Native American Eloquence: Negotiation and Resistance

Resources: Native American Eloquence: Negotiation and Resistance (475-488) William Apess (543-549): https://nativenortheastportal.com/bio/bibliography/apes-william-1798-1839 Native Americans: Removal and Resistance (631-650) Gutenberg holdings for William Apess: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12486 The readings for this week focus on the continuing removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. As you read, try to put yourselves in the place of the Native Americans and, although it’s difficult, the mindset of those who would take their lands. What are the factors at work in the American efforts to remove Native Americans from their homelands? What do you think of the pleas of the Native Americans as they try to find common ground and a basis for reasoning with the American government? What is your response to Apess’s sermon? Are you shocked? Uncomfortable? In agreement? Can you make any connections between the plight of Native Americans and slaves? Do some research into the Abolitionist movement. Do you find any common ideas in the arguments for emancipation of the slaves and the arguments put forth by Native Americans and women in past readings? Are there assumptions about all three groups that make it easy for the established powers in the new America to treat them as less than human? Note: Underline the thesis statement, citation in MLA format, at least write 3 paragraphs.