Indian Surrender

Upon surrendering to the United States Army in 1890, Chief Joseph the Younger 0840-1904) of the Nez Perce Indians spoke the following Words:

“. . . Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From Where the sun

now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Imagine you are a Nez Perce Indian. Explain how you would feel after bearing these words. Then imagine you are a US. soldier who has been fighting against the Nez Perce Indians. Explain how you would feel after bearing Chief Joseph's words.

Buffalo and the Indians

Many Indians relied on the millions of buffalo that once roamed the Great Plains for their survival, and they made the most of these great mammals. They made clothing, moecasins, tepees, furniture, and drums, among other things, from buffalo hides. They ate buffalo meat and used it in religious ceremonies. They made food, paint, and Cosmetics from buffalo fat and marrow. They used buffalo fur ceremonially and to make rope. They used buffalo hoofs ceremonially and to make tools and glue. They used the buffalo’s bladder as a storage pouch, They even used buffalo dung as fuel.

What can we learn about conservation from the way the Great Plains Indians made use of the buffalo? Brainstorm a list of ways you can conserve natural resources. Choose one and persuade others how and why they should adopt the conservation measures you suggest.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830

President Andrew Jackson (1 767-1845) believed that the only Way to end the fighting between Whites and Native Americans Was to “remove” all Indians from lands east of the Mississippi. To this end, he helped pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This law evicted major Indian tribes from 1and east of the Mississippi and sent them to“Indian Territory,” in the West.To the Indians, who were reluctant to move, he said, “Young chiefs, forget the prejudices [attachment] you feel for the soil of your birth.”

Do you think the United States government had the right to tell Native Americans to move? Explain why or why not. With do you think of President Jackson's suggestion that Native Americans ignore their attachment to their homeland? How do you think you would have felt upon receiving such a request? What do you think you would have done?

A Different Perspective

Until this century, most of America's history has been recorded and written by white men.
How is it determined who records a country's history? Do you think written history can be biased? Defend your view. How might our American history be different if told from the perspective of say, black women? Some time in the 21st century, people of Hispanic heritage will become the largest single ethnic group in the United States. Do you think our history will be rewritten when our country has an Hispanic majority? Do you think it should be? Explain why or why not

The First Immigrants

The first immigrants came to this land anywhere from 10,000 to 45,000 years ago, crossed a land bridge that once existed across the Bering Sea to migrate from northeast Asia to northwest North America. These immigrants were the ancestors of Native Americans. Think of all the immigrants that came to this land after the Native Americans.
What do you think a Native American might have to say about current efforts to limit immigration?

Immigration Restrictions

Throughout history, Congress has passed laws to restrict immigration. Sometimes these laws were aimed at specific countries, like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States for 10 years. Others were aimed at entire regions, such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Europe. Others were aimed at classes of people, such as an 1882 immigration act that barred entry to criminals, paupers, and the insane, among others.

Why do you think Congress passed some of these restriction acts? Do you think Congress always acted honorably? Should anyone who wants to live in the United States be able to live here, or should there be some restrictions on immigration? Defend your thinking. If you believe there should be restrictions, explain what they should be.

Give Me Your Tired

"Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor • • Millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island were welcomed by the sight of the Statue of Liberty on Bledsoe Island in New York Harbor The base of the statue is inscribed with a poem written by American poet
Emma Lazarus
".. . Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

Imagine you are an immigrant seeking freedom from war in Russia or hunger in Ireland. Write how you would feel seeing the Statue of Liberty after your long voyage across the Atlantic.