Paper
Marie Maffei
Dr. Jordan
College Writing II
February 4, 2001
Bias History
While researching the early relations between the American Indians, and the first European settlers, Jane Tompkins found that the way history was recorded seemed to mislead her. In her essay “ ‘ Indians’: Textualism, Morality, and the problem of History,” Tompkins found that the historians put prejudice facts, and looked down upon Native Americans. Clearly it is seen that even through time, historians are still this way. This dilemma must be illuminated to find out who and why this has happened.
Some of the historical cases that Tompkins read were of the time of the exploration. When first coming to America, the Europeans knew only the life that they lived, so when they saw what the Native Americans were doing, they were perplexed. Seeing what they did, puritans automatically came to the assumption that they were barbaric savages. Some of the earliest accounts often change views and could confuse people. One source says that they were loving people, the others tell of how they treated each other and captives. William Wood, a writer in London, wrote, “…they are loving people, but also win the love of those that never saw them, and wipe off that needless fear that is too deeply rooted in the conceits…”(272). On a contrary to this Alexander Whitaker, a minister, wrote “these naked slaves…serve the divell for feare, after a most base manner, sacrificing sometimes…their own children” (573). In this situation it is hard to tell what the American Indians were really like. Either they were too different tribes, or they felt like manipulating the prosperous settlers. Little did they realize that people would look back to this information hundreds of years later
Early writers, giving the perception of Native Americans as they did, “rectified” the more resent and not so recent historians. Historians of this era, such as Perry Miller, tend to view the American Indians the same way that the first discoverers did. He writes of how the United States was “vacant” when first explored. Perhaps he is missing the key element of the Native Americans. This view, or not one at all, of not associating American Indians as people has been passed down from generation to generation. When Tompkins was a child she remembered going to the park to see the Native Americans being shown off as if they were caged animals in a zoo, although she always thought that going to see them was a “disappointment.” This is how she was brought up to be, but her mind didn’t stay hooked on that and keep her feeling superior. There were many after the 1960’s that started to view the Native Americans as equals and people.
What is the reason for this happening? Not having an open mind, this is why this happened. The early puritans, and present day historians had no realization that other people live lives, and that their cultures are just as justified as theirs are. From the beginning the Native Americans were having their heads messed around with. In Francis Jennings’s “The Invasion of America” he talks about how they rape, murdered, scalped, tortured, burned their homes…the list goes on. From the beginning they were treated very poorly. The closed minded ways of the puritans established a uniform feeling about the Native Americans for centuries. This feeling has been kept in people to only come up with the wrong impression, and make others feel the same bad impression.
This attitude towards the American Indians is sad. What did they do to deserve this? In present day less people are feeling this way about the Native Americans. Though people are still forming bias’s against them, most people are trying to makeup for their losses that the colonial Americans caused.
Другие работы по теме:
Betrayal Of The Native Americans Essay Research
Paper Thanksgiving has lost most of its original meaning. Originally it was the day we celebrated the goodness that the Native American Indians shared with the original New Englanders the day they arrived. But now it has become just a stepping-stone for Christmas.
Revolutionary War 2 Essay Research Paper The
Revolutionary War 2 Essay, Research Paper The British lost and the Americans won the Revolutionary war. Though this is true there are arguments that the British lost the war more than the Americans won it. The Americans were under the control of the British and the Americans at first did not even have the intention of independence.
How Things Happen And Reoccur In History
Essay, Research Paper The colonies of the late 1600?s and the early 1700?s were formed because in England many people were being persecuted because of their religious beliefs. So to get away from the persecution, the people of England wanted to go to a place where everything seemed perfect( because that?s what the advertising for America was saying).
Electoral Systems Essay Research Paper From my
Electoral Systems Essay, Research Paper From my limited studies of comparative government I have come to the conclusion that a plurality type of electoral process where winner takes all is a superior compared to proportional representation for several key reasons. Proportional representation is based on having an election based on census instead of consensus.
