What year in history was at determined fair to say that Native Americans were victims of mass exteremination?

Question

What Im trying to figure out is whether, or not the destruction of the Native American falls on the shoulders of the USA, or if they were nearly exterminated Pre-7-4-1776, then technically they were unfortunately a casualty of the British empire as the USA was not yet a Sovereign Country in its own right?
How do you feel after looking at the overall picture? Does the USA take historical ownership of that tragedy, or the British empire, or is it a joint relationship, or WHAT?

Answer 1

Although the American Indians have had loose confederations, they consist of many different tribes or nations. There is no more relation between an Algonquin and an Apache than say an Irishman and an Italian.
They speak different languages, have adopted different religious beliefs, use different economic systems, and have different forms of government.
Tragically, native versus native conflicts may have been the most damaging.

Answer 2

Does it fall on the U.S. Gov. (and it's people's) shoulders alone? No.

Spain had been responsible for mass destruction of Native Americans for centuries before America became a nation. Spain did most of it's offensive in current day South America, but it also explored and ravaged North America as well. Spain and it's Monarchy struggled with the question of whether Natives were human or sub-human and a historic debate took place in 1550 regarding such, known as the Valladolid Controversy. Since massacres had already been taking place - 1492 and the discovery of America by Spain could be the year it became acceptable to play a part of mass extermination.

The larger picture is that Spain, England, France, Russia and eventually America all played a part in the deconstruction of the Native American cultures.

In my opinion once America became a nation and determined itself to preserve our (their) beliefs, the problem of what to do with the Native Americas became an impossible dilemna. Many Americans (and Presidents) tried to assimilate the Indians into the culture as smoothly, and as quickly as possible. For most Natives this was asking too much - and America at that point certainly wasn't going to adapt the ways of a certain tribe. If you had to place a year that the US officially became indifferent about the lives of Native Americans I would say 1830 would be a solid answer, with the passing of the Indian Removal Act. The 1830's were a very bad time for Native Americans.

The fact that the U.S. Gov. broke many treaties with Native Americans is an uncomfortable example of how progress and money can take president over human life. Sadly when it comes to resources or rare raw material any Government/Tribe would do the same if given the opportunity to take it by force.

Answer 3

Many were exterminated before and after the Creation of the United States. The United States does take some historical ownership in some things like the Trail of Tears, Lakota massacres and the destruction of the Iroquois confederacy of Upper New York state.

I believe every year up Wounded Knee was a massacre for the natives United States

Answer 4

It was never truely a mass extermination effort as was the holocaust. It consited of a series of treaties and intermitten conlficts, both in court on on the battle field, which slowly pushed the natives west and then later onto reservations.

The blame for the destruction of the tribes, remember there were different tribes, falls on a variety of peoples. The american indians themselves destroyed many other tribes; the Iroqoius claiming the Illinois and almost the Huron. The Fox were destroyed by a coalition of tribes fighting with French support.

The blame also rests with England, the US and Mexico, but it is popular to blame America these days. The tribes living from the Appalacias eastward were all but destroyed well before 1776. Many of the tribes in the Great Lakes region had been destroyed, or seriously decreased in number, by other tribes during the decades long Beaver Wars.

It is a joint responsiblity resting on numerous American Indian tribes(through direct destruction and by aiding the US army through scout work), as well on the British empire, Mexico, the USA and Spain.

Answer 5

It's a complex topic that you bring up in your question.

Most of the damage done to the Native people of North America was not done before 1776, but it certainly was a start.

It is recognized that the largest taker of life were diseases from European and American explorers and settlers. Small pox in particular ravaged populations.

In some cases, such as the relocation of the 5 tribes it was a case of shameful and purposeful torture. You may want to read about the Trail of Tears.

You also have to remember what of the continent was explored at the time of 1776. New Orleans at the time of 1776 was an established city, and part of Spain. Russia started exploring California in the early 1800's. France was interested in the territories of the midwest up and down the Mississippi River. The Dutch were interested in parts of what is now Nova Scotia and Canada. Spain, of course dominated the lower part of the continent.

You may want to take some time to read about the travels of Lewis and Clark. Note the people they encountered. Also, you may want to learn more about the Tejanos.

Lastly, you should read about the nationally recognized tribes that exist now in the US.

Answer 6

I'd say that the blame for mass extermination lies on contact, unencumbered by any specific government. While the US, the British, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish all exterminated their fair share, the largest number of dead can be laid at the foot of accidental infection from disease.


Putting aside disease, the resulting chaos from mass deaths, and the introduction of firearms and the horse to old conflicts, the US would have to except the blame for killing more than the British. British rule never extended much beyond the Appalachians, and the conquest of the eastern seaboard can't compare to the slaughter of the Trail of Tears and the dozens of Indian wars of the 19th century.

Answer 7

It wasn't federal policy as much as STATE and the REAL damage wasn't until AFTER the civil war.

Do a little research on Peter Burnette. I've included a snipped of one of his policies.

California set itself apart from other states by refusing to approve federal treaties with the Indian tribes for land, and also by establishing an official policy of extermination. As stated by California's first governor, Peter Burnett, in 1851, "that the war of extermination will continue to be waged until the race becomes extinct must be expected." In 1851-52, the California Legislature authorized payment of claims totaling more than $1 million to pay the voluntary militia for bullets and bounty on dead Indians.
The state's first bond of $400,000 was issued in 1854, to pay for bodily proof of an executed Indian.

The brits were skirmishes compared to what came from the US Cavalry.

Answer 8

By our Idea 1840s onward i wont comment on so many answers all have valid points

Two Knives Lakota Nation

Answer 9

the extermination of the native peoples of the americas is shared by the various european powers (england, france, spain and portugal), but also by the governments of the euro-based countries (US, Canada) that were founded on land stolen from them. There were horrific displacements of the native peoples (check out the trail of tears). To say that the natives themselves were responsible (as the above poster did) is like blaming the jews for the holocaust -offensive to say the least.