Premium Essay

Native American History

In:

Submitted By JosphatMinja
Words 5174
Pages 21
Name: Josphat Minja
29 September 2014
INTRODUCTION
Culture is that aspect or part of our existence or life that makes us different to the majority of the world but similar to certain people. It is a way of life common to a particular group of people who share a collection of attitudes, beliefs and patterns of behavior that enable them to live together in harmony but at the same time setting them apart from other people. One such culture is that of the Native Americans. Native Americans have diverse and rich cultures that are based on a deep spiritual relationship with the land they live in and the natural resources. They have a history that is rich in strife, struggle and triumph. In fact, most of America’s modern life is considered to be adapted from native Indian cultures practiced many centuries ago. This then shows that there is a lot to be learned from the Native America cultures as well as their beliefs about their relationship to the natural world. This paper is aimed at analyzing the Native American culture and the European culture with an emphasis on their beliefs about the natural world as well as their agricultural techniques and how they relate to the modern world.
Many of the familiar features in modern day America that may be taken for granted originated from the Native Americans. The peace pipe, moccasins, totem pole and the teepee are an example of integral pieces that wove together a large picture of the Native American culture. Everything from animals to plants to the weather and housing became a part of the Indian and Native American culture. The animals were valued as spirits and even though they were hunted and killed, their hides and skins were used as drums and clothing, the meat from the animals was never wasted and the animal spirits lived on in the Native American’s minds. The plants were also used for various purposes. They were cultivated,

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Native American History Dbq

...The forced relocation of Native Americans is one of the biggest failures of US history as the US deprived Native Americans their rights as well as their land. Ever since white settlers arrived in North America, Native Americans had been viewed as savages and “uncivilized” and were pushed west with increasing Europeans encroachment. They were considered as the “Indian problem” that the great white man should make an effort to civilize them by converting them to Christianity and reactions from the Natives varied. Some adapted English ways, and some resisted in court or militarily. President Andrew Jackson was a planter that viewed Indians to be inferior and waged brutal campaigns against Native Americans. After Jackson won the election in 1828, the first major legislation he recommended and passed...

Words: 511 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Synthesis Essay On Native American History

...Many Americans are unaware of the past that this nation was built upon. History was changed, never taught, and hardly spoken about our education system. It's no secret what our nation was built on, slavery and bloodshed, but one of the main components sacrificed for our nation is hardly spoken about or referenced in that matter. Through the centuries our nation has entangled itself into a tree of darkness and evil. Attempts to cover up the light, forcing the people into the dark abyss. They have covered up or attempted to cover up, uneducated, and even misguided millions about our history. As the years pass, more and more has been uncovered bringing the true evil back to the surface so it can be diminished. Through slavery, genocide, and raping...

Words: 693 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Native Americans In American History: The California Gold Rush

...The Native Americans first became significant in states history in the Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans, who lived east of the Mississippi, farther west. Native Americans have a role in the state’s economy, economic goals, accomplished things, and have social goals. Native Americans role in the state’s economy is that they used buffalo meat for food and the bones, hide were used to make clothes, tepees, and tools. Some $10 billion (2002 dollars) in gold was mined from California, tribal lands between 1849 and 1862.The California Gold Rush was from 1848 through 1855 was in American history which began January 24, 1848. Gold was founded by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This...

Words: 337 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Hollywood's Wes Studi: The Reality Of Native American History

...hold it represents the reality of Native American history. A stagecoach is traveling through a desolate valley, when the passengers suddenly and without provocation find themselves surrounded, threatened, and eventually attacked for no reason by “injuns” on horses carrying guns and bows and arrows. Movies of Native Americans traveling in large groups circling wagons ready to attack innocent people played a pivotal role in promoting the image of the savage untamed Native American. While at the same time, the white settlers were portrayed as moral humans only trying to protect their land and their family from the brutal and savage Native Americans bent on killing as many white settlers as possible. Of course, there were conflicts and deaths, but very few were the result of hostility between settlers and Native Americans. When Native Americans tried to defend themselves and their land, settlers or troops attacked them. We learned from “Major Problems in the...

Words: 535 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Assimilation Research Paper

...Self-Actualization? Beginning with the first settlers from Europe in the New World, Native Americans have persistently been exploited for their land and resources. The creation of the United States of America spawned an unprecedented explosion of immigrants flocking to America, which created tensions with Native Americans over territory. Under the Jackson presidency and approved by the U.S. Congress, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 detailed a plan for the relocation of Native Americans, later known as the Trail of Tears. Standing their ground, the Native Americans resisted the advancements of the U.S. government, creating a new wave of battles within the Indian Wars. U.S. Army captain Richard Henry...

