Books in Events in American History series

The dispute over slavery began before the founding of the United States. Abolitionists saw the ownership of one human being by another as an intolerable evil. Slave owners believed it was essential to their economy and way of life. The struggle between the two shaped the growth and government of the nation. This exciting book shares the views of key figures in their own words. Readers will learn about the many forms the debate took, from bestselling books to bloody battles. Interesting fact boxes and historical images bring the issues into clear focus for readers.

In 1892 the U.S. Census Printing Office published a report on the Six Nations in New York State which collected evidence still used today by the Six Nations to defend their legal rights. The 1892 census purported to be an objective report on the condition of the Iroquois. General Henry B. Carrington, special agent, U.S. Army (retired), was "to spend months among the Indians making careful observations respecting their various political, religious, and social meetings, their homes, health, and habits." The study, carried out at the time of the battle at Wounded Knee, was the first step in the government's plan to eliminate reservations: once land was privately held by individual Native Americans, it could be taxed. The census presented ample evidence of the Iroquois success in balancing their heritage with contemporary challenges and opportunities. The agents misconstrued their subjects' willingness to assimilate but also recognized that legally the Indians could become U.S. citizens only by renouncing their tribes. The report tried to assess―from statistics and individual accounts of traditional religious beliefs, practices, and ceremonies; of social practices and moral values; of health, property, and education―whether the Iroquois could be assimilated. In the process, it accumulated data, fascinating details, and photographs that bring history alive a century later.

In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which authorized President Andrew Jackson to move eastern Indian tribes west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory. Often solely associated with the Cherokee, the Trail of Tears more accurately describes the forced removal of the Five Civilized Tribes, which in addition to the Cherokee includes the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. This book is an insightful and honest exploration of this dark chapter in Native American history.