15. Document Project 15: American Indians and Whites in the West

Interpret the Evidence and Put It in Context

Document Links:

Document 15.5 James Michael Cavanaugh, Support for Indian Extermination, 1868

Document 15.6 Helen Hunt Jackson, Challenges to Indian Policy, 1881

Document 15.7 Thomas Nast, “Patience until the Indian Is Civilized—So to Speak,” 1878

Document 15.8 Zitkala-Ša, Life at an Indian Boarding School, 1921

Document 15.9 Chief Joseph, Views on Indian Affairs, 1879

Interpret the Evidence

On what basis does James Michael Cavanaugh (Document 15.5) claim to be in a better position than Benjamin Butler to judge the best way to deal with Indians?
What assumptions about Indians and their culture underlie the policy of assimilation advocated by reformers such as Helen Hunt Jackson (Document 15.6)?
How does Thomas Nast’s illustration (Document 15.7) highlight the contrasting arguments made by Congressman Cavanaugh (Document 15.5) and Helen Hunt Jackson (Document 15.6)?
What options did Indians have when confronted with white determination to eradicate their culture? What choice does Zitkala-Ša (Document 15.8) make? Why?
How does Chief Joseph’s experience (Document 15.9) reflect the fundamental contradiction of federal policy toward Indians?

Put It in Context

Imagine that you are an American president in the second half of the nineteenth century and can design Indian policy. Based on what you have read, what would you do, and why? What challenges might you face as you attempted to implement your policy?

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