Progress Of Humanity Essay Research Paper Does
Progress Of Humanity Essay, Research Paper Does the progress of humanity ignited by Columbus justify the cost of the lives of the Native Americans? No… human progress is not justified by the cost of Native American lives. The Native Americans died due to the greed of Columbus. By killing the Native Americans, Columbus did not aid the progress of humans.
The Constitution
’s Effect On Native Americans Essay, Research Paper The Constitution’s effect on Native Americans The Constitution had a great effect on Native Americans in general. They were effected in three major ways. They are; the change in where they lived and what land was considered theirs, what Religious rights they had and/or have, and lastly, how they have gone from living freely to living on reservations.
Wikiash Essay Research Paper Native American literature
Wikiash Essay, Research Paper Native American literature is, in general, not to my liking. I find that it is very often too far-fetched for even my imagination. Most Native American pieces are more like children’s fairy tales, than serious accounts of Indian history.
Peyote Essay Research Paper PeyoteA Native Americans
Peyote Essay, Research Paper Peyote: A Native Americans Way of Life The Native American tribes of Mexico and North America have used peyote in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. Peyote in an Indians eye is a healing drug, a medicine . North Americans might say it s a hallucinogenic drug and that it is very dangerous to one s health.
Early Settlements Essay Research Paper The New
Early Settlements Essay, Research Paper The New cHaOtiC World Three completely different cultures clashed together and triggered the confusions all three worlds had against each other. All their misunderstandings then turned into a whole New World that still remains. Today, this New World is one of the main confinements for crimes.
Dreaming Through Reservation Blues Essay Research Paper
In Reservation Blues, Sherman Alexie extensively uses dreams to portray the relationship between white people and Native Americans. The dreams depict a constant struggle between the two societies, as well as a gradual extinction of the Indian culture. A complete picture of the Native American way of life could be seen from examining these dreams—and its not a pretty one.
Native American Relations Essay Research Paper During
Native American Relations Essay, Research Paper During the numerous years of colonization, the relationship between the English settlers and the Native Americans of the area was usually the same. Native Americans would initially consider the settlers to be allies, then as time passed, they would be engaged in wars with them in a struggle for control of the land.
Indian Mascots Essay Research Paper In these
Indian Mascots Essay, Research Paper In these types of cases where there is a dispute over Native American mascots, there are pros and cons on both sides. On the one hand, there is much pride in a schools mascot. It symbolizes the pride in the school and promotes the spirit of the crowd. Fans and students of the school look at those mascots and feel a rush of school spirit that only the mascot can bring out.
Puritan And Native American Conflict Essay Research
Paper Puritans were members of a religious and social movement of the 1500?s and 1600?s. This movement had its roots in England and spread to America. Puritanism, as this movement was called, affected the social, the political, and the religious aspects these people?s lives. It also affected the surrounding peoples in similar ways.
The Westward Expansion Essay Research Paper The
The Westward Expansion Essay, Research Paper The westward expansion was a new concept for Americans in the 1770s. In their minds there was a abundance of land out west just waiting to be claimed. The people that moved out west thought they were doing no harm, but in reality they committing genocide which is the complete annihilation of an entire race of people.If somebody is taking things from you that is very special to you what is your natural reaction?.
Colonization Essay Research Paper During the early
Colonization Essay, Research Paper During the early years of colonization and exploration in North America and Africa, many New World “collided” and brought to each other many new things, both good and bad. There were exchanges of ideas, products and crops that greatly advanced the cultures of all involved, but on the other hand, new diseases, and harsh treatment of one another were also present.
America Colonization Essay Research Paper Upon the
America Colonization Essay, Research Paper Upon the European’s discovery and colonization of the Americas an irreversible transformation was triggered. The extreme differences in the cultures of the Europeans and Native Americans would prove to be fatal to the way of life that existed before European colonization.
Chief Tecumseh Essay Research Paper The demise
Chief Tecumseh Essay, Research Paper The demise of the Native Americans In my opinion, having only the education of experience, Chief Tecumseh was a very intelligent and insightful man. He realized, and refused to accept that the Native Americans were being stripped of their lives and lands through deception and violence.
