees to their exile. I wish I could forget it all, but the picture of 645 wagons lumbering over the frozen ground with their cargo of suffering humanity still lingers in my memory.” (Private John G. Burnet’s Account [1890]) Private John G. Burnet knew Indian removal was wrong, but he participated anyway. Putting aside questions of morality and individual guilt, how did larger structural forces like the law, politics, ideology, and economic factors shape Indigenous dispossession from the Conestoga Massacre in 1763 (Week 5), to the destruction of Haudenosaunee villages in the American Revolution (Week 7), to the forcible relocation of the Cherokee in the 1830s (Week 9)? In your essay, be sure to include at least one primary source by an Indigenous author.
Sample Answer
Title: Structural Forces and Indigenous Dispossession: Examining the Impact of Law, Politics, Ideology, and Economic Factors
Introduction:
The quote by Private John G. Burnet highlights the disturbing reality of Indigenous dispossession throughout American history. While individuals like Burnet recognized the wrongfulness of such actions, larger structural forces played a significant role in shaping the process of Indigenous removal. This essay will explore how law, politics, ideology, and economic factors influenced the dispossession of Indigenous peoples from the Conestoga Massacre in 1763 to the forcible relocation of the Cherokee in the 1830s. Additionally, this essay will incorporate primary sources by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors to provide a comprehensive analysis.
The Impact of Law:
The Conestoga Massacre in 1763, where a group of Native Americans was brutally attacked and killed by settlers, exemplifies the role of law in Indigenous dispossession. Despite legal protections granted to Indigenous communities, such as the Treaty of Easton in 1758, settlers often disregarded these laws to seize Indigenous lands. The failure of colonial authorities to enforce these legal protections enabled acts of violence and dispossession to occur unchecked.
Primary Source: The Speech of Canassatego (c. 1742): In this primary source, Canassatego, an Iroquois leader, addresses the colonial authorities and highlights the importance of respecting Indigenous land rights. His speech emphasizes the need for a lawful and just relationship between Indigenous peoples and settlers.
The Influence of Politics:
During the American Revolution, Indigenous communities faced further dispossession as political dynamics shifted. The destruction of Haudenosaunee villages exemplifies how political alliances and conflicts contributed to Indigenous displacement. Some Indigenous nations sided with the British in hopes of preserving their lands and sovereignty, while others aligned with the Patriots. Regardless of their choices, many Indigenous communities experienced devastating consequences as their territories became battlegrounds or were forcibly taken by either side.
Primary Source: Joseph Brant’s Letter to Captain Johnson (1775): In this primary source, Mohawk leader Joseph Brant writes to Captain Johnson, expressing his concerns about the encroachment on Indigenous lands and emphasizing the importance of maintaining their territorial rights amidst the ongoing conflict.
The Role of Ideology:
Ideological beliefs about Manifest Destiny and white supremacy played a crucial role in justifying the forcible relocation of Indigenous peoples during the 1830s. The removal of the Cherokee from their ancestral lands was facilitated by an ideology that deemed Native Americans as obstacles to progress and expansion. This belief system allowed for the erasure of Indigenous sovereignty and justified their removal for the benefit of white settlers.
Primary Source: Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831): In this primary source, the Cherokee Nation argues against Georgia’s attempt to extend state jurisdiction over their lands. The document highlights the legal battles fought by the Cherokee to protect their rights and sovereignty, demonstrating their resistance against dispossession.
Economic Factors:
Economic interests, such as land speculation and access to valuable resources, played a significant role in Indigenous dispossession. The desire for land for agricultural expansion, mineral extraction, and westward migration led to policies and practices that forcibly removed Indigenous peoples from their territories.
Primary Source: Elias Boudinot’s Speech at New Echota (1835): In this primary source, Elias Boudinot, a Cherokee leader, defends the Treaty of New Echota, which ceded Cherokee lands in exchange for compensation. Boudinot argues that accepting the treaty would provide economic benefits for his people, showcasing how economic factors influenced decision-making within Indigenous communities.
Conclusion:
Larger structural forces, including law, politics, ideology, and economic interests, shaped Indigenous dispossession from the Conestoga Massacre to the forcible relocation of the Cherokee. The analysis of primary sources by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors provides a comprehensive understanding of these forces and their impact on Indigenous communities. By recognizing these structural forces, we can better understand the complex dynamics that perpetuated dispossession while acknowledging and honoring the resilience and resistance demonstrated by Indigenous peoples throughout history.
