Primary Sources
New York Times/ The Great Chief. Red Cloud Meets His White Brethren at Cooper Institute (1870)Red Cloud's Speech Excerpt:
My brothers and my friends who are before me today: God Almighty has made us all, and He is here to hear what I have to say to you today. The Great Spirit made us both. He gave us lands and He gave you lands. You came here and we received you as brothers. When the Almighty made you, He made you all white and clothed you. When He made us He made us with red skins and poor. When you first came we were very many and you were few. Now you are many and we are few. You do not know who appears before you to speak. He is a representative of the original American race, the first people of this continent. We are good, and not bad. The reports which you get about us are all on one side. You hear of us only as murderers and thieves. We are not so. If we had more lands to give to you we would give them, but we have no more. We are driven into a very little island, and we want you, our dear friends, to help us with the Government of the United States. The Great Spirit made us poor and ignorant. He made you rich and wise and skillful in things which we knew nothing about. The good Father made you to eat tame game and us to eat wild game. Ask any one who has gone thorough to California. They will tell you we have treated them well. You have children. We, too, have children, and we wish to bring them up well. We ask you to help us do it. At the mouth of Horse Creek, in 1852, the Great Father made a treaty with us. We agreed to let him pass through our territory unharmed for fifty-five years. We kept our word. We committed no murders, no depredations, until the troops came there. When the troops were sent there trouble and disturbance arose. Since that time there have been various goods sent from time to time to us, but only once did they reach us, and soon the Great Father took away the only good man he had sent us, Col. Fitzpatrick. The Great Father said we must go to farming and some of our men went to farming near Fort Laramie, and were treated very badly indeed. We came to Washington to see our Great Father that peace might be continued. The Great Father that made us both wishes peace to be kept; we want to keep peace. Will you help us? In 1868 men came out and brought papers. We could not read them, and they did not tell us truly what was in them. We thought the treaty was to remove the forts, and that we should then cease from fighting. But they wanted to send us traders on the Missouri. We did not want to go on the Missouri, but wanted traders where we were. When I reached Washington the Great Father explained to me what the treaty was, and showed me that interpreters had deceived me. All I want is right and justice. I have tried to get from the Great Father what is right and just. I have not altogether succeeded. I want you to help me to get what is right and just. I represent the whole Sioux nation, and they will be bound by what I say. I am no Spotted Tail, to say one thing one day and be bought for a pin the next. Look at me, I am poor and naked, but I am the Chief of the nation. We do not want riches, but we want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches, we want peace and love. Source: https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2015/06.17.1870RedCloudLN.pdf |
New York Times/East and West: Completion of the Great Line Spanning the Continent (1869)Excerpt:
Congratulatory Dispatch From the Chamber of Commerce of New-York to the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, on the Completion of the Pacific Railway: New York, May 10, 1869, 10 A.M. -- The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New-York desires to unite at noon to-day with the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, in grateful thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, on the completion of the continental line of railway, spanning the territory of the American Union and commercially uniting two great oceans of the globe; and in solemn recognition of the manifold benefits and blessings, industrial and commercial, moral and political, national and international, of this great avenue of intercommunication. The new highway thus opened to man will not only develop the resources, extend the commerce, increase the power, exalt the dignity and perpetuate the unity of our Republic, but in its broader relations, as the segment of a world-embracing circle, directly connecting the nations of Europe with those of Asia, will materially facilitate the enlightened and advancing civilization of our age. By order of the Chamber. Samuel B. Ruggles, William E. Dodge, George Opdyke, A. A. Low, Special Committee Source: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0510.html |
Primary Source Analysis
In comparing these two sources, Red Cloud's Speech by Red Cloud himself, and the Congratulatory Dispatch by the Chamber of Commerce in New York, both describe the United States' endeavor of western expansion and settlement. However, Red Cloud, being Native American, takes a passive, yet opposing, stance against such expansion and settlement, while the Chamber of Commerce fully embraces the expansion by celebrating the finishing of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The account for the difference between these two perspectives is because of increased Native American removal with western expansion and settlement that is supported by the white people of the East, but heavily opposed by the Native Americans.
Red Cloud's Speech and the Congratulatory Dispatch tell us about the time period in that railroads were increasingly beneficial for merchants and traders looking to sell their wares. Despite this benefit, Native American lands were increasingly being taken over as a result of the westward expansion and settlement. Red Cloud expresses this loss in his speech when he states that, "If we had more lands to give to you we would give them, but we have no more. We are driven into a very little island, and we want you, our dear friends, to help us with the Government of the United States." ("The Great Chief" 1870). Although Red Cloud does not mention railroads, he acknowledges the growing displacement of the Native Americans and does not see the benefits that may come out of such railroads. As such, Red Cloud desires peace with the white Americans and preservation of their culture, rather than becoming rich and lose his Native American identity as he explains, "We do not want riches, but we want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches, we want peace and love, " ("The Great Chief" 1870).
In contrast with Red Cloud's Speech, the Chamber of Commerce of New York marked the finishing of the First Intercontinental Railroad as an important event in developing commerce in the West and making the United States expand economically as a whole. Benefits described by the Chamber of Commerce of New York from the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad were "develop[ment] [of] the resources, exten[sion] [of] the commerce, [and] increase [in] power," ("East and West" 1869). This provides a perspective on the time period in that the railroads were beneficial to producers in the East, as markets expanded with the railroads.
These differences in opinions may have occurred due to the different races Red Cloud and the Chamber of Commerce of New York were, being Native American and white respectively, where Native Americans had believed that their land was stolen from the whites and views the westward expansion and settlement that may be venerated by whites in the East as lethal to their culture and way of life.