Words: 1480 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

African American Business

...To a larger degree, historians have examined the white American businesspeople about the economies and market cultures. This paper going to talk about the African American business and consumer cultures, such as blacks’ culture and entrepreneurship, African American and immigrant self-employment in the United States. Also the African Americans’ buying behavior like the selling strategy makes it success to African American, and what is the reason. At the end going to talk about cross-cultural business, how to do business in the African American community. Known African American’s culture and background history is always helps to be success to avoid the mistakes which you shouldn’t do. Directly relating African American History and African American Business leaders, Pharrell Williams would be the perfect example of how the Black history influences the ways of business in the African American community. A lot of people might argue that he is not business man but he is the biggest entertainment business leader. “Every one of us is an amalgamation not only of all our ancestors, but of their decisions, and in 1831, Ambrose Hawkins was contemplating moving his family from America to Africa. Had he done so, his son Joseph would have been raised in Liberia instead of North Carolina and never would have become Pharrell Williams’s third great-grandfather. As it happens, Ambrose did go to Liberia, but opted for a solo round trip, rather than a family migration. If not for this last minute...

Words: 3061 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Native American Music

...M Baptiste MWF 2-3p Native American Music: A Root of Contemporary Music Yet Explored What is Native American Music? As our class brainstormed ideas for research, I already knew what topic I wanted to explore. Having been a musician, closely involved with music my entire life, I directed my focus toward Native American music. Before I began to develop any sort of directed, narrowed research questions, I asked myself first, “What is Native American music?” Regarding various definitions of the so-called “genre,” I discovered that Native American music shouldn’t be typified into any genre or defined style of music. It was the perspective toward music that was unique to Native peoples, and this perspective is key in understanding the Native American influence on later creations of music. Definition and Philosophy Native peoples tend to view their music in a distinctly different way from Euro-Americans. To Natives, music is thought; music appeared to be particularly inclusive into Native Americans’ way of life, and is unique in its origin, meaning, and efficacy. To ask “what is Native American music?” would be a question foreign to Native Americans, especially during the time that Native American music was first discovered. One aspect of music specific to indigenous peoples is its place in daily life. In fact, “its place in human affairs are much more significant to Indians than its mode of construction or technical character.” (Native American Music, 1980, p. 12) Unlike...

Words: 3317 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

American Indians

...A Review of North American Indians North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account In her book North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account, Alice Kehoe appears to give a straightforward account of the history of North America from the point of view of the Native Americans. The textbook covers the periods from when humans first inhabited the North American continent, some fifteen thousand years ago, and continues through to the present. Due to the immense size and diversity of the North American continent, the text is written so that each chapter covers a geographical region of the continent. The regions covered range from the rich lands of Mexico, through the eastern and western United States, through the forests of Canada, and concluding at the Arctic Circle. Each chapter covers the region’s history, people, culture, ways of life, and the circumstance that caused its cultural identity to collapse. The book culminates with chapters on the trials and tribulations that the Native American nations will face as they enter into the twenty-first century and a chapter on how anthropologists view American Indians. The author emphasizes several key points and occurrences in the history of the natives of North America and their impact on the Indian populations. While her book discusses the heritages, languages, knowledge, technology, arts, and values that have been passed down through generations; it seems that Ms. Kehoe’s intention is to point out the injustices...

Words: 2435 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Review of North American Indians

...A Review of North American Indians North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account In her book North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account, Alice Kehoe appears to give a straightforward account of the history of North America from the point of view of the Native Americans. The textbook covers the periods from when humans first inhabited the North American continent, some fifteen thousand years ago, and continues through to the present. Due to the immense size and diversity of the North American continent, the text is written so that each chapter covers a geographical region of the continent. The regions covered range from the rich lands of Mexico, through the eastern and western United States, through the forests of Canada, and concluding at the Arctic Circle. Each chapter covers the region’s history, people, culture, ways of life, and the circumstance that caused its cultural identity to collapse. The book culminates with chapters on the trials and tribulations that the Native American nations will face as they enter into the twenty-first century and a chapter on how anthropologists view American Indians. The author emphasizes several key points and occurrences in the history of the natives of North America and their impact on the Indian populations. While her book discusses the heritages, languages, knowledge, technology, arts, and values that have been passed down through generations; it seems that Ms. Kehoe’s intention is to point out the injustices...

Words: 2436 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

North American Indians

...North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account In her book North American Indians: A Comprehensive Account, Alice Kehoe appears to give a straightforward account of the history of North America from the point of view of the Native Americans. The textbook covers the periods from when humans first inhabited the North American continent, some fifteen thousand years ago, and continues through to the present. Due to the immense size and diversity of the North American continent, the text is written so that each chapter covers a geographical region of the continent. The regions covered range from the rich lands of Mexico, through the eastern and western United States, through the forests of Canada, and concluding at the Arctic Circle. Each chapter covers the region’s history, people, culture, ways of life, and the circumstance that caused its cultural identity to collapse. The book culminates with chapters on the trials and tribulations that the Native American nations will face as they enter into the twenty-first century and a chapter on how anthropologists view American Indians. The author emphasizes several key points and occurrences in the history of the natives of North America and their impact on the Indian populations. While her book discusses the heritages, languages, knowledge, technology, arts, and values that have been passed down through generations; it seems that Ms. Kehoe’s intention is to point out the injustices that have been perpetrated on the Native...

Words: 2429 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Historical Report on Race

...2014 Eleanor Branch Historical Report on Race Throughout United States history, the Native Americans have been the victims of racism since the day Christopher Columbus landed on North America. It is important for all people to understand that the Native American Indian was well established in North America for thousands of years. The nomadic ancestors, scientists believe, that modern day Native Americans migrated over a “land bridge” from Asia into what is now Alaska (Native American History, 2014). It is believed that when Christopher Columbus arrived, there were about 50 million Indians already living in North America and 10 million living in the area now known as the United States. This information is important because it shows that the Native American Indian was well established ling before Europeans arrived and that technically this was their land and homes. “From the west coast to what we now know as New England, tribes built their own societies and sustained themselves through agriculture, trade and hunting,” (Native American History, Native American History Facts, 2014). The Native American history has been somewhat “clouded”, as much of the history was written by the viewpoints of whites or Europeans. With the Native American Indian being illiterate, much of their history was passed on through stories or verbally rather than written documents. As a result, much of their true history was lost, altered, or misunderstood. “They transmitted memories of the past orally—but...

Words: 1031 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Native Americans, Struggles, Mascots, Controversy

...Native Americans, Struggles, Mascots, and Controversy There has been a national debate for years over Native American athletic mascots. “Members of the North Carolina Mascot Education and Action Group and the Guilford Native American Association, however, repeatedly told us that they perceived the use of Indian mascots, logos, caricatures, and similar images by our schools as a clear form of institutional racism” (Grier 2005: 51). In this paper we will discuss the controversial impact of the Native American stereotype used as mascots. In the early 1900’s when the threat of colonization was abolished Americans started to use the Native American mascot to show their acknowledgement of their struggles. Although this was symbolic it has been an ongoing controversy within schools and sports. California is the second highest state that uses the most Native American imagery and symbols. The importance of this contemporary issue is an ongoing debate in California that has impacted the true history of Native Americans and the battles they went through. The truth is crucial because their imagery and interpretation is misunderstood in American history. In the early 1900’s it became acceptable to use Native American imagery for advertisement. “One of the reasons why most Americans find the mascots unremarkable and do not turn a critical eye toward the mascots is because of the prevalence of similar images throughout U.S. popular culture” (King, et al 2002:391). Although years later...

Words: 1493 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Native American Wwii Case Study

...Throughout the history of the United States, the Native American community as a whole has always been nothing but a resource to use according the needs of the U.S. government. From Jefferson’s executive order to stop the extermination, in order to have cheap manpower to work the crops , to now president Donald Trump’s constant conflict with Native American nations, in pursuance of creating a political tool to demonstrate power , the case of the Native American’s role in World War II has been greatly overlooked. Still, this case illustrates the government’s use of the Native American community as a material resource in a contrastive and detailed manner. The U.S campaign to dominate the Asian Pacific coast, during World War II would have taken...

Words: 744 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

War Of 1812 Dbq

...not only involve Britain and the U.S., but the Native Americans as well. Before the war started the British made deals with the Indians which provided the British protection from possible invasion of Canada and provided the Indians with a chance to protect their lands from the greedy, land-hungry Americans. However, the unlikely British-Native alliance of 1812 is seldomly ever mentioned, and few know about that amount of dependency each side had on one another. With this said, the Native Americans wanted an alliance with the British in order to keep control over their tribal lands while the British wished to protect Canada and employ the Indians against the Americans during the war. How could an unlikely alliance be so successful?...

Words: 887 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Native American Literature

...Native American Culture Amanda Thaden-Fidjeland December 21, 2015 ENG 301 Marc Bonanni Storytelling is the writing of the past, living the present and preserving the future. As storytelling is changing due to changes in the tribal communities of the native people, the traditional form is threatened. Storytelling has been passed down from generation to generation and remains their main form of communication even after written word was commonly accepted. The Native Americans were divided in several groups and possessed their own customs and language. These tribes lived in regional groups and shared common culture and history. Storytelling was one of the most significant practices of the Native Americans; though their stories can be classified, still many similar aspects have been observed. The storytelling was an oral practice which had revealed the tales of their past. The Native American culture was diverse and had traditional values and came with the rich and insightful past. Storytelling has been a prominent practice among the Native Americans; this practice has passed from one generation to another and has been a way of communicating wisdom. These indigenous people believed in the art of communication to explore and explain their past and therefore the stories were narrated orally by one to another. They depended upon unwritten art to share their customs, history, legends and rituals and held the feeling of pride in doing so. The powerful tales that were narrated by...

Words: 1013 - Pages: 5