I appreciate the group that came out tonight for our first class. Hopefully, you all got something out of it. Since I wasn't able to pinpoint the date of the Lincoln Memorial, I checked once I got home. I was pretty close...the statute was completed in 1920 and the Memorial unveiled in 1922. I didn't think the scars had healed enough in the 19th century to be able to put one together any quicker. I attached the original photo that Bob showed us is now on the new five dollar bill. It was also taken by Matthew Brady on the same February day as the original photo on the old five dollar bill. I hope you came to see tonight that Lincoln was a complicated man...with his own faults and challenges...but one who has been interpreted by others based on what they needed him to be.
We discussed the importance of understanding Lincoln’s view of African-Americans in the context of mid-19th century America. I’m curious about his views on Native Americans. The country itself held a somewhat bipolar view of Indians exemplified well by the term “noble savage.” Abe was a Westerner. He was engaged in the Black Hawk War. The US signed treaties with the Southern Cheyenne in 1861 and 1865 (immediately preceding and following his presidency). While the war was obviously front and center, the Indian Question had to be on a short list of other issues for him.
ReplyDeleteWithin that same context, the massacre at Sand Creek against Black Kettle’s tribe, occurred on his watch. From what I’ve read, this seemed to occur much in the same way Abu Ghraib did. There was a culture that supported the “rogue” actions of the leadership and troops on the ground. Some of that may have been specific to the Colorado area, some maybe from further up the military chain. Do you have any perspective on how involved Lincoln was with the issue before and after the event? Did he have a long term strategy in mind for dealing with the Indian Question?
Lincoln was certainly a product of his environment and had fought against the Indians during the Black Hawk Wars. That said, it appears that Lincoln was similar on the racial issue of Indians and Blacks. He thought of Indians as "noble savages" and believed that needed to be civilized, but not at the point of a bayonet. He led a group of individuals supporting reform of the Indian Administration System, identifying Indians as part of the "all men" clause in the Constitution. Because of the timeframe and events surrounding his presidency, he was able to put very little political power into the Indian situation...thus coming off poorly in many texts that treat it on the surface. Daniel Nichols' book, Lincoln and the Indians: Civil War Policy and Politics, appears to be the most complete treatment of his efforts. Nichols paints him as a reformer who wants to improve their lot and not settle the problems with the military, but is left with little choice through most of his presidency. Two events show Nichols the president's real beliefs: After the Indian campaigns in Minnesota in the fall of 1862 more than 300 Indian warriors are convicted of murder by a military tribunal and sentenced to be hanged. Lincoln calls for the transcripts and orders the release of all but 40 warriors who are hanged. This politically unpopular decision is not the action of an Indian hater...as he comments that he "refuses to trade lives for votes". The second incident follows Sand Creek. Lincoln establishes a joint congressional committee to investigate the massacre. While the citizens of Colorado have little problem with the death of Indian women and children, the rest of the nation is now confronted with the fact that Whites are as capable of savagery as are the Indian warriors. This committee leads directly to reforms in the way the U.S. government deals with Indians and the administration of their care. Lincoln does not live to see these reforms put into action, but they are derived from decisions that he made. After all, one of the Cheyenne chiefs who dies at Sand Creek is killed wearing a Peace Medal given him personally by President Lincoln. I believe that Lincoln's ideas would be seen as misguided today, but in the 19th century and during our expansion westward he would have to be considered a liberal reformer.
ReplyDelete