Exploring the Text

1. What common ground does Red Cloud establish at the outset with his audience? What differences does he acknowledge?

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - What common ground does Red Cloud establish at the outset with his audience? What differences does he acknowledge?
2. What is the stated purpose of his speech? What evidence does he provide to support his intentions?

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - What is the stated purpose of his speech? What evidence does he provide to support his intentions?
3. What specific allegations does he make against the U.S. government? What are the most serious transgressions, according to his view? What actions does he recommend to address the problems he identifies?

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - What specific allegations does he make against the U.S. government? What are the most serious transgressions, according to his view? What actions does he recommend to address the problems he identifies?
4. Red Cloud insists that he wants only peace. What evidence do you find of his sincerity through both his literal statements and his rhetorical strategies?

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - Red Cloud insists that he wants only peace. What evidence do you find of his sincerity through both his literal statements and his rhetorical strategies?
5. How would you describe the tone of the speech? Use a phrase that includes a contrast word (such as but or yet) to capture the complexity of the tone.

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - How would you describe the tone of the speech? Use a phrase that includes a contrast word (such as but or yet) to capture the complexity of the tone.
6. At the end of this speech, Red Cloud was given a standing ovation. Why would his audience have been so moved by his message and the way he presented it? In your response, consider the following description of Cooper Union’s founder:

   Peter Cooper’s abolitionism was consistent with his generally progressive social views. He was a strong advocate for the rights of Native Americans and lobbied President Grant to adopt a peace policy in the west. In the 1870s, at a time when Indians were widely regarded as enemy savages, great leaders like Red Cloud, of the Lakota Sioux, and Little Raven, chief of the Arapaho, were given the lectern at the Great Hall. Cooper was also a fighter for women’s rights who opened the doors of his institute to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

   Question

   Exploring the Text: - At the end of this speech, Red Cloud was given a standing ovation. Why would his audience have been so moved by his message and the way he presented it? In your response, consider the following description of Cooper Union’s founder:Peter Cooper’s abolitionism was consistent with his generally progressive social views. He was a strong advocate for the rights of Native Americans and lobbied President Grant to adopt a peace policy in the west. In the 1870s, at a time when Indians were widely regarded as enemy savages, great leaders like Red Cloud, of the Lakota Sioux, and Little Raven, chief of the Arapaho, were given the lectern at the Great Hall. Cooper was also a fighter for women’s rights who opened the doors of his institute to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.