can America as a nation be held responsible for black slavery and deaths of Indian Americans?

Question

I say no, because when those things took place America was not a nation that was fully organised in terms of politics, society, structure, economy, defence or socially. The america we see today was not the america that was 100 years ago. So how can america as a nation be held responsible for those dark chapters which took place 100 years ago?

by the way i am not an american , nor do i live in america

those were done by individual people and the american government had no control over individual acts. it was not a organised government back then

Answer 1

It was more like 150 years ago and if America isn't responsible who is? Now as far as being held responsible who is going to hold them? God?

Answer 2

No. And no nation should be held responsible for the actions of that nation in the past. Germany started a war that lead to millions of deaths. Japan started a war that caused millions of deaths. All though out history nations or tribes, of people have done things that were wrong. And it crosses every nationality, race, color, creed, and culture.

In 1918 the Allies, England, France, and the US, and Russia imposed severe sanctions onto Germany for the first world war. These sanctions lead directly to the rise of Hitler. After the second world war the Allies understood that and instead of sanctions, re-build Germany and helped it's people move forward.

There are Germans and Japanese alive today that were in the armies that fought the Allies, should they each and everyone be held accountable? No?

Answer 3

No I do not think so. So many people feel badly about slavery and such...and they think this will make the nation "feel better." I personally do not.

The same could be said for gender bias....how many women were kept out of colleges, voting, weren't allowed to own property or work, etc. because they were female? I do not hold the entire male population responsible and expect an apology or reparations!!

Be happy that the world has changed, people have learned and everyone just work towards a better place for our children to live.

Answer 4

Simple Answer: Because Oppression still exists today at the hands of the U.S. government.

This is a simple fact. If you don't believe it's true to some research, contact your local institute of higher education, ask nearly any person of color.

The government has taken it upon themselves to remain the same government. It is not so different. They must uphold the constitution the wrote. Therefore they should uphold treaties from the same time period? How can you justify that?

EDIT:
To respond to user Tom's post. The land bridge theory, is just that a THEORY. There is more evidence to disprove the theory than to prove it. The evidence this user is citing is highly controversial and so is their website resource. For more information read "Red Earth White Lies"

Answer 5

~~~ terry,,,, America certainly WAS, and became a "fully organised" country by the time the Civil War erupted in the middle of the 19th c. !!! At ANY given moment in Amer. History, the nation was of "The People", therefore by extension "The Nation" is absolutely, directly "responsible for those dark chapters" that IT CREATED. Just as "it" is responsible for arresting Japanese Americans, stealing their property and putting them in concentration camps during WWll !! ( I am a white american.)

Answer 6

I don't know why you were reported, but no I don't think that America can be tried for the awful deaths and mistreatment of Indians and African Americans. The reason why is because, then England would have to be tried for all of the oppression that they caused their people. Africa would also have to face indictment. Also, China, Japan, and several other Eastern countries. Not just Indians and African Americans have been oppressed. True, what happened to the Indians in this country was complete bullshit and I would apologize to each and everyone of them if I could. The thing is, that is how America was started. We came here to be free. To have rights and worship how we please. If other nationalities would just grab their balls and try to change their country and stop bitching about ours I think the world would be a better place. If you don't like your situation CHANGE it.

Answer 7

Today's nation-no. It is not the same country as it was when these crimes happened. The people living today have nothing to do with what happened in the 1800's.

However, the US government was correct when it gave money back to the living Japanese citizens who were interned during World War II.

Answer 8

I certainly think they were responsible for the black slavery and will be held accountable for it and are being held accountable for it right now. However concerning the American Indians that was definitely a war and and had they not fought them they would've been killed them selves.

Answer 9

when my people came to america they had to change the spelling of their last name and were not allowed to make their way in New York and had to travel to the midwest but am i complaining, no because it was 100yrs ago who cares. yes i live in an area that is known in america for its poverty and i'm surrounded by inbred rednecks who wish coal was popular as it used to be but hey what's done is done. in other words let's just move on and try to make the future better.

Answer 10

yes the if the people are still alive but why do we owe their ancestors and future generations i wasn't even alive when all this went down why don't they owe apologies to my great grandparents when they came here from germany they were treated just like all the other immigrants were at that time they were treated poorly and called names they wouldn't even admit who they were-germans