Red Jacket Thesis

A. RED JACKET
1. Describe Red Jacket’s perspective of the relationship between the Native Americans and the European American settlers. Include at least three examples from the literature and notes.
• “They told us they had fled from their own country for a fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them; granted their request; and they sat down amongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 370). Jacket asserts that the finding of “friends and not enemies” (370) was not true.
• “The white people, brother, had now found our country. Tidings were carried back, and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them.

We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them and gave them a larger seat… They wanted more land; they wanted our country” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 370). The Europeans were trying to fool the Native Americans. They wanted to take the land so they ended up killing some of the Native Americans by strong liquor.
• “Our seats were once large, and yours were small. You have now become great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 370). There is not much left belonging to the Native Americans since the Europeans took over, but now the Europeans are trying to make them believe a different religion. Jacket did not like the fact that they were trying to force a religion on them after taking over their land.
2. What points does Red Jacket make in order to convince the European Americans (“Brothers”) that they should adopt religious tolerance of the Native American’s spiritual beliefs? Include at least 2-3 examples from “The Indians Must Worship the Great Spirit in Their Own Way.”
• “We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 370) The Europeans have been so sneaky and manipulative that no trust is in their words anymore. The Native Americans need more proof than just the words coming out of their mouths now.
• “You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the book?” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 370) Native Americans became aware of the Europeans having different thoughts about the same religion when it had been “handed down from their forefather” (370).
• “We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 371). Jacket states this to make the Europeans feel guilty of what they have done to the Native Americans. “We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 371). Jacket wants the Europeans to leave them alone.
3. What comparisons does Red Jacket make between the Native American religion and Christianity? Include specific positive aspects of the Native American religion that are presented.
“The great spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between his white and red children.

He has five us different complexions and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes.” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 371). Jacket asserts that they were all made by the same Great spirit, but they have many differences. They did not have the same culture, skin tones, backgrounds, or beliefs. That was okay to Jacket. The Native American religion was shown to have many positive aspects. “It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 371). The Native Americans do not fight and cause turmoil over the choice of religion. They are more peaceful and love others while keeping the peace. They only want to believe what they have chosen without the Europeans trying to influence them. “Since He has made so a great difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that He has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for his children; we are satisfied” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 371). The Native Americans seemed to be more positive people overall and more level headed. They really focused on doing good things for others until they got taken advantage of by the

Europeans.
B. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON
4. Garrison was very active in his attack against the U.S. Constitution. Explain the reasons Garrison condemned the U.S. Constitution, including the specific points in the Constitution to which Garrison objected.
“Garrison’s ‘On the Constitution and the Union,’ published in 1832, takes aim at the Constitution of the United States as a document that should be condemned for tolerating, and in fact providing a legal basis for, the continuation of slavery. Garrison views the constitution as a contract that was, as he says, ‘null and void from the beginning’ because it violates ‘the law of God’” (Module 5 Notes). Garrison did not think that the Founding Fathers should be able to give the rights to own a human being and put them to work. “No body of men ever had the right to guarantee the holding of human beings being bondage” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 388). He really liked the Deceleration of Independence because it stated that “all men are created equal, and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights- among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Module 5 Notes). He thought that it went against what the Deceleration of Independence had gave to the people of the country previously.
5. Is Garrison’s attack on the Constitution really about the document itself, or does he merely use the document as symbolic of the unconscionable tolerance of slavery by American society?
In my opinion, he uses it to show the tolerance of slavery by American Society. He did not like the fact of slavery and inequality of the people. “Who or what were the framers of our government, that they should dare confirm and authorize such high-handed villainy- such flagrant robbery of the inalienable rights of man- such a glaring violation of all the precepts and injunctions of the gospel- such a savage war upon a sixth part of our whole population?” (Concise Anthology of American Literature, 388) Garrison thought the founding fathers were just as sinful, flawed, and inferior as any slave. He was very bothered that the part of the Deceleration of Independence was being ignored and not followed. Equality was very important to him, and he was determined to get slaves freed.