Being a Native American in America
During the Westward Expansion
What does it mean to be an American as a Native American during Westward Expansion?
Being an American as a Native American during the Westward Expansion meant........
You were to be removed from the east and put in the west. "And, so Indian removal, as it has been politely called, cleared the land for white occupancy between the Appalachians and the Mississippi, cleared it for cotton in the South and grain in the North, for expansion, immigration, canals, railroads, new cities, and the building of a huge continental empire clear across to the Pacific Ocean." All native Americans were sent away to a new land in the west being forced away from the east.
All Native Americans were treated like animals instead of being treated like people.
Native Americans were forced to leave the east because all the pioneers made a law that the Native Americans can't live in the east. The pioneers felt that the Native Americans were a burden to them, taking up space while their entire population was in full bloom and there was too many people living in the same place. "... White men called the Indians savages because that made it easier to hate them, And hating them made it easier to drive them off or kill them and take their land." White man were careless about the resources the Native Americans could provide them.
Native Americans had to act like a white man
Native Americans were forced to adapt to The "White Man's world." Meaning they had to become a part of the white man's civilization and do things as a white man. If the Native Americans did not adapt to being a white man they were to be without protection of the United States, without money, and at the mercy of the United States. "The Cherokees had adopted to some white customs." Native Americans were not allowed to be who they were, but fake being someone they weren't. Native Americans had to stop doing what they believed in and start believing in what they did't believe in.
Home was lost forever
Pioneers made a law that Native Americans could not live in the east any more and had to move to the west. Meaning they had to leave their homes forever because of the pioneers.
Left sacred ancestors
Brutally forced to leave the east and go towards the west of the Mississippi River. Having to leave their ancestors that they all cared for dearly and felt blessed to have.
Bullied by Americans
The Americans sold the Native Americans alcohol to weaken their resistance to leave. They would also beat the Native Americans so they would leave. The Americans killed the Native Americans game so there was no food left for the Native Americans to eat.
History of Native American Indians, Documentary - Pt. 1/4
The Great Native American Expansion
The Native Americans were forced to go west progressively throughout the years. They had to be good at building buildings that were meant for harsh climates.They also had to be good at creating new things so they could live. They also had to make safe homes so that when a next generation was created they would have a home for them to live in.
Native American Flute Music: Meditation Music for Shamanic Astral Projection, Healing Music
(Davidson, James West and Michael B. Stoff. America History of Our Nation. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2006. Print.)
DeFelice, Cynthia. Weasel. New York: Avon Books, Inc., 1990. Print
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States. New York: The New Press, 2003. Print.