American Indians In The 19th Century

During the nineteenth century, American Indians were said to be weak and unadaptable to the rapidly changing situations they were facing. However, some contemporaries of the nineteenth century believed that American Indians were quite the opposite—adaptable, intelligent humans capable of competing with other people and continuing to prosper and thrive under their changing situations. Although it was proven false, American Indians were given the stereotype of being weak and quickly vanishing. Source 2, written by Lewis Henry Morgan, describes the differences that separated the Indians from others. He also described Indians as “savages.” “The Indian family of America, unlike any other existing family, exemplified the condition of mankind
in three successive ethnical periods..” This shows how the Indians were categorized based on their location. Morgan continues describing them, saying that the far northern Indians of North and South America were in “the upper status of savagery.” The Indians east of the Mississippi River were in the lower status of barbarism, and the village Indians of North and South America were in the “Middle Status.” Although it is not clearly clarified what Morgan means when he ranks the Indians based on their location, it is apparent that they are rated based on savagery, not wealth or prestige. It is important to note that his scale goes from more savage to less savage, but never a “no savage” option. This is important to note, because this would signify that no American Indian was considered not savage. All sources provided us with insight and further realization that American Indians were not looked upon as equal among their contemporaries. It is clear enough based on what they were called: savages. A savage was a person who lacked any characteristic that a civilized person had. This meant that in the eyes of Americans, the way of life American Indians carried were uncivilized and would eventually lead to their race and customs to dissolve into extinction. This term discriminated Indians and would place an incorrect stereotype among them. People began to develop myths, saying that American Indians were uncultivated and uneducated people. Their lack of education and civilization as Americans knew it would have them be considered uncivilized, and therefore that would lead to the inevitable, eventual extinction of the community.