Examples Of Native American Genocide

Chirinos, Katherine
Professor Williams Sec 1018
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014
Genocide of the Indigenous We all see the Holocaust as something that might have only happened in Europe. At times, we forget that only Jews were prosecuted and assassinated for their religion. Before the Holocaust, indigenous Americans had their own holocaust too. Many of them were imprisoned, assassinated; land and possessions were taken away from them. Indigenous American’s created their own civilization and culture, political mythology does not allow exposure, and they experience the conquest and genocide. Many scholars focus on the holocaust, but there’s also the American Holocaust. The American Holocaust can the first example of conquer and genocide, excluding
the bible. Perhaps the entire indigenous American culture erased from the earth.
Indigenous’ cities and all of the monuments gone forever. History would have been lost of great leaders, architects and doctors. The leaders that created flourish cities being assassinated. This what happened when Native Americans were conquered by the Spanish conquistadors. The conquistadors entered the “New World” with hopes of finding treasures. The indigenous Americans went as far, as to help the conquistadors to survive, and get accustomed to their culture. The indigenous Americans taught the conquistadors about agriculture techniques, as well, construction and labor. A civilized hierarchical system of cultures and orders, better off than the ones existing in Europe was learned. Also they learned how to rule a successful civilization. This did not stop the conquistadors from harming those who had helped them. As they were being taught about the civilization they recognized the King or leader had the material possession, the possession they had been looking
for. The genocide committed against indigenous Americans by the conquistadores forces in search of power and greed at the highest level of wanting to extinct a civilization, culture or community. Today it is still being seen as something that never occurred. Political mythology to repress European’s remorse and power, to make their actions justified for generations and make the massacre of indigenous Americans appear to be unavoidable. Indigenous Americans were seen as savages, compared to beastly animals. It is something not true. Political Mythology keeps hidden numbers from being exposed. By not exposing the real number, people will feel, as the conquistadors did not commit any type of genocide, when in fact it is true. In “Elegy for the Great Inca Atawallpa” the writer describes how the conquistadors betrayed the great leader. It was an inhumane action towards him. Atawallpa was only used for his treasurers and possessions. Imprisoned as a ransom the conquistadors obtained the Inca’s gold and valuable possessions.
When the conquistadors obtained their treasures, Atawallpa was massacred.
The indigenous Americans trusted the conquistadors, but they Conquistadors did not trust them. The Incas weeping and without help not knowing what to do or whom to turn to. The Incas greeted the conquistadors and helped them, instead the Incas were dominated and brutally assassinated.
Political mythology portrays a different story. The indigenous Americans in Mexico and Central America were waiting for the “white man” whom would help them strives. The conquistadors believed the strong could dominate the weak. Europeans with confidence and arrogance thought it was right to destroy civilizations, and take valuable possessions when they wanted. Political Mythology lies and portrays the indigenous Americans as if they perpetuated their own Americna Holocaust.
Indigenous Americans had the valuables the conquistadors were searching for. In their eyes, the indigenous Americans were as savages, in fact, they were more advanced than any other civilization in Europe or in Asia. The Europeans with their power suppressed the weak and took advantage of them. To the point, of lying, assassinated, stealing, and humiliating the poor indigenous Americans. What the Europeans wanted to know was exterminated and take over the valuable possessions. Political Mythology until this day is changing the details of what happened in the 15th century, as some change what happened in the Holocaust. We must teach those who do
not believe, that are blinded by political mythology that it happened. History might repeat itself again!
Work Cited
Stannard, David E. American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World. New York: Oxford UP, 1993. Print.