May 26, 2013
U.S. History
Mr. Betz
Research Paper Two books and other resources’ illustrations on the hardships Native Americans faced, proves the unethical values whites pushed on the Natives. By forcing the Native Americans into reservation camps while stealing their land from beneath them, the Natives were expected to erase their own culture and teachings and adopt the culture of the whites. Being Native American back in western times meant the migration of home, upbringing, and religion. The effects on the Natives made them despise the whites who had forced their religion, culture, and way of living down the throats of the tribes already inhabiting the land. The results of whites bringing Native Americans into the new world, Native Americans knew this meant sacrifices of their individualism, health, language, and proprietorship of their homes. White people traveling westward advancing into Native American territory thought that they were doing the Natives a favor. In reality, they were tearing apart their homes, their spirit, and their individualism. In Paula Gunn Allen’s book titled “Off the Reservation”, Allen illustrates the horrific tragedies Native woman faced during the white peoples’ attempt to Americanize the Natives. Allen shows that many women were raped while in the camps and were forced to give up their religious freedom for Christianity. Allen illustrates that the Native American spiritualism was based upon logic and myth always with deeper meaning than the white people could possibly understand. Allen shows the Natives valued everything they took from the earth and would in return give back to mother nature. Allen writes about the white people taking everything that would benefit them and giving nothing back in return, leading the Native Americans to believe that the white people were stingy and only had eyes for themselves. The Natives saw a corrupt race of people believing they were superior over any
Bibliography: http://www.allabouthistory.org/native-american-history.htm http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2536601290.html http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/25996.html https://segue.atlas.uiuc.edu/index.php?&site=mradova3§ion=4988&action=site