A Nation of Statesmen – The Political Culture of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, 1815-1972 (The Civilisation of the American Indian Series, Vol. #252)

A history of the Mohican people from the War of 1812 to the Nixon administration Contrary to the impression left by James Fenimore Coopers famous novel Last of the Mohicans, the Mohican people, also known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Indians, did not disappear from history. Rather, despite obstacles, they have retained their tribal identity to this day. In this first history of the modern-day Mohicans, James W. Oberly narrates their story from the time of their relocation to Wisconsin through the postWorld War II era. Since the War of 1812 Mohican history has been marked by astute if sometimes bitter engagement with the American political system, resulting in five treaties and ten acts of Congress, passed between 1843 and 1972. As Oberly traces these political events, he also assesses such issues as tribal membership, intratribal political parties, and sovereignty. During The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries, The Mohegans (mohicans), An Algonquin-speaking Tribe, Lived In The Hudson River Valley. They Moved To Stockbridge, Massachusetts In The 1730s. In The 1820s A Confederation Of Stockbridge And Munsee Indians Moved To Wisconsin To What Is Now The Stockbridge-munsee Reservation. The Mohegans Have A Long History Of Engagement In The American Political System Resulting In Five Treaties And Ten Acts Of Congress Passed Between 1843 And 1972. This Political History Of The Tribe Examines Their Relationship With The Federal Government And Discusses Internal Political Issues Such As Tribal Memebership. A Nation Of Firsts: A Brief Mohican Political History -- The Paternalist Polity Of The Great Fathers, 1815-1832 -- John W. Quinney And The Mohican Republic, 1833-1855 -- The Mohicans And The Pine Ring On The New Reservation, 1856-1871 -- The Restoration Polity Of The Indian Party, 1871-1893 -- The Politics Of Allotment And Land Claims, 1893-1934 -- The Indian New Deal Polity Of The Stockbridge-munsees, 1934-1948 -- The Fulfillment Of Mohican History: Securing The Stockbridge-munsee Homeland, 1948-1974. James W. Oberly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-328) And Index. James Fennimore Cooper's Last of the Mohicans and the films of the same name brought the Mohican Indians to the attention of the American public.