Essay - Native Americans and Westward Expansion Although the Period in American...

Native Americans And Westward Expansion

***** the period in American history known as Westward Expansion brings to mind covered wagons of settlers moving to develop open land in the West, the ***** had been settled, and explored, far before this era. In fact, during the colonial times, the French, Spanish, ***** even Russians, joined the British in exploring and colonizing the new world ("American Westward Movement" 2008). For the *****, Westward expansion meant the furthering of a nation, ***** business opportunities, and exotic lands. For the Native Americans, it meant tears.

***** Native American reaction ***** Westward ***** and ***** building was filled with sorrow. This is to be expected, based on what ***** Americans forced the Native Americans ***** give up so that they could expand. One ***** the precious resources ***** ***** Americans asked the ***** Americans to give ***** ***** their land. The story of the Choctaw tribe is a prime example ***** *****. Although their first experience ***** Europeans resulted in a particularly bloody battle for the tribe, they actually aided the colon*****ts turned Americans in the Creek war of 1813. Thus, they reacted in an accommodating fashion. But the ***** lived on the desired ***** ***** the Mississippi River, and were forcibly removed. ***** *****y ***** with sorrow, they also attempted to preserve their culture. For example, some ***** ground the bones of their ancestors and sewed them into their clothing (Watson 1999).

A similar story of Native American's peaceful reactions that ***** exploited by force is the history ***** Chief Joseph. This early recruit to Christianity was the chief mediator of peace between whites and his tribe, the Nez Perce, but when the tribe's land was taken, and the Native Americans were transferred to a reservation, the chief destroyed ***** symbols of American life ***** plunged his warriors in***** a miraculous series of battles ("Chief Joseph" 2001). Thus, Westward expansion ***** an opportunity for the white Americ*****s, but a cause for sorrow for the Native Americans, who reacted with ***** and accommodation until human rights violations forced them to react with ***** and violence.

References

***** Westward *****," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008
http://encarta.msn.com© 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

***** *****" 2001. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/*****joseph.htm (Accessed March 5, 2009).

Watson, C. *****. The *****hoctaw Trail of Tears. Native Web. http://www.thebicyclingguitarist.net/studies/trailoftears.htm (Accessed March 5,