...According to Guenter Lewy, the author of “Were American Indians the Victims of Genocide?”, American Indians greatly suffered due to European settlers, but the American Indian deaths were mostly caused by uncontrollable circumstances that the Europeans could not control. The American Indians' population decreased due to highly contagious diseases, internal warfare between Native American tribes and the European’s hostility, violence, and cruelty towards the Native Americans. According to Article II of the Genocide Convention, genocide is a crime or series of crimes “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group” (Lewy 61-62). Throughout the article, Lewy gives many examples, based on...
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...legally admonished the United States for genocidal acts against Native Americans, yet it is clear that examples of genocidal acts and crimes against humanity are a well-cited page in U.S. history. Notorious incidents, such as the Trail of Tears, the Sand Creek Massacre, and the massacre of the Yuki of northern California are covered in depth in separate entries in this encyclopedia. More controversial, however, is whether the colonies and the United States participated in genocidal acts as an overall policy toward Native Americans. The Native-American population decrease since the arrival of Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus alone signals the toll colonization and U.S. settlement took on the native population. Scholars estimate that approximately 10 million pre-Columbian Native Americans resided in the present-day United States. That number has since fallen to approximately 2.4 million. While this population decrease cannot be attributed solely to the actions of the U.S. government, they certainly played a key role. In addition to population decrease, Native Americans have also experienced significant cultural and proprietary losses as a result of U.S. governmental actions. The total effect has posed a serious threat to the sustainability of the Native-American people and culture. Ideological Motivations Two conflicting yet equally harmful ideologies significantly influenced U.S. dealings with Native Americans. The first sprang from the Enlightenment and, more specifically...
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...Their Effects on Native American Women Isabella J. Baxter '15 Gettysburg College, baxtis01@gettysburg.edu Follow this and additional works at: http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship Part of the Native American Studies Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Baxter, Isabella J. '15, "Oppression, Sexual Violence and Their Effects on Native American Women" (2013). Student Publications. Paper 87. http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/87 This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: http://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/ 87 This open access student research paper is brought to you by The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The Cupola. For more information, please contact cupola@gettysburg.edu. Oppression, Sexual Violence and Their Effects on Native American Women Keywords Native American Women, Sexual Violence, Oppression, Colonization, White Feminism Abstract This paper is a response to the chapter “Sexual Violence as a Tool of Genocide” in Andrea Smith’s book Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide. Smith argues that U.S. colonial culture strategically uses sexual violence against Native women as a weapon to ensure the oppression and marginalization of Native people. This...
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...IHS Affirmative Observation One: Inherency 2 Advantage One: Health 5 Advantage Two: Indigenous Economy 9 Observation Two: Solvency 14 Only federal action can solve the case- denying Indian health care furthers an ongoing policy of American Indian genocide 17 Inherency – Lack of Funding 18 Inherency – Lack of Funding 19 Inherency – Lack of Funding 20 Inherency – Lack of Funding 21 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 22 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 23 Health Impacts – Disease/Death 24 IMPACT: Mental Health and Suicide 25 IMPACT: Mental Health and Suicide 26 Extensions to Genocide/Racism Impact 27 Extensions to Genocide/Racism Impact 28 IMPACT: Moral Obligation/Human Rights 29 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 30 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 31 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 32 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves 33 Solvency Extension - IHCIA/IHS Solves for cultural sensitive health 34 Solvency Extension – Congress Key 35 Solvency Extension – Federal Government Key 36 A2: I.H.S. is Racist 37 A2: Transportation 38 A2: “Structural/Distribution Barriers” 39 A2: No Qualified Professionals 40 A2: Bureaucrats 41 A2: IHS has arbitrary eligibility standards 42 A2: Blood Quantum 43 A2: Medicaid Solves 44 AT: Medicaid Solves 45 AT: Medicaid Solves 46 A2: IHS doesn’t use traditional medicine 47 Tribal...
