Native Americans and Westward Expansion Essay

Although they reacted with sorrow, they also attempted to preserve their culture. For example, some even ground the bones of their ancestors and sewed them into their clothing (Watson 1999).

A similar story of Native American's peaceful reactions that were exploited by force is the history of Chief Joseph. This early recruit to Christianity was the chief mediator of peace between whites and his tribe, the Nez Perce, but when the tribe's land was taken, and the Native Americans were transferred to a reservation, the chief destroyed his symbols of American life and plunged his warriors into a miraculous series of battles ("Chief Joseph" 2001).Thus, Westward expansion was an opportunity for the white Americans, but a cause for sorrow for the Native Americans, who reacted with peace and accommodation until human rights violations forced them to react with sorrow and violence.

References

American Westward Movement," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008

http://encarta.msn.com© 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Chief Joseph" 2001. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm (Accessed March 5, 2009).

Watson, C. 1999. The Choctaw Trail of Tears. Native Web. http://www.thebicyclingguitarist.net/studies/trailoftears.htm (Accessed March 5, 2009)......