Chief Joseph And The Neez Perce War Book Analysis

914 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Indian interaction with the white colonists

I Will Fight No More Forever “I Will Fight No More Forever” Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War by Merrill D. Beal is a book that opens up the readers eyes to the challenging life of the Nez Perce. Beal’s reason for writing this book was to deepen modern Americans view of past Native Americans and show the Indian-white relations of the past. The author also hoped to clear misconceptions and myths about Native Americans, in particular the Nez Perce tribe. The author’s contribution to our understanding of Pacific Northwest history was intended to make us see the vital role Native Americans played in shaping history around this region. Therefore, if it wasn’t for the Native Americans in this region we wouldn’t have much of a human history in this …show more content…

This book has many historical record and eye-witness accounts which include statements from U.S. Army officials, Nez Perce tribal elders, and personal statements from Chief Joseph. Beal stated in the beginning of the book that he was to prepare an accurate, documented historical account of the Nez Perce campaign of 1877. He used great sources like survivors or descendants of those who participated in action, the Library of Congress, National Archives, and contacted all historical sources in general. Beal did acknowledge that some of the sources were biased but in order to present all sides he included this information. As a result, this book is unbiased because it shows both sides to the story.
Chief Joseph would utter these famous words that still live on to this day. “I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. ….It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing. ...Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” These powerful words really do describe in essence the dire situation this chief and his people were in and the great inner anguish he was felt. Therefore, even to this day many find these words piercing their

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Imagining A Distant New World By Daniel K. Richter

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dr. Daniel K. Richter is the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor of American History at University of Pennsylvania. His focus on early Native American history has led to his writing several lauded books including Before the Revolution: America’s Ancient Past, and The Ordeal of the Longhouse: The Peoples of the Iroquois League in the Era of European Colonization. Richter’s Facing East is perhaps, a culmination of his latter work. It is centered from a Native American perspective, an angle less thought about in general. Through the book, Richter takes this perspective into several different fields of study which includes literary analysis, environmental history, and anthropology. Combining different methodologies, Richter argues Americans can have a fruitful future, by understanding the importance of the American Indian perspective in America’s short history.

    Read More

  • Chief Joseph And Helen Hunt Jackson: A Comparative Analysis

    435 Words  | 1 Pages

    Chief Joseph and Helen Hunt Jackson are two very important people who both share strong yet different perspectives toward the treachery of the U.S. Government along with the unfair treatment of Indians around the 1800’s. Chief Joseph was born in 1840 in the Wallowa valley of Oregon, and belonged to the Nez Percé tribe, which was made up of some 400 indians. The Government had made many valid promises among the tribes, just to come back and break these words with more conflict and war. All Chief Joseph was in search for was for the chaos among the whites and indians to be replaced with peace, brotherhood, and equality. Stated in the text, “We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men.” In other words, Chief Joseph believed that people

    Read More

  • Tecumseh And The Quest For Indian Leadership Summary

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “Tecumseh and the Quest for Indian Leadership”, Tecumseh and the many Indian tribes in west America spent years fighting for their land and trying to keep their culture alive. The story illustrates cultural aspects of the period through elucidating the important figure

    Read More

  • Contrast Essay: The Mcgillivray Moment And Chief Joseph Surrenders

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Chief Joseph is the most well known of the Nez Perce leaders, he was not the sole overall leader. The Nez Perce were led by a coalition of several leaders from the different bands who comprised the "non-treaty" Nez Perce, including the Wallowa Ollokot, White Bird of the Lamátta band, Toohoolhoolzote of the Pikunin band, and Looking Glass of the Alpowai band. Brigadier General Howard was the head of the U.S. Army 's Department of the Columbia, which was tasked with forcing the Nez Perce onto the reservation whose jurisdiction was extended by General William Tecumseh Sherman to allow Howard 's pursuit.

    Read More

  • General Harrison and the Battle of Tippecanoe

    1735 Words  | 4 Pages

    In addition to the road to battle, it is important to know that historical accounts of what led to the battle and what transpired are in dispute. These are not disputes over minor items, such as the exact order of battle or a clear sequence of events in what was a confusing night and dawn battle. Accounts of what transpired are often fundamentally different, and it is clear that various actors suppressed or championed differing accounts for political or personal reasons. By some accounts, the battle began by accident as an Indian patrol sent to keep watch on the Americans drew fire from nervous American sentries, leading the Indians only a mile away at Prophetstown to attack. By other accounts, the Indians planned a deliberate attack in order to strike the American force before the Americans could strike the Indians. Harrison touted the battle as a decisive victory that broke up the Indian confederacy and many historians agreed. However, modern accounts argue that the battle actuall...