Dances With Wolves Essay Research Paper A
Dances With Wolves Essay, Research Paper A major problem in the nineteenth century was westward expansion. Although the final outcome was good, it was a struggle to move thecountry into the wilderness. The government was greedy and wanted totake the Native Americans’ land away from them. As a political leaderin that time, I would not allow such a thing to happen.
Columbus 3 Essay Research Paper Essay on
Columbus 3 Essay, Research Paper Essay on Christopher Columbus Columbus as a man had many positive contributions as well as negative. People all over the world celebrate Columbus Day, because of his
Indian 2 Essay Research Paper When comparing
Indian 2 Essay, Research Paper When comparing the cultural differences between European Americans and Native Americans, nothing can be said about Native Americans as a whole. Every tribe is different from every other in some aspects and similar in other aspects. In general we can express cultural differences; how differently we see things and vision things, look at things, language, religion, and cultural holidays.
Ceremony Essay Research Paper The novel Ceremony
Ceremony Essay, Research Paper The novel Ceremony, written by Leslie Silko deals with the actions of a Native American youth after fighting, and being held captive during World War II. The young mans name is Tayo and upon returning to the U.S., and eventually reservation life he has many feelings of estrangement and apathy towards society.
Jacksonian Democracy Essay Research Paper DBQ
Jacksonian Democracy Essay, Research Paper DBQ ? Jacksonian Democracy Between the years of 1775 and 1825, the United States government was hypocritical with respect to their Native American policy. The government, at most times, claimed to be acting in the “best interest” of the Native Americans. They claimed that their actions were for the benefit of not only their own citizens, but for the Native Americans, too.
Native Americans Essay Research Paper The Native
Native Americans Essay, Research Paper The Native American Through time the concerns of a certain group can stay consistent. The legacy of common attitudes and goals of Native Americans of the last century have transcended to their present day descendents. The concerns of the last century Native Americans were that white men were infringing and stealing their land, while they were constantly trying to defend it.
Discovering Native Americans Essay Research Paper Ever
Discovering Native Americans Essay, Research Paper Ever since 1492 when Christopher Columbus first discovered the America’s, society has always held a fascination for the Native American Indian culture. Fear of the unknown established early a view of the American natives that was negative and misrepresentative.
Analysis Of The Sacred Pipe Essay Research
Paper The Sacred Pipe English The book that I read was The Sacred Pipe. It is an incredible account of the religious rights and culture of the Oglala Soiux. The God of the Soiux is Wakan Tanka and they believe that it is a three in one similar to what we would believe to be the God head. They believe that he is in all that is good and none that is evil.
Indian Relations Essay Research Paper Between 1875
Indian Relations Essay, Research Paper Between 1875 and 1925 the friendly relations with Indians prevented the loss of many American lives. By 1890 Americans had migrated all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The frontier era had
Am I Native American Essay Research Paper
Am I Native American? I was born here and have lived here for all my life. But according to many I am not Indian because I am not of Native American decent. The Native American population has all been reduced to a couple thousand due to war, famine, and disease. Technically I should be named a Native American, because I was born on American soil.
Native American Essay Research Paper The Native
Native American Essay, Research Paper The Native American s way of life was interesting and unique, describe to be savages, drunks and This paper will examine the Native American s character. During the 19th century, these peoples and their customs became well known, known as the stereotyped “Indian” customs the long feather headdress, the tepee (also spelled tipi), the stereotype ceremonial pipe, costumes, and dancing.
Stereotyping In Media Essay Research Paper STEREOTYPING
Stereotyping In Media Essay, Research Paper STEREOTYPING IN MEDIA Over the years, media representation and portrayals of Native Americans and visible minorities have come under increasing scrutiny. Negative stereotyping, under-representation and tokenism, which means making little or no effort to give minorities the same opportunities that the majorities are given, are the most common charges that have been brought up against advertisers and news and entertainment media.