Red Cloud's Speech and the Congratulatory Dispatch tell us about the time period in that railroads were increasingly beneficial for merchants and traders looking to sell their wares. Despite this benefit, Native American lands were increasingly being taken over as a result of the westward expansion and settlement. Red Cloud expresses this loss in his speech when he states that, "If we had more lands to give to you we would give them, but we have no more. We are driven into a very little island, and we want you, our dear friends, to help us with the Government of the United States." ("The Great Chief" 1870). Although Red Cloud does not mention railroads, he acknowledges the growing displacement of the Native Americans and does not see the benefits that may come out of such railroads. As such, Red Cloud desires peace with the white Americans and preservation of their culture, rather than becoming rich and lose his Native American identity as he explains, "We do not want riches, but we want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches, we want peace and love, " ("The Great Chief" 1870).
In contrast with Red Cloud's Speech, the Chamber of Commerce of New York marked the finishing of the First Intercontinental Railroad as an important event in developing commerce in the West and making the United States expand economically as a whole. Benefits described by the Chamber of Commerce of New York from the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad were "develop[ment] [of] the resources, exten[sion] [of] the commerce, [and] increase [in] power," ("East and West" 1869). This provides a perspective on the time period in that the railroads were beneficial to producers in the East, as markets expanded with the railroads.
These differences in opinions may have occurred due to the different races Red Cloud and the Chamber of Commerce of New York were, being Native American and white respectively, where Native Americans had believed that their land was stolen from the whites and views the westward expansion and settlement that may be venerated by whites in the East as lethal to their culture and way of life.
Synthesis Article
In comparing the Long Depression of 1873 to the Recession of 2001, both had widespread effects across the United States and Europe of which were mass unemployment, and that both were caused by failure of investments. These similarities tell us about the United States of America that recessions and depressions can be caused by overconfidence in investments and that economic downturns produce similar countrywide effects of unemployment. However, the Long Depression and Recession of 2001 were slightly different in their causes. The Long Depression was caused by the failure of investments in railroads, while the Recession of 2001 was caused by the failure of investments in the Internet boom, and thus the bursting of the dot com bubble. They were also different in that the Long Depression had lasted longer with nine years, while the Recession of 2001 had lasted merely eight months.
Continuities and Changes
Technology, work, and exchange had made massive advancements during the time period, as slavery was abolished and technologies had improved daily life.
Continuities that persisted from the previous eras, despite the abolishment of slavery, were the economic subjugation of African Americans, this time through sharecropping instead of slavery, and the continued split of industrial and rural economy between the North and South respectively. Economic subordination of African Americans lingered because African Americans were poor and owned little land, despite freedom, and relied on sharecropping to self-sustain. The continued split persists as the South still relied on agriculture for economy, although cotton was less profitable after the Civil War, and the North continuing to industrialize with the building of railroads and expansion of commerce into the West. Another continuity that endured from the previous eras was the removal of Native Americans in the expansion of the United States. It had persisted as Native Americans were displaced with the construction of railroads westward.
Changes that occurred from the previous eras were the the fighting of a civil war within the United States, the abolishment of slavery as a labor institution, and the decline of Southern economy. The Civil War had occurred over arguments between the North and South over whether to make slavery remain a labor institution, the abolishment of slavery occurred after the passing of the 13th amendment and after the North had won the Civil War, making slaves no longer a labor source; and Southern economy had declined due to widespread cotton failures and elimination of an important source of cheap labor for plantations, of which is slavery.
Continuities that persisted from the previous eras, despite the abolishment of slavery, were the economic subjugation of African Americans, this time through sharecropping instead of slavery, and the continued split of industrial and rural economy between the North and South respectively. Economic subordination of African Americans lingered because African Americans were poor and owned little land, despite freedom, and relied on sharecropping to self-sustain. The continued split persists as the South still relied on agriculture for economy, although cotton was less profitable after the Civil War, and the North continuing to industrialize with the building of railroads and expansion of commerce into the West. Another continuity that endured from the previous eras was the removal of Native Americans in the expansion of the United States. It had persisted as Native Americans were displaced with the construction of railroads westward.
Changes that occurred from the previous eras were the the fighting of a civil war within the United States, the abolishment of slavery as a labor institution, and the decline of Southern economy. The Civil War had occurred over arguments between the North and South over whether to make slavery remain a labor institution, the abolishment of slavery occurred after the passing of the 13th amendment and after the North had won the Civil War, making slaves no longer a labor source; and Southern economy had declined due to widespread cotton failures and elimination of an important source of cheap labor for plantations, of which is slavery.
Picture of the Civil War/Reconstruction Era
This picture relates to technology, work, and exchange due to the profound effect of the abolishment of slavery, with the 13th amendment, in somewhat providing economic freedom for African Americans, although many African Americans had to resort to sharecropping as many were poor and owned little land after the Civil War. This best encapsulates the time period as substantial parts of the Civil War and Reconstruction revolved around giving enslaved African Americans opportunity, including economic opportunity, and freedom, despite the prominence of sharecropping after the Civil War.
Sources Cited
Dielman, F. (1866). Celebration of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia by the colored people, in Washington [Drawing]. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a34440/
East and West: completion of the great line spanning the continent. (1869, May 10). New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0510.html
The Great Chief. Red Cloud meets his white brethren at Cooper Institute. (1870, June 17). New York Times. Retrieved from https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2015/06.17.1870RedCloudLN.pdf
East and West: completion of the great line spanning the continent. (1869, May 10). New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0510.html
The Great Chief. Red Cloud meets his white brethren at Cooper Institute. (1870, June 17). New York Times. Retrieved from https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2015/06.17.1870RedCloudLN.pdf