Native American DBQ: Make-up Essay for American Revolution
Essay Question: Have Native Americans truly been given the same liberties and independence as US
citizens and how have Native Americans used the government to fight for their liberties?
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You must use the documents to support your arguments and cite at least three of the sources
within your paper
You must also use your own background knowledge from the notes and handouts we’ve taken
in class. The handouts are available at: dallevalle.wikispaces.com
You must have an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion
Document 1: From “Pontiac Speeches” (1762-1763) – Pontiac was a leader of the Pan-Indian resistance
to English rule, known as Pontiac’s Rebellion following the Seven Years War.
“Englishmen, although you have conquered the French, you have not conquered us! We are not your
slaves. These lakes, these woods, and mountains were left to us by our ancestors. They are our
inheritance; and we will part with them to none…My children (speaking to the Native Americans), you
have forgotten the customs and traditions of your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in
skins, as they did, use bows and arrows and stone-pointed lances, which they used?”
1. When did Pontiac give this speech? Was it before or after the American Revolution and why
would that be important in understanding the liberty/freedom of Native Americans and how our
country regarded them?
2. What 2 messages does Pontiac give and who is he giving them to?
Document 2:
This is Tom Torlino’s picture of before he entered the boarding school for Native
Americans and after.
3. Describe all of the differences you see within the two pictures and what does this tell you about
what boarding schools expected of Native Americans and what impact that may have had on
them.
Document 3:
Speech in Washington D.C. by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians in 1879, (President
Hayes was present). Chief Joseph led his people in an unsuccessful escape to Canada
from their homes in Oregon and Idaho.
“When I think of our condition my heart is heavy. I see men of my race treated as outlaws and driven
from country to country, or shot down like animals…Let me be a free man—free to travel, free to stop,
free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of
my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself—and I will obey every law, or submit to the
penalty.”
4. When is this speech given and what does it tell you about how the US government
regarded/treated Native Americas? Did Native Americans have the same liberties as US citizens?
Document 4:
Andrew Jackson’s instructions to an army major sent to talk to the Choctaws and
Cherokees in 1832.
“Say to my reel Choctaw children, and my Chickasaw children to listen-my white children of Mississippi
have extended their law over their country… Say to them, their father (Jackson is referring to himself as
their father) cannot prevent them from being subject to the laws of the state of Mississippi. The general
(federal) government will be obliged to support the States in the exercise of their right. Say to the chiefs
and warriors that I am their friend, that I wish to act as their friend, but they must remove themselves
from the limits of the States of Mississippi and Alabama. By being resettled on the lands I offer them,
which they shall possess as long as Grass grows or water runs, I am and will protect them and be their
friend and father.”
5. What is important about the fact that Andrew Jackson regards himself as “Father” and the
Native Americans as his “children”? What can you infer about how he regards them?
6. If you were a Native American would you believe Jackson when he says you’ll get to stay on your
new land “as long as the grass grows or water runs”? Why/Why not?
Document 5:
The following was taken from an interview with Darrel Smith and Elaine Willman,
founders of Citizens Equal Rights Foundation, an organization that aims to break down
the legal claims of tribal sovereignty. April 26th 2013.
“Federal Indian policy, modern tribal governments and the concept of sovereignty violate the most basic
principles of the American Revolution…Integration is the law of the land. To allow Indians as a group to
practice political sovereignty as a general government ruling is wrong. The tiresome myth that inherent
tribal sovereignty is pre-Constitutional needs a little sunshine. It’s my belief that anything
pre-Constitutional in this country was in fact, nullified by the U.S. Constitution”
7. Why do they believe Tribal Sovereignty is illegal, or should be gotten rid of?
8. If they are successful in making Tribal Sovereignty illegal, what does this mean for Native
Americans?
Document 6: The following are some of the demands from AIM’s “Trail of Broken Treaties” 20-point
position paper, drafted in Minneapolis, MN in October of 1972 and presented to
Congress.
1. RESTORATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL TREATY-MAKING AUTHORITY
2.ESTABLISHMENT OF TREATY COMMISSION TO MAKE NEW TREATIES
4.COMMISSION TO REVIEW TREATY COMMITMENTS & VIOLATION
10. LAND REFORM AND RESTORATION OF A 110-MILLION ACRE NATIVE LAND BASE
12. REPEAL OF STATE LAWS ENACTED UNDER PUBLIC LAW 280 (1953)
14. ABOLITION OF THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS BY 1976
15. CREATION OF AN "OFFICE OF FEDERAL INDIAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY
RECONSTRUCTION
9. Are these demands asking too much? Could the federal government have followed through on them?