    Read More

  • The Wars Robert Ross Analysis

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    The title of this novel, “The Wars” is illusory. Upon first glance, it makes one expect a protagonist who goes to an actual war, uses physical strength to fight on the battlefield and becomes a war hero.While part of that is true, there are also other significances of the war associated with this title. This novel recounts the journey of the protagonist, Robert Ross as he starts out as a shy, introvert and an inexperienced person before he goes to war; he experiences a change in himself as a result of the people and the battle(s) that he fights with the factors in his surroundings. Therefore, “The Wars” doesn’t necessarily mean the war with the enemy but it includes the wars at home, wars against nature and wars of relationships. Which

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Peace Came In The Form Of A Women

    1385 Words  | 3 Pages

    Native American’s place in United States history is not as simple as the story of innocent peace loving people forced off their lands by racist white Americans in a never-ending quest to quench their thirst for more land. Accordingly, attempts to simplify the indigenous experience to nothing more than victims of white aggression during the colonial period, and beyond, does an injustice to Native American history. As a result, historians hoping to shed light on the true history of native people during this period have brought new perceptive to the role Indians played in their own history. Consequently, the theme of power and whom controlled it over the course of Native American/European contact is being presented in new ways. Examining the evolving

    Read More

  • Black Elk Speaks

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sioux as told through John G. Neihardt, an Indian boy then a warrior, and Holy Man

    Read More

  • Native Reactions To The Invasion Of America By James Axtell

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    The article, “Native Reactions to the invasion of America”, is written by a well-known historian, James Axtell to inform the readers about the tragedy that took place in the Native American history. All through the article, Axtell summarizes the life of the Native Americans after Columbus acquainted America to the world. Axtell launches his essay by pointing out how Christopher Columbus’s image changed in the eyes of the public over the past century. In 1892, Columbus’s work and admirations overshadowed the tears and sorrows of the Native Americans. However, in 1992, Columbus’s undeserved limelight shifted to the Native Americans when the society rediscovered the history’s unheard voices and became much more evident about the horrific tragedy of the Natives Indians.

    Read More

  • "Custer Died For Your Sins" Analysis

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the work is 40 years old, “Custer Died for Your Sins” is still relevant and valuable in explaining the history and problems that Indians face in the United States. Deloria’s book reveals the White view of Indians as false compared to the reality of how Indians are in real life. The forceful intrusion of the U.S. Government and Christian missionaries have had the most oppressing and damaging affect on Indians. There is hope in Delorias words though. He believes that as more tribes become more politically active and capable, they will be able to become more economically independent for future generations. He feels much hope in the 1960’s generation of college age Indians returning to take ownership of their tribes problems and build a better future for their children.

    Read More

  • The Natchez Indians

    1679 Words  | 4 Pages

    Spurgeon, Ian Michael. “Natchez Revolt” in Encyclopedia of North American Indian Wars, 1607-1890: A Political, Social, and Military History. Edited by Spencer C. Tucker, James Arnold and Roberta Wiener. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO Publishing (2011): 535.

    Read More

  • Analysis of John MacArthur's The Battle for the Beginning

    1369 Words  | 3 Pages

    John MacArthur is a well-known and sometimes controversial pastor that holds a strong conservative viewpoint of the Scriptures. As a graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, MacArthur’s ministry has covered a wide spectrum of Christian fields including pastor, author and radio host. MacArthur currently serves as the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sunny Valley, California. For over 45 years his pastoral ministry at Grace Community Church has given evidence of a deep abiding love for the exposition of the Scriptures. Beyond his role as pastor, MacArthur serves as the president of the Master’s College and Seminary, which functions to train men to work in various areas of Christian ministry. As a successful author, MacArthur continues to write many books ranging from culturally and theological relevant issues to New Testament expositional commentaries and study guides. Macarthur also serves as the lead teacher of Grace to You, an everyday radio and television ministry, which centers on verse by verse exposition of Scripture. MacArthur is not known for shying away from controversial topics that Christianity struggles with. He seeks to use scripture to help modern Christians think through these topics.

    Read More

  • The War within The War by Timothy Findley

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Struggles in life is something everyone is faced with whether it is physical, emotional mental or personal struggles. These struggles are capable of shaping an individual’s personality and outlook on life. Timothy Findley’s novel The Wars, shows that struggles lead to the character’s ultimate inner struggles, outer struggles and self-discovery. War exists in a person’s physical and psychological aspects. In The Wars, Robert Ross goes to war and fights a personal and physical battle.

    Read More

  • Themes in U.S and World History

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    The West Film Project. (2001). Chief Joseph speaks, selected statements and speeches by the Nez Percé chief. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/ archives/six/jospeak.htm.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Colonialism In Africa

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Project, Harvard. The State of the Native Nations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. 221-222.

    Read More

More about Chief Joseph And The Neez Perce War Book Analysis

Open Document