Haudenosaunee – American Relations (1776-1794)

Essential Questions: What was American-Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) relationship like? It what ways did this meet our definitions and understanding of Imperialism?

Document 1 – Map of Iroquoia circa 1720.

  1. Around the Year 1720, which was the most landed of the Iroquois Nations?

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Document 2a – Clinton-Sullivan Campaign, 1779, against the Six Nations of the Iroquois during the American Revolution

Document 2b-

In his report of the campaign against the Onondaga, Col. Van Schaick stated that:
We took thirty-three Indians and one white man prisoner, and killed twelve Indians. The whole of their settlement, Consisting of about fifty houses, a large quantity of Corn and Beans were burnt, a number of fine horses & every other kind of Stock we found were killed. about an hundred Guns, some of which were rifles, was among the plunder, the whole of which after the men had loaded themselves with as much as they could Carry was destroyed with a Considerable Quantity of ammunition; one swivel take at the Council house had the Trunions broke off, and was otherwise damaged, in fine their destruction of all their settlements was complete.

Questions:

  1. State two effects of the Clinton-Sullivan Campaign on the Iroquois along the route.

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2. What was the purpose of the campaign, according to Van Shaick? ______

Document 3a:

The Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, between the United States Congress and The Six Nations of the Iroquois.

Article 2.

The United States acknowledge the lands reserved to the Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga Nations in their respective treaties with the State of New York, and called their reservations, to be their property; and the United States will never claim the same, nor disturb them, or either of the Six Nations, nor their Indian friends, residing thereon, and united with them in the free use and enjoyment thereof; but the said reservations shall remain theirs, until they choose to sell the same to the people of the United States, who have the right to purchase.

Document 3b:

Timothy Pickering, Federal Indian Affairs, Speech to the Oneidas, Oct. 13, 1794

“The land is yours and the State cannot take it from you without your own consent. And if any agents come to you to buy it, tell them plainly that you will make no bargain but in the presence of faithful men whom the President shall appoint. [. . . ]Follow this advice and nobody can hurt you, for the United States will protect you.”

1. According to Document 3a, what promises did the United States Government make to the Iroquois people?

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2. Using both documents, explain the role of the Federal Government in relation to the Six Nations of the Iroquois.

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Document 5 - John Vanderlyn's Painting, an Ideological Depiction of Native Americans (1804)

Questions:

1.How does the artist portray the Iroquois in the above painting?

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2. Who does the woman represent?

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3. Explain the role of this imagery in American Imperialism of North America.

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Document 6 –

Samuel Kirkland, Protestant Missionary to and educator of, the Iroqouis. (as reprinted in Alan Taylor, Divided Grounds, p.367)

“After more than twenty years’ observation, I am not able to discover any other repugnancy in the Indian mind to civilization.” “Education of the first class [would best] introduce the manners and customs of the white people among [the Iroquois].”

  1. In light of Document 5, in what way does Kirkland propose American’s civilize the Native people?

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  1. In what way does this relate to the key concepts of imperialism?

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Name ______Date ______Period______

Historical Context: Imperialism is a process of domination and subjugation of one people by another for economic, political and cultural advancement. Over the course of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) French, English and finally the American settlers, in the region of present day New York State, Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario engaged in this process through a variety of activities.

Task: Using the Documents, your imperialism background reading and textbook resources, you will write 2-4 first person diary/journal entries from the point of view of the documents (American, Haudenosaunee, British or French) that you are assigned. This should include:

  1. A general description of your life and times in North America.
  2. Discussion of your interactions with members of the Iroquois, or European powers.
  3. Explanation of the way in which your people are engaged with the Iroquois, etc. as well as a justification of that treatment.

*Proper grammar and spelling is expected, as always.