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...Chapter 1, Sexual Violence as a Tool of Genocide, discusses the history of and gives us an introduction to genocide. The author talks about the treatment of bodies, in particular Native bodies, and how colonial thought and theory regards Native people as inherently “rapable” and “violable,” a colonial conviction that stretches past the physical bodies of Natives, to Native independence and lands as well. She explains that patriarchy is the foundation by which power is established over Native women's bodies because hierarchal, patriarchal authority and control systems of society are seldom found within native societies. Europeans, on the other hand, have long depended on these methods to suppress and infuse fear into their people. Sexual violence, consequently, serves the colonizer as one way of assimilating Native women into Western society, which, therefore, increases Native vulnerability to gender violence. Sexual violence exists to such a degree, according to Smith, that the "phenomenon indicates the extent to which our communities have internalized self-hatred". Chapter 2, Boarding School Abuses and the Case for Reparations, give some examples for the above mentioned violence. Boarding school systems in the United States are described as a tool for genocide and rape/sexual dominance. This chapter focuses, as well, on the reparations for such wrongs, encompassed by her communication of "abuses from a reparations framework" that is essential for coalition-building...
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...Self-Actualization? Beginning with the first settlers from Europe in the New World, Native Americans have persistently been exploited for their land and resources. The creation of the United States of America spawned an unprecedented explosion of immigrants flocking to America, which created tensions with Native Americans over territory. Under the Jackson presidency and approved by the U.S. Congress, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 detailed a plan for the relocation of Native Americans, later known as the Trail of Tears. Standing their ground, the Native Americans resisted the advancements of the U.S. government, creating a new wave of battles within the Indian Wars. U.S. Army captain Richard Henry...
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...tool of genocide - Andrea Smith Here in this article, it is demonstrated that sexual violence as women creates genocides against their identities. It also a calling to the injustices of how women of color were targeted by white men. Native Americans were raped by white men who disguise themselves and themselves native men. Companies such as ivory soap was responsible to promote the Native Americans Indians as dirty and uncivilized. Yet sexual violence as racism is woven into our country, we can change it because it was socially constructed. Native Americans are being used as artifacts and put up into museums, yet we do not see white European figures in display. In order for anyone to teat anyone else differently, they must dehumanize their victims. Indians have begun hating them after all they have told many times and started believing other people words. Rape was used differently in different races. As for African Americans, they were rape to reproduce more slaves, but as for Indians women they were raped to take away their identities. Before Indians had contacted with Europeans, Indians did not practice war and if they did they did as a symbol to gain honor but their intentions were never to kill anyone. Women of color have been victimized everywhere, not only in the U.S. but also in South America and Mexico, they are viewed as a threat to the nation’s identity. Therefore, they are said to have earn that treatment because they were inherent. Before, Native American were viewed...
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...Does the Spanish Conquest constitute genocide? Do you agree or disagree? The late 1400’s brought about the period of colonial expansion, initiated under the crown of Castile and the Spanish Conquistadors. This expansion continued over the next 4 centuries, seeing the Spanish Empire expand over most of Central and South America. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire and the Incas spanned over decades and was not a peaceful conquest without bloodshed. The Conquista unleashed violence, death and destruction on a scale unknown until then. Charny acknowledged that it was possible for genocide to occur during the process of colonisation, as seen in the colonising of North America and similarly in Australia. This essay will discuss the various elements of genocide as defined by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, as well as other sources. Through this discussion, the essay will relate it to circumstances and events related to the Spanish Conquest of Latin America, discussing the possibility of a connection between the conquest and genocide. There are a number of elements that must be satisfied in order to find a case for genocide. When defining an act of genocide, the UN definition is the internationally recognised and the framework by which this essay will follow when referring to an act of genocide. As found in the UN definition of genocide; the act committed must have the intent to destroy the target, in whole or in part, a national, ethical,...
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...Sand Creek Massacre: Genocide? The World English Dictionary defines the term “genocide” as “the policy of deliberately killing a nationality or ethnic group.” Though the term “genocide” was not coined until 1944, acts of genocide have been committed throughout history. While some historians believe the killing and acts of violence toward Native Americans is considered genocide, others argue that genocide is an act of intent and does not describe the colonization experience. It is debated, then, whether one of the most heinous acts of violence against Native Americans, known as the Sand Creek Massacre, is considered genocide. The Sand Creek Massacre occurred on November 29, 1864. It stands as one of the cruelest acts against the Native citizens of the United States. In the early dawn of that morning, Colonel John M. Chivington and his army, known as the Third Colorado Volunteers, brutally attacked a Cheyenne and Arapaho village along Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado. With more than seven hundred well-armed men, Chivington attacked the village of six hundred peaceful Native people. Two-thirds of the village was comprised of women, children, and the elderly. The younger men in the village were out hunting buffalo at the time, so they were not present when the massacre occurred (Brown). Black Kettle, the chief of the Cheyenne tribe, met with Major Anthony at Fort Lyon a short time before the massacre, and was assured by him that if he and his people camped at Sand Creek they...
