1、 Native Americans-IndiansNative Americans also ware called Indians and Amerindians. It is said that the name Indian was named by Christopher Columbus in 1492. He thought that he had arrived in the East Indies, while seeking Asia. Later the name was still used by people, and Indians believed that the
2、y were the primitive inhabitants in America. They lived in north of America - part of Alaska and the island of Hawaii.They lived as hunter gather societies, and they always hunted the bison for their food. However, since the end of 15th century, the migration of Europeans to America, Europeans treat
3、ed Indians as their slaves, and killed numerous Indians brutally. As infected smallpox virus by Europeans, millions Indians died. Owing to the requirement of developing agriculture and building Communities, Europeans drove Indians away their land which they had lived there several thousand years to
4、the west. Besides they didnt allow other immigrants to the west. Indians suffered high fatalities from the contact with infections Eurasian diseases. Epidemic after European contact caused the greatest loss of life for indigenous population, ranging of tens of million to few million.After the coloni
5、es revolted against Great Britain and established the United States, American government abolished the rule that immigrants couldnt go to west, and encouraged people moving and settling to west. It was called westward movement. In the process of the movement, American Indians suffered brutal massacr
6、e by white people. The white people occupied their land and drove them to the reservations. So we can say that the westward movement is the Indians tragedy. As the word said that, almost streams of people who moved to west were treaded on Indians blood and bones. In addition, the movement led to the
7、 final destruction of Indians tribal societies and their nomadic way of life. Despite occasional victories, Indian resistance was crushed. The tribes were not only outgunned. Mass slaughter led to the near extinction of the buffalo herds on which they depended. Not only had Indians lost their land,
8、but also they lost the confidence of living. Nowadays, the remnants of Native American society are to be found on the reservations. They still are not free, they still live on the lonely island poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity, they are still sadly crippled by the manacles
9、 of segregation and the chains of discrimination, they are still languished in the corners of American society and found themselves an exile in their own land. Since the middle of 19 century, Indians have struggle for equal rights and opportunities of development, and they have won a series of legal
10、 and political victories. Those rights include voting and electing. The federal government recognized tribal sovereignty except where limited by treaty or congress. But the strengthening of principle of selfdetermination had only a limited impact on the lives of most Indians.Today Indians can leave
11、the reservation to find job and pursuit their dreams, but we can see that they are treated unfairly, they are suffered discrimination. So they still insist to fight and never say give up. The land, they and their ancestor lived on it, the fertile land had brought them delicious food, warm clothes an
12、d rich resource, but now they just can live on those barren corners and even are drove by outsiders. What should they do? Keep silence or struggle for freedom. Absolutely they chose the later one. No fighting no freedom, no fighting no rights. It is time for struggling, Indians are trying to find th
13、eir tomorrow - they can live with white people and share equal rights, their children can study with white peoples children. There doesnt exist discrimination, all people are equal. However the dream is difficult to come true, it needs more efforts and blood. It is an arduous way, and they must go.
14、Fortunately their efforts