Savages and scoundrels : the untold story of America's road to empire through Indian Territory

What really happened in the early days of our nation? How was it possible for white settlers to march across the entire continent, inexorably claiming Native American lands for themselves? Who made it happen, and why? This gripping book tells America's story from a new perspective, chronicling the adventures of our forefathers and showing how a legacy of repeated betrayals became the bedrock on which the republic was built. Paul VanDevelder takes as his focal point the epic federal treaty ratified in 1851 at Horse Creek, formally recognizing perpetual ownership by a dozen Native American tribes of 1.1 million square miles of the American West. The astonishing and shameful story of this broken treaty—one of 371 Indian treaties signed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries—reveals a pattern of fraudulent government behavior that again and again displaced Native Americans from their lands. VanDevelder describes the path that led to the genocide of the American Indian; those who participated in it, from cowboys and common folk to aristocrats and presidents; and how the history of the immoral treatment of Indians through the twentieth century has profound social, economic, and political implications for America even today. What Really Happened In The Early Days Of Our Nation? How Was It Possible For White Settlers To March Across The Entire Continent, Inexorably Claiming Native American Lands For Themselves? Who Made It Happen, And Why? This Gripping Book Tells America's Story From A New Perspective, Chronicling The Adventures Of Our Forefathers And Showing How A Legacy Of Repeated Betrayals Became The Bedrock On Which The Republic Was Built. Paul Vandevelder Takes As His Focal Point The Epic Federal Treaty Concluded In 1851 At Horse Creek, Formally Recognizing Perpetual Ownership By A Dozen Native American Tribes Of 1.1 Million Square Miles Of The American West. The Astonishing And Shameful Story Of This Broken Treaty--one Of 371 Indian Treaties Signed During The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries--reveals A Pattern Of Fraudulent Government Behavior That Again And Again Displaced Native Americans From Their Lands. Vandevelder Describes The Path That Led To The Genocide Of The American Indian; Those Who Participated In It, From Cowboys And Common Folk To Aristocrats And Presidents; And How The History Of The Immoral Treatment Of Indians Through The Twentieth Century Has Profound Social, Economic, And Political Implications For America Even Today.--jacket. Redeeming Eden -- Savages And Scoundrels -- White Men In Paradise -- Pioneers Of The World -- The Great Smoke -- Monsters Of God. Paul Vandevelder. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-303) And Index. CONTENTS......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 ONE: REDEEMING EDEN......Page 22 TWO: SAVAGES AND SCOUNDRELS......Page 49 THREE: WHITE MEN IN PARADISE......Page 90 FOUR: PIONEERS OF THE WORLD......Page 142 FIVE: THE GREAT SMOKE......Page 187 SIX: MONSTERS OF GOD......Page 230 APPENDIX: TREATY OF FORT LARAMIE (HORSE CREEK), 1851......Page 274 NOTES......Page 278 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 310 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 333 B......Page 336 C......Page 337 E......Page 339 F......Page 340 G......Page 341 I......Page 342 J......Page 343 M......Page 344 P......Page 346 S......Page 347 U......Page 349 W......Page 350 Y......Page 351