Native Americans Inhumane Treatment Essay

Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to inexcusable treatment by society within the United States of America. When English settlers arrived in the United States of America in the early 1600’s, they were met with a society of individuals that were willing to maintain a mutual relationship (The New England Colonies and the Native Americans 2022). This, however, was not enough for settlers and they soon turned to violence, racism, and genocide in order to take land and resources from Native American people. Because of this, the very foundation of which the United States was built on consisted of racism and colonization (The Legacy of Injustices Against Native Americans nn.d.). This racism did not end as time went by, it is

When English settlers arrived, Native Americans were introduced to many new diseases that they did not have immunity built up against. While their lack of immunity caused the most deaths, overt mistreatment and massacres of the Native Americans by Europeans was devastating as well (Native Americans nn.d.). When the English decided that the land that the Natives had allowed them to live on wasn’t enough, they decided that they were going to take the rest of the land. With the Declaration of Independence that was written in 1776, new laws were introduced that discriminated against Native Americans. One of the first impactful laws that was enacted was The Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act forced Native American located east of the Mississippi River to relocated to lands west of the river (Native Americans nn.d.). Another impactful law was The Indian Appropriation Act. This act provided funding for the removal of additional tribes and declared that Native Americans no longer were recognized as independent nations (Native Americans nn.d.). This act took power away from Native Americans and made it easier for the United States of America to take the land they wanted. Finally, The Dawes Act of 1887 reversed the act that allowed Native Americans to live in isolation on reservations and forced them to live on properties with White

First, there is an unspoken belief that the United States is that Native Americans are free to be used as though they are not human. The belief is that everyone owns Native Americans and their lands which dehumanizes them (Hirschfelder & Molin 2018). In addition, Native Americans have also been given the stereotype that they are violent individuals. Throughout history, Native Americans that chose to fight back when English settlers began taking their land were deemed as “merciless Indian savages.” As this image transitioned into modern culture, it became rare to see a depiction of a Native American without a tomahawk or a scalping knife in their hand (Hirschfelder & Molin 2018). The stereotype that all Native Americans are violent, horrible people soon became popular within the film industry which only fueled the racism towards Native Americans. “Wild West shows, performed across North America and Europe from the late 1800s into the 20th century, dramatized Indian attacks on stagecoaches and cabins as well as mock battles between cavalry and Indians” (Hirschfelder & Molin 2018 p. 14). During these shows and films, Native Americans were characterized as the villains while the English settlers were the victims that were being mercilessly attacked. This perception has created a dangerous environment for Native Americans as they are seen as dangerous individuals. Because of this, Native Americans are