Essay on Native Americans

   In history many socially and culturally separate groups have been persecuted or "punished" because of their hesitation towards assimilation. One such group was the Native Americans who over the history of the United States have suffered like no other group. This very diverse culture was to be lost, instead lives were taken to try to stop assimilation. The interactions of the Natives with the Whites was rarely conflictive in the right circumstances and could have been a peaceful relationship. I will be discussing this topic of the Native Americans and what happened to them.

   The Native American group, with their various tribes has seen conflict like any group but have been through things few others have. They were seen as conflictive, aggressive, war mongering people, even though they would usually be very civil. The group was basically being forced to do many things which led to violent methods. They were being assimilated, their religions, customs, diets, everything was being changed, to become "better". Many important Natives were killed such as Sitting Bull, who died from a misunderstanding.

   The loss of culture became a very serious problem. The whites were forcing assimilation, and were being relentless. The fact of the matter was that they believed they were being helpful.  The Natives could either assimilate, or run to Canada. Usually the plan was to sell the excess land, and so that the Natives would basically make settlements in the manner of white society, because that was the best way. The governments plans were not seen to be as good an idea to the natives as it was to whites. Some natives were becoming part of the society that was wanted from them, even losing their names.

  The conflict that came after this was even worse, massacres occured, prominent people were being killed, and natives were still fighting between tribes. One very well known "battle" is the massacre at wounded knee, were a trained army division was responsible for klling hundreds of Natives, including children and women, neither of which were going to fight back. The natives fought each other usually for personal gain, and monetary exchanges were not rare. Many leaders were killed, almost exclusively to the indians, and this also made morale fall and the natives began falling even harder.

   In conclusion, the natives have been through much and this has contributed to the natives current problems. Many natives suffer from many if not basically all social problems. Natives suffer from alcoholism,depression, many live under the poverty line and very few are left. It is because of their past that they live how they do. It has also been from the way the whites would treat them. They can improve but not alone.