Question 1
The Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy was an extraordinary reality in history. This phenomenon had about five families that had several titles that described nations. The nations were named respectively in a distinctive order. These families included Cayugas, Oneidas, Sanecas, Onondaga and Mohawks. The families were also subdivided into smaller families and had their own unique symbol. The symbols were courts of arms images such as wolves, bears, herons, beavers and the tortoises among other significant animals. The Iroquois Confederacy was essential in the history of America because of wisdom and strength acquired from the nations.
These nations were referred as the Romans of the new world because they had several similarities to the ancient people. Some of the activities that can be performed in similarity to the old Roman activities include Roman military techniques. The warriors used to be honored over ordinary citizens and were powerful in the execution of public affairs. The Iroquois Confederacy had the power to call the councils and influenced the decisions they made in governing the citizens. Their role was to approve or decline some public measures they thought were not favorable to the citizens. As a result, they made a unanimous decision based on mutual consent.
The nations were independent and distinct in their own way. They were not dependent of each other in development issues but were connected by ties of interest. Every nation had equal representation in the overall council or congress. The representatives had the power to veto or prohibit the implementation of certain policies. The Iroquois Confederacy had a principal council leader that was in charge of the entire confederacy. The principal council leader performed functions similar to the duties performed by the president of United State.
The Iroquois Confederacy was successful in the execution of its duties due to its proper planning. They had a comprehensive governance structure that enabled them to avoid conflict from the citizens. There communication was structured such that they would send messages to all the nations. There were other government officials given the task to help communicate government policies. The conservatives in the execution of power ensured that authority was obeyed at all times.
Question 2
The fur trade is a phenomenon that began before the colonial era and has continued to be in existence. Fur trade was one of the main economic activities of the Americans as it had evolved to an industry of its own. The colonial era fur trade took place between the British and the local communities. This business had been in existence and had been carried out between Native Americans, Aboriginals and other Europeans. The British participated in the trade and extended it to other colonies and European countries. The colonial era fur trade was essential because of the creation of significant trading networks and business entities.
Americans had perfected the art of the fur trade and their colonial masters saw it fit to take advantage in order to compete effectively. They competed with the Spanish, French, Dutch and the Russians. Americans dominated the business such that most the Natives hugely depended on fur trade to make ends meet. The trade became their immediate source of income as they saw the potential it had in the market place. This domination was above the efforts that the British and other Europeans invested in the business.
The Europeans eventually influenced the fall in the price of fur by changing their fashion. As a result, most communities were left in poverty and had to look for an alternative source of revenue. The business benefited the Natives in the short run because they did not control the trade at a larger scale. They benefited from consistent supply of the fur to the fur trade companies. The British benefited from the trade in the long run as they controlled the business at a larger scale than the locals. They were directly involved in the company operations and benefited the most.
Question 3
The Indian American society had been undermined by the migration of white people in their territories. This made them wary and often attacked white people because of fear. The United States government created a policy to represent their relationship and the Indians. The policy indicated how the government would treat the Indians after a long period of strife between them. The policy was essential because it changed the way the government treated the Indians. The government also gave them the respect they deserved as Natives.
The Components of the policy include the Indian Intercourse ACT that was created in 1790. It stated that there would be no sales of Indian lands unless it was done under the authority of the federal government. In return, the Indians granted the United States government the authority to manage their trades and diplomatic affairs. This was done in order to avoid war with the Indians as it affected development activities in America.
The Indians were not recognized as the owners of the pieces of land but just occupiers. There were a series of land disputes as other people fought for Indian land that was unoccupied. There was a massive expansion of the western territories that affected the Indians who settled in the east. They signed treaties with the government who moved them to settle white people in their territories.
This event highly affected the Indians as they were moved to fruitless lands from their fertile dwellings. The government thought of compensating the Indians for allowing them to settle people in their lands. They relocated the Indians and promised to pay them as a settlement for moving them away from their land. The Indians were eventually paid in order to stop claiming their lands. The Indian people maintained their peace with the government after they were paid.
Question 4
John Collier was a renowned Indian advocate known for his social reform credentials and social reform efforts. He was a commissioner in charge of Indian affairs under the administration of President of Roosevelt. He served between 1933 and 1945 and fought for the rights of Indians. He was instrumental in overseeing changes made in the Indian federal policy. He was mainly responsible for the change of the Reorganization Act formulated in 1934. His effort was essential in ending the loss of land held by Indians considered reservation lands.
He was fascinated by Indians in his first encounter with them and decided to study their way of life at an art colony. He realized that the existence of the Indians was threatened by the encroachment of white people in their territories. He did not like the idea of forced assimilation and Americanization as the Indians had their own way of life.
John Collier worked hard for the acceptance of Indians and their culture to enable them interact freely with other people. His efforts raised the feasibility of integrating the Indians into the American society without the use of force. As a commissioner, he undertook projects that would benefit the Indians. He provided employment for the Indians in the soil erosion reduction department. He initiated the passage of legislation that recognized Indian determination to become civilized by their own efforts. He succeeded in the end as the Indians have benefited from reform efforts.
Bibliography
Clarkin, Thomas. Federal Indian policy in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, 1961 - 1969. Albuquerque: Univ. of New Mexico Press. 2001.
Johnson, Michael, and Jonathan Smith. Tribes of the Iroquois confederacy [] []. Oxford [u.a.]: Osprey. 2003.
Purvis, Thomas L. Colonial America to 1763. New York: Facts on File. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=229444. 1999.
