These interactions were highly valued by the Indians and were as valuable as commodities in their culture. ... The emigrants and Indians often shared moments of laughter and joking. ... The possibilities of massacres and abductions loomed over the wagon trains when in reality only 362 emigrants deaths and 426 Indian deaths occurred between 1840-1860 due to conflicts between Indians and Americans (183). ... Native Americans were portrayed constantly as savages in newspapers, art, literature and rumor mills for a full two hundred years prior to the start of the Western migration (144). ... Ther...

• Word Count: 949
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The established religion of the Native Americans was celebrated and worshipped using art pieces and other physical items, these items served an important purpose in the life of the native people and this connection to a religion other than Christianity impacted their interaction with the Europeans. ... The differences in how they used the materials they had access to was judged by the Europeans, making them feel superior and as if it was their duty to convert these "Indians" and control them. ... Strong ties and respect for these spiritual art pieces caused the Native Americans to be...

• Word Count: 925
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Throughout the years, slavery has played a dominant role within the Cherokee Nation, inevitably affecting thousands of African Americans, American Indians, and Europeans alike. ... The majority of these violent Indian wars occurred in the southern United States. ... The Indian slave trade began to negatively affect the social aspects of many of these tribes, particularly when gender roles in their communities were taken into consideration. ... Meigs, Sr. counted 583 African American slaves held by Cherokee Indians (Davis). ... The Bureau of Indian Affairs stated that th...

• Word Count: 2752
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Yet, whose labor were they living off of freely, exploiting and breeding them as if they were mere animals (and depicted as such in various art and literature)? ... Zitkala Ša in Impressions of an Indian Childhood uses the narrative voice of a young girl (her) to explain what happened to her when this attempt at assimilation occurred. ...

• Word Count: 1871
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate