Analutic Entry: Background

Reading background information on a topic allows one to gain a stronger foundation for the subject. When trying to gain knowledge on a certain source, one should not only look at the big picture, but also focus on key individuals and events. For example, for one who didn’t know any information about Native Americans, perhaps a key figure many know, Pocahontas, would be a good place to start. By looking at an individual one is able to focus on a particular figure and learn of the topic’s culture by noticing the individuals way of life. The ideas presented by Pocahontas show the willingness of Native Americans in earlier colonial time to reach out and help settlers, while still keeping hold of their own faith. The willingness showed by Pocahontas gives an almost false impression of Native Americans. This is because it is written Pocahontas felt she needed to help protect the white man from her “savage tribe” (World History: The Modern Era). This allows one to infer Native Americans were harassing the settlers, when in reality the Natives were only being defensive of their land. Though Pocahontas’s story gave one a false impression of Native American’s relationship with whites, it was an interesting conflicting piece of information which helped set up the idea of tension between the two cultures. Although to gain background information on a topic, one may look to gain a better understanding by focusing on an individual, it is also important for one to examine larger events to peer into periods of history and major events. For example, by looking at the Black Hill Controversy, one is able to understand how Native Americans have been treated poorly throughout history. The Native Americans were promised in the Fort Laramie Treaty that the Black Hills land would be set aside "for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Sioux” (Friggens, Paul). Although the Sioux people were promised total control and use of the Black Hills, the land was soon taken away from them by the US Government because gold was found on the property. This event is one of many in which Native Americans were unlawfully treated. Because it was the government who was performing the negative actions, there was no higher power to which the natives could go to inquire. The Black Hill Controversy demonstrates the Native Americans unjust treatment throughout the past few centuries. Native Americans play an important role in Americas society today. As the background information allows one to acknowledge, without our countries Natives our country would lose its sense of where we came from. While one may look at the aspect in this light, one may also ask if Native Americans symbolize our countries roots, then why are they a people who we hide way on reservations and strip of rights instead of respecting and honoring? This is a central question which one can try and answer but find themselves in bewilderment at the poor treatment one race can have for another. Background information can be a great insight for one to create a strong foundation for a topic, and also learn to begin to ask key questions to themselves and readers, researchers, and Americans.