The freeing of the slaves

For about 400 years blacks were slaves, they were treated poorly and mostly no rights. They were forced to work for white men, laboring for them. Abraham Lincoln, president at the time signed in to action the emancipation proclamation, which freed the slaves. He stated in the paper that "That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, and thenceforward, and forever, free;" (Lincoln)

Lincoln is often praised for freeing the slaves. It allowed for much progress, eventually leading to equality of everyone regardless of sex or race. Many do not know why the proclomation was written and the intent behind it. "Five days after the battle, on September 22, the President issued his preliminary proclamation, declaring that if the South persisted in its rebellion, all the slaves of the rebels would be free on January 1, 1863."(Page Smith) He was really using the proclomation as leverage to get the south to stop rebelling.
Along with using freed slaves as leverage , he also stated that  "The Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States."(Lincoln)

Lincoln also knew that if he freed the slaves, they would inturn think increasingly highly of him and be more inclined to join the military.The Reverend S. M. Chase presented the Bible to the President, declaring, "Since our incorporation into the American family we have been true and loyal, and we are now ready to aid in defending the country, to be armed and trained in military matters, in order to assist in defending the star spangled banner." And as the quote shows, they did indeed want to join the military. This would explain why in the proclomation he stated "And I further declare and make known that such persons, of suitable conditions, will be received into the armed service of the United States, to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service." (Lincoln)

Although Lincoln spurred a movement for equality, his original intentions were not to bring true freedom to blacks. It is a great wonder that the proclamation, being used as a military tactic turned out to be such a great thing.



Citations

Smith, Page. "Emancipation Proclamation Background Information." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. http://www.civilwarhome.com/emancipationbackground.htm.

 

Lincoln, Abraham. "Emancipation Proclimation." Digital History. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm?doc=143>.

Indian Removal Continued

Abstract: My primary source is the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This Act forced the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole tribes to move west of the Mississippi river. My secondary sources were sections pulled from the book Give me Liberty by Eric Foner. These sources shed light on the unfortunate force of Indians off their own land. Also some of the Articles of the Indan Removal Act or discussed.

     In my last blog post I wrote about Indian Removal on part of Jefferson. I spoke of how he was corrupt in his treatment of the Indians; making them think they were being treated fairly when they weren’t. I wanted to continue to elaborate on the removal of the Indians.  They were constantly being forced into new territories because of the westward expansion of the Americans.  I spoke in my last post mainly of Jefferson forcing the Indians into new lands, but he was not the only one. The Indian Removal Act was signed and put into action by President Andrew Jackson in 1830.

     The Indian Removal Act forced tribes out of their territories in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The removal forced them west of the Mississippi river; many traveled what the Indians called the Trail of Tears which went from Georgia to Oklahoma. According to Give Me Liberty by Eric Foner “At least one-quarter perished during the winter of 1838-1839 on the Trail of Tears.”

     Americans constantly tried to make the removal of the Indians seem kind and justified. In article 3 of the Indian Removal Act it states “And be it further enacted, That in the making of any such exchange or exchanges, it shall and may be lawful for the President solemnly to assure the tribe or nation with which the exchange is made, that the United States will forever secure and guaranty to them, and their heirs or successors, the country so exchanged with them; and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant to be made and executed to them for the same.”(Jackson) It seems as if the Indians are going to have their land protected and all of this is done with good intentions.

     In another part of the Act in Article 5 the Indians are told that the president can” cause such aid and assistance to be furnished to the emigrants as may be necessary and proper to enable them to remove to, and settle in, the country for which they may have exchanged; and also, to give them such aid and assistance as may be necessary for their support and subsistence for the first year after their removal.”(Jackson)

     Part of the reason Indians were never treated fairly was the stigmas placed on them. Jackson continued to “refer to them as savages.” (Foner) There was also the case of Johnson vs. M’Intosh in which “the court had proclaimed that Indians were not in fact owners of their land, but merely had a “right occupancy.” Chief Justice John Marshall…claimed that from the early colonial era, Indians had lived as nomad and hunters, not farmers.” (Foner) Maybe if the Indians had not had such negative views and considered occupants then they would have had a chance of staying where they were living.

     Another crude part of the Indian Removal Act was the power given to the president. In every single Article of the act power was presented to the president, but none to the tribes.  In the second Article he is given the power to “to exchange any or all of such districts, so to be laid off and described, with any tribe or nation of Indians now residing within the limits of any of the states or territories, and with which the United States have existing treaties, for the whole or any part or portion of the territory claimed and occupied by such tribe or nation, within the bounds of any one or more of the states or territories, where the land claimed and occupied by the Indians, is owned by the United States, or the United States are bound to the state within which it lies to extinguish the Indian claim thereto.”(Jackson)

    Although most Americans agreed with the Indian removal there were people who wanted to help. The Seminoles, the last tribe to move west were offered refuge by slaves in Florida. They helped each other out. This spurred the Second Seminole War in which “some 1,500 American soldiers and the same number of Seminoles were killed” (Foner)

    I realize I am supposed to be telling the readers what has happened to the Indians and keep my personal opinion at bay, but it is quite hard. I truly find myself bothered by the treatment of the Indians. It is unfortunate that they were viewed as savages and not owners of their own land. It seems barbaric of Americans to force someone out of their own home and relocate them so far away. I realize this was a different time and those actions were not thought much of and it was an every man for himself or more so every society for themselves. I am truly and deeply bothered by the mistreatment of people.

