Now that you have analyzed the American Progress, pick the men of the living beings in the document. Consider the feelings, actions, and thoughts of that figure. How are they being affected by what is happening? Then, write a paragraph below (5-7 sentences) explaining the action of the painting from that particular point of view.
From the point of view of the Native American man in the painting, the American Progress is a symbol of the displacement and destruction of his people. He is standing in the foreground of the painting, looking out at the advancing civilization that is pushing him and his people out of their ancestral lands. He is surrounded by the symbols of progress, such as the railroad and the telegraph, which are taking away his way of life. He is also surrounded by the symbols of destruction, such as the burning of the prairie and the slaughter of the buffalo. He is overwhelmed by the power of the advancing civilization and can only watch helplessly as his way of life is taken away from him. He is filled with sadness and despair as he watches the progress of the American nation, knowing that his people will never be able to reclaim their land.
