The Long Walk Of Tears Analysis

Long walk of tears

The Navajos were moved to Basque Redondo for several reasons, though the precipitating cause came as president Polk, wanted to expand America’s boundaries as a part of the Manifest destiny, an authorization from god to occupy North America, Canada, and South America. The manifest destiny saw the natives as inferior to the Christian beliefs of the settlers. In addition to seeing the natives as inferior, they were also seen as incapable of taking care of the land as they had not developed it which was a part of the manifest destiny to develop the land. The move to Basque Redondo, however, began with General Carleton who “believed a military campaign against the Navajo’s was necessary,” in an attempt to maintain the hegemony of the white settlers. During this time, the indigenous were not seen as citizens of the United States, but rather a threat, as the film, The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo points out, “General Kearny wrote, "The United States would protect the persons "and property of all quiet and peaceful inhabitants "within its boundaries against their enemies: "the Eutaws, Navajos and others.”

In addition to metanarratives that perpetuated the ideals of the manifest destiny and the Navajo’s being moved to Basque Redondo, it was pointed out in the film, The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo that, “Another …show more content…
The film The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo, points out that, “Navajos surrendered in large numbers with promises of food and shelter” showing that they were unable to maintain life given the harsh conditions, and no resources to support themselves with. As the Navajo began surrendering, many of them did so under false pretenses with the promises of food and shelter. As the Navajo woman in the film, The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo, explains, “It broke the backbone of the Navajo, referring to the methods used to control her people as they were