Works Cited

Jackson, Andrew. "Indian Removal Act." Indian Removal Act. Soliver. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. http://www.cerritos.edu/soliver/Student%20Activites/Trail%20of%20Tears/web/removal%20act.htm.

 

Foner, Eric. "Chapter 10: Democracy in America." Give Me Liberty!: an American History. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2008. Print.

Thomas Jefferson in relation to Indians

Abstract: The Primary Source is a Letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Choctaw Nation in regards to purchasing land. This details also how Jefferson forces the Indians to migrate and move out of the area so colonies could expand. There seems to be this conflict of whether Jefferson did or did not care for the Indians. I also used a secondary source, an essay written about Jerfferson's view on Indians which pulls from many other sources.


Jefferson had a long fascination with Indians. Tom Jewett writes in his essay "Jefferson's attitude toward the Indian population of the United States always seemed as profoundly paradoxical as his attitude toward slavery." Jefferson spent many years studying the Indians although most of his works were lost or destroyed. He grew up with Indians around him,"during his boyhood in Albemarle County and his college days in Williamsburg. He had heard his father's tales of journeys into the wilderness and his interactions with the Indians."(Jewett) His house was also "a popular way station for the friendly Cherokees whose embassies were bound for Williamsburg." (Jewett)

Although Jefferson found the Indians fascinating and studied them from a more observational view, which according to Jewett was uncommon of his time, he still forced them to leave their land when he came into office.

In his letter to the Choctaw people in 1803 his words seem kind and understanding, he claims to be "friends" to them and not to be taking what is not their, but to buy the land from them. In truth he is still forcing or in a sense convincing them to leave, because Jefferson's people are multiplying and need more room. In Jefferson's first paragraph this is clearly stated "We have long heard of your nation as a numerous, peaceable, and friendly people; but this is the first visit we have had from its great men at the seat of our government. I welcome you here; am glad to take you by the hand, and to assure you, for your nation, that we are their friends. Born in the same land, we ought to live as brothers, doing to each other all the good we can, and not listening to wicked men, who may endeavor to make us enemies. By living in peace, we can help and prosper one another; by waging war, we can kill and destroy many on both sides; but those who survive will not be the happier for that. Then, brothers, let it forever be peace and good neighborhood between us. Our seventeen States compose a great and growing nation. Their children are as the leaves of the trees, which the winds are spreading over the forest. But we are just also. We take from no nation what belongs to it. Our growing numbers make us always willing to buy lands from our red brethren, when they are willing to sell. But be assured we never mean to disturb them in their possessions. On the contrary, the lines established between us by mutual consent, shall be sacredly preserved, and will protect your lands from all encroachments by our own people or any others. We will give you a copy of the law, made by our great Council, for punishing our people, who may encroach on your lands, or injure you otherwise. Carry it with you to your homes, and preserve it, as the shield which we spread over you, to protect your land, your property and persons. "( Jefferson)

Jewett too agrees to this in his essay stating "as soon as Louisiana was purchased, during his first term, he embarks on a cold-blooded policy toward Native Americans.......In secret messages to his cabinet and Congress, Jefferson outlined a plan for removal of all Native Americans east of the Mississippi to make sure that this land would never fall to the French or the British. Jefferson was even less sentimental and more direct during his second inaugural address in 1805. Even the area west of the Mississippi would no longer be available to the Indian. "

Jefferson's reason as stated in the above quote for removing the indians was not just too create more room for his expanding people, but to also keep the French and British from taking over. Jefferson was smart to make the Indians think he was being kind to them which he did through stating things like "
I am glad, brothers, you are willing to go and visit some other parts of our country. Carriages shall be ready to convey you, and you shall be taken care of on your journey; and when you shall have returned here and rested yourselves to your own mind, you shall be sent home by land. We had provided for your coming by land, and were sorry for the mistake which carried you to Savannah instead of Augusta, and exposed you to the risks of a voyage by sea. Had any accident happened to you, though we could not help it, it would have been a cause of great mourning to us. But we thank the Great Spirit who took care of you on the ocean, and brought you safe and in good health to the seat of our great Council; and we hope His care will accompany and protect you, on your journey and return home; and that He will preserve and prosper your nation in all its just pursuits." in his letter to the Choctaw people.

Jefferson seemed to have a deep interest in the Indians and understood their misfortunes. Jefferson also had to fufill his political duties and that was doing what was best for his nation. In doing what was best for his nation Jefferson was to accumulate land for his people and to do that was through the removal of all Indians. He seemed constantly conflicted with imperialism and being kind to the Indians. The Indians were manipulated into leaving, making them think it was more there choice then force, was fairly smart on Jefferson's part. Although the act of making the Indians leave the land that was originally theirs is sad to hear about.

Refrences

Jewett, By Tom. "Thomas Jefferson's Views Concerning Native Americans." Archiving Early America: Primary Source Material from 18th Century America. 2002. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_summer_fall/tj_views.htm.

Jefferson, Thomas. "Avalon Project - Jefferson's Indian Addresses." Letter to Choctaw Nation. 1803. Avalon Project - Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy. The Avalon Project. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/jeffind3.asp>.