Killer On The Flower Moon Analysis

At the turn of the twentieth century, a Native American group, the Osage were forced off of their lands and forced to sell. The group moved to what would soon become Oklahoma and bought the land from the federal government for all it was worth, especially what was bellow it. When oil was discovered under the land, the Osage leased their lands to the highest bidder and became some of the richest citizens in America almost overnight. Due to the prejudice towards Native Americans, the government declared that these people were unfit to handle their newly found riches. Osage were appointed guardians of their money and only allowed to spend so much without the permission of their guardians. This system begged for corruption to ensue. In the small Oklahoma area that the Osage occupied, one of the most gruesome and puzzling murder sprees began. Osage members, young and old began to lose their lives for their massive wealth and life insurance policies. In David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon, recounts the murders, how they were solved, and even solves mysteries that were left unsolved by …show more content…
He married Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman and had two children with her, James and Liz. Under the surface however, Ernest Burkhart was just as prejudice and maniacal as the rest of the murderers in town. When Hale was looking for a man to blow up Bill and Rita Smith’s home, Ernest was right alongside him and knew of every plot. He was a part of a long-standing swindle that involved marrying Mollie and “raise children with her, all while plotting and sceming against her family.” It is later revealed by James Burharts daughter Margie that James, Lizzie, and Mollie were supposed to stay with the Smith’s the night of the explosion. That meant that Ernest Burkhart fully intended to be apart of the murder of his son, daughter, and wife. This goes to show that no matter how good a person may seem, they are capable of ferocious