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Ida B. Wells An Indian's Perspective (1879)

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The first document, “An Indian’s Perspective (1879)” was written by the leader of a group of Nez Perce Native Americans named Chief Joseph (pg. 50). This group of Nez Perce was loyal to the American government by helping it fight other Indians, but was treated horribly in return (pg. 50). Chief Joseph explains that white people stole horses from them, lied to them, drove off their cattle, and attempted to spark war (pg. 50). Even when Chief Joseph gave up some of their land as a peace offering and tried not to fight back, the white men persisted to kill them and take more of their land (pg. 50). Eventually, this group of Nez Perce surrendered to the government under terms that the government took years to fulfill. This document was written …show more content…

Wells (pg. 117). Even though African Americans had been “free” for thirty-five years by 1900, they still faced discrimination, violence, disenfranchisement, segregation and lynching. Lynching occurred when a mob of people (usually white) decided that someone (usually black) was guilty and deserved to be put to death without a trial or any other legal benefits guaranteed to all American citizens (pg. 117). These killers tried to justify their acts by stating that they were following an “unwritten law”, especially when any white woman claimed that a black man harmed her (pg. 117). Wells explained that blacks of all races and genders were lynched for reasons such as raising concerns about their work contracts, for unfounded claims that they burned buildings, and for displaying courage by standing up for themselves (pg. 117). African Americans in the South constantly feared being murdered for minor or nonexistent offenses and having their killers not face any repercussions. I am saddened that the government did not step in sooner to stop these senseless …show more content…

For example, the government was not prompt in their response to the lynching of African Americans. State and local governments even ignored lynching, and white people were rarely or never charged for their actions because they held the political power. Ida B. Wells and others advocated for anti-lynching laws and other protections for African Americans, but it took decades for the federal government to take action (pg. 117). The government was even outright dishonest when dealing with Native Americans by violating treaties and agreements. For example, the government agreed that Chief Joseph and his people could return home after they surrendered in 1877, but then didn’t allow them (pg. 50). Chief Joseph even went to Washington D.C. to explain his situation in 1879, but he was not allowed to return home until 1885 (pg. 50). Chief Joseph expressed his frustration with empty words and broken promises by stating, “I have heard talk and talk but nothing is done… Words do not pay for my dead people” (pg. 51). The Dawes Act of 1887, explained below, was one attempt by the federal government to help Native Americans. However, it had significant flaws and forced Native Americans to

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