Population growth in the United States during the late 19th century proved to be a pivotal point for many Native Americans—they had to decide whether to conform to the very different lifestyle of the whites or isolate themselves from a rapidly advancing society. In the 19th century, it was widely believed that Native Americans could not adapt to modernity and would vanish. Although this proved untrue, many sources cast a doubtful light on the ability of their Native American counterparts. In fact, half of the documents displayed the whites’ dubiousness for Native Americans. However, much to the delight of historians, the other half of the documents correctly asserted that Native Americans were capable of adaptation and modernization. It was
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Next to this violent and unsettling image is a painting of a white man sitting calmly on his horse. In juxtaposing these two images, the creator of the advertisement clearly expresses his perceived differences between Native Americans and whites; Native Americans were ruthless warriors who only knew how to lead a life of conflict, whereas white were calm, collected, and intelligent enough to make technological and other advancements. Upon a mere glance at the advertisement, one can moreover draw the conclusion that the white man depicted, Colonel W.F. Cody (“Buffalo Bill”), will heroically save the settlers from the savage and irrational Native Americans. Some may argue that the Native Americans’ use of guns and horses was an example of their adaptation, but neither of these were used in the same manner as whites. Guns were presumably for protection, but the Native Americans are using them to attack innocent settlers. Furthermore, the image clearly depicts Native Americans as unskilled …show more content…
The late 19th century journal Touring Indian Country asserted that the extinction of the buffalo species had already forced Native Americans to adapt in order to survive. The author of the piece recalled that there were Native Americans living near the rail lines in the Yellowstone Valley who were seeking industrial and agricultural hubs. The North Pacific Railroad illuminated the fact that some American Indians raised crops, cattle, and horses. It was also noted that many Native American women were proficient on the sewing machine, which had only recently been an exclusively European and white American tool. The capability of the Native Americans to adapt and their desire to do so were clearly proven in this journal (3). The photograph taken by Gertrude Käsebier in 1898 served as more evidence of American Indian adaptation in the late 19th century. Joe Black Fox, the Native American subject of the photograph, was photographed with cigarette in hand. Native Americans were by no means new to tobacco, but they were new to the cigarette. Native Americans had previously smoked tobacco from pipes whereas the cigarette was a new luxury popular among whites. Fox was a member of “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West”, a show in which whites and Indians had to work side-by-side to put on a show. Fox’s involvement in the show proved that he was not averse to the heroic
Next to this violent and unsettling image is a painting of a white man sitting calmly on his horse. In juxtaposing these two images, the creator of the advertisement clearly expresses his perceived differences between Native Americans and whites; Native Americans were ruthless warriors who only knew how to lead a life of conflict, whereas white were calm, collected, and intelligent enough to make technological and other advancements. Upon a mere glance at the advertisement, one can moreover draw the conclusion that the white man depicted, Colonel W.F. Cody (“Buffalo Bill”), will heroically save the settlers from the savage and irrational Native Americans. Some may argue that the Native Americans’ use of guns and horses was an example of their adaptation, but neither of these were used in the same manner as whites. Guns were presumably for protection, but the Native Americans are using them to attack innocent settlers. Furthermore, the image clearly depicts Native Americans as unskilled …show more content…
The late 19th century journal Touring Indian Country asserted that the extinction of the buffalo species had already forced Native Americans to adapt in order to survive. The author of the piece recalled that there were Native Americans living near the rail lines in the Yellowstone Valley who were seeking industrial and agricultural hubs. The North Pacific Railroad illuminated the fact that some American Indians raised crops, cattle, and horses. It was also noted that many Native American women were proficient on the sewing machine, which had only recently been an exclusively European and white American tool. The capability of the Native Americans to adapt and their desire to do so were clearly proven in this journal (3). The photograph taken by Gertrude Käsebier in 1898 served as more evidence of American Indian adaptation in the late 19th century. Joe Black Fox, the Native American subject of the photograph, was photographed with cigarette in hand. Native Americans were by no means new to tobacco, but they were new to the cigarette. Native Americans had previously smoked tobacco from pipes whereas the cigarette was a new luxury popular among whites. Fox was a member of “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West”, a show in which whites and Indians had to work side-by-side to put on a show. Fox’s involvement in the show proved that he was not averse to the heroic