In this discussion, you will discuss Chief Joseph’s speech. Post a detailed response to the discussion prompt. Then comment on at least two other posts. To understand how you will be graded for this assignment, read the Discussion Guidelines and Rubric. Using your knowledge from the text and Chief Joseph’s speech, what can be said about the treatment of Native Americans during this time period? How might many Native Americans have felt? Do you think you would have agreed with Chief Joseph if you were one of the chiefs to whom he was speaking? Why or why not?
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During this time period, the treatment of Native Americans can be characterized as unjust, oppressive, and downright cruel. Chief Joseph’s speech serves as a powerful testament to the hardships and mistreatment that Native Americans endured. The speech reveals that Native Americans were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, placed on reservations, and subjected to various discriminatory practices.
Chief Joseph mentions how their tribe, the Nez Perce, lived peacefully and harmoniously with the white settlers until the arrival of the gold rush. This highlights the fact that Native Americans were often pushed off their land and their way of life disrupted for the sake of economic gain. They were seen as obstacles to be removed rather than people with their own rights and cultures.
The speech also alludes to the broken promises and treaties made by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph expresses his disappointment that despite their efforts to coexist with the white settlers and honor their treaties, they were still subjected to violence and mistreatment. This reflects the systematic betrayal of Native Americans and the constant erosion of their rights and sovereignty.
Many Native Americans during this time period would have felt a deep sense of loss, anger, and frustration. They had witnessed the destruction of their land, the loss of their traditions, and the forced assimilation into a culture that did not value or respect their way of life. The deprivation and discrimination they experienced would have created a pervasive feeling of powerlessness and injustice.
If I were one of the chiefs listening to Chief Joseph’s speech, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with him. His words resonate with a deep sense of injustice and the longing for freedom that I believe many Native American chiefs would have shared. The speech serves as a rallying cry for their rights and dignity. Given the mistreatment and broken promises they endured, it would be difficult to disagree with Chief Joseph’s call for resistance and the fight for justice.
In conclusion, the treatment of Native Americans during this time period was characterized by injustice, displacement, and broken promises. Chief Joseph’s speech sheds light on the struggles and mistreatment faced by Native Americans. Many Native Americans would have felt a deep sense of loss and frustration. If I were a chief, I would have agreed with Chief Joseph, as his speech captures the collective pain and longing for justice that Native Americans experienced.