A Nation Divided on Civilization The concept of civilization is interpreted in various ways by different governments. Over the course of 40 years since its formation, the United States instituted a program to convert the Native Americans of the Cherokee tribes to follow the culture of the US. Eventually during the Jackson Administration, President Andrew Jackson ordered the removal of the Cherokee’s from their homeland in favor of his own nation. The US civilization and removal process created divisions within the Cherokee nation, dividing the nation by those in favor of America’s vision of civilization and Cherokees who follow their strict traditions since their formation. Henry Knox and President Washington ordered the Civilization Program,
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Despite women to not take part of political affairs, many Cherokee women voiced their concerns with leaving to Arkansas. They now have taken an interest in the nation stating that the US “seem to be the only concerned how to increase their riches, but do not care what becomes of our nation” (127). The Cherokee women broke tradition to voice their concerns but they speak on the grounds of their matrilineal society they once had. The Cherokee Phoenix, the Cherokee nation’s newspaper, was what communicated to the rest of the nation informed about their predicament with the threat of removal. Elias Boudinot was a leader for the Cherokee Nation and he published statements to the Cherokee Phoenix to inform the public but in November, 1831 he published a statement justifying the progress of civilization by asserting “An Indian will still be and Indian” (134). Ironically, Boudinot is different from his people who practice Indian traditions, while he is greatly influenced by the United States and their culture. The majority of the nation still practiced Cherokee traditions, making Boudinot statement biased toward the elite who follow US culture. In 1835, the state of Georgia confiscated their printing press thus shutting down the Cherokee Phoenix (128). Georgia realized without the press to inform the public, it would cause confusion across the nation making
Despite women to not take part of political affairs, many Cherokee women voiced their concerns with leaving to Arkansas. They now have taken an interest in the nation stating that the US “seem to be the only concerned how to increase their riches, but do not care what becomes of our nation” (127). The Cherokee women broke tradition to voice their concerns but they speak on the grounds of their matrilineal society they once had. The Cherokee Phoenix, the Cherokee nation’s newspaper, was what communicated to the rest of the nation informed about their predicament with the threat of removal. Elias Boudinot was a leader for the Cherokee Nation and he published statements to the Cherokee Phoenix to inform the public but in November, 1831 he published a statement justifying the progress of civilization by asserting “An Indian will still be and Indian” (134). Ironically, Boudinot is different from his people who practice Indian traditions, while he is greatly influenced by the United States and their culture. The majority of the nation still practiced Cherokee traditions, making Boudinot statement biased toward the elite who follow US culture. In 1835, the state of Georgia confiscated their printing press thus shutting down the Cherokee Phoenix (128). Georgia realized without the press to inform the public, it would cause confusion across the nation making