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...civilized Native tribes, away from their traditional lands and forced migration to new Indian ground which was west of the Mississippi River. These tribes were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and the Seminoles. When Andrew Jackson was elected president in the year 1828, the Natives soon became a part of the next racial targeting. President Andrew Jackson encouraged the expulsion; the Congress authorized this removal policy set by the president in 1830. The Indian Removal Act was passed on May 28, 1830; they were involuntarily removed from their homes and forced to move west. The Indian Removal Act was defined as swapping the U.S. western area for the...
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... the Native Americans have been the victims of racism since the day Christopher Columbus landed on North America. It is important for all people to understand that the Native American Indian was well established in North America for thousands of years. The nomadic ancestors, scientists believe, that modern day Native Americans migrated over a “land bridge” from Asia into what is now Alaska (Native American History, 2014). It is believed that when Christopher Columbus arrived, there were about 50 million Indians already living in North America and 10 million living in the area now known as the United States. This information is important because it shows that the Native American Indian was well established ling before Europeans arrived and that technically this was their land and homes. “From the west coast to what we now know as New England, tribes built their own societies and sustained themselves through agriculture, trade and hunting,” (Native American History, Native American History Facts, 2014). The Native American history has been somewhat “clouded”, as much of the history was written by the viewpoints of whites or Europeans. With the Native American Indian being illiterate, much of their history was passed on through stories or verbally rather than written documents. As a result, much of their true history was lost, altered, or misunderstood. “They transmitted memories of the past orally—but famines, wars, and diseases extinguished not only people, but Indian histories...
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...Mascots are a common topic of controversy in the United States and in other various places in the world. Whether or not these mascots and their images are demeaning to various cultures and heritages is an issue at large in today’s society. This may be due to the fact that during schooling, young students often learn about the native culture and/or tribes associated with their countries’ history. These students go on to learn about the various cultures in other areas of the world as well because it is important for children to be open-minded about the differences between their own heritage and culture compared to others around the world. Yet, when were these students taught about stereotypes and harmful prejudices? Although they may learn about the history of slavery and the principles linked with hatred, do they understand the implications associated with discrimination and prejudice? Numerous schools around the United States have kept their original mascot names, such as the “Redskins”, “Cleveland Indians”, and “Coachella Valley Arabs”. In fact, for almost 50 years people have been trying “to persuade schools and...
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...preconceived notion placed on a certain groups of people . In Celluloids Indians Jacquelyn Kilpatrick describes stereotypes as such, “‘ [s] tereotypes are evaluative concepts about status and roles and as such are central to interpreting and evaluating social groups including one’s own.”’ (xvi) Using this idea Kilpatrick explores “the social, ideological and political construction” (xvi) of stereotypes in literature, film and politics in accordance to different perspectives. In short we explore how the interpretation of film and literature relies on the perspective in which it is told, as different perspectives manifest different stereotypes. Prehaps some of the most prevalent examples are Literary works. These works often stem from stories of experience in encounters with Native Americans. Many of these literary...
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...exploration and colonization on the Native people annihilated and destroyed many people and their cultures. As a result of this they were enslaved, killed, and evicted off of their homeland. For example when colonists came over their main goal was to obtain land, gold, and other materials.In addition, the Europeans did a supreme job. In which today it is now called “Human Progress.” Which resulted in more money and the conversion of “ Indian” to christianity. This is where the very famous quote “Kill the Indian, Save the Man” first originated. A long time ago, Europeans could not grow enough food. This resulted in the starvation of many Europeans. To solve this problem Europeans enslaved many Natives so they could do their laborious work. The way it had effected the Natives when they were enslaved was by forcing them to abandon their culture. For example when Columbus had came he enslaved many Natives so the...
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...Module 6 Discussion Assignment Yes Robert V. Remini believes the removal policy enacted by Andrew Jackson did indeed benefit the Native American tribes that were forced to move westward off their lands. Remini’s main reasoning behind his belief is that the tribes would’ve been virtually annihilated if they had stayed. Remini concedes that Jackson was a racist who did not think of the “red man” as his equal, but did have concern for their welfare. Jackson thought white expansion into previously protected lands was inevitable and clashes between the Indians and whites would most certainly result in the deaths of many Indians. The white settlers were also rapidly encroaching and destroying resources on lands integral to Indian way of life (210-11)....
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