Westward Expansion Dbq

From 1860-1900, America underwent hundreds of different social, cultural, religious, and political changes that forever shaped how the nation will be. Westward expansion played a huge role of how the country ran, and how thousands of Indigenous lives were treated. The effects of American westward expansion on Native Americans were negative, as Native Americans were forced to experience assimilation, injustice, dehumanization.

To start, assimilation was a huge part of America, as hundreds of thousands of Native Americans were forced to assimilate to white culture, for the ideal American society. As one can see in document 6, A commissioner of Indian Affairs emphasizes the ‘issue’ with Native American culture, as well as being “ignorant” of

Due to westward expansion, the need for American culture to be one destroyed hundreds of Native American lives, and many innocent lives were taken. The point of view of the speaker of this document is T.J. Morgan, a white man, which is significant considering how many white Americans had a mindset that Native American culture was a threat to having a successful and ideal society. Civilizing and assimilating Native American culture was thought to protect America and its people from corruption by white people, however, it ended up forcing thousands of Indigenous people to go through endless torture. Nonetheless, as one can see in document 7, one can see the disgusting efforts of white Americans to assimilate Native American culture, the scissors wanting to cut Natives’ hair, taking the land from Indigenous people, and white Americans

Indigenous people were lied to constantly, given false promises, and false hope. Document 3 emphasizes this, Chief Joseph, leader of the Nez Perce, mentioning how “Good words do not last long,” and ,”Nothing is done.” The perspective of this document is significant considering how a chief of an Indigenous tribe speaks up about the injustice done to his people and dozens of other tribes as well. Native Americans were taken advantage of during westward expansion, their land forcefully taken from them and are treated inhumanely. Westward expansion caused for unjust treatment towards Indigenous people, they were given false hope of a country that would be better, however, their homes and people were taken away. Westward expansion will forever be a reminder of the horrors Native Americans endured for the sake of the country that never treated them justly to begin with. Likewise, one can see in document 5 the population of buffalo from 1800-1889, how it decreased drastically after the beginning of westward expansion. This elucidates that not only were Native Americans dealt with unjustly, but so were that which they held dear were dealt unjustly too. An important part of Native American culture revolved around the animals they would take care of, use for resources, and be apart of their daily lives. However, when westward expansion took place, Native Americans were not considered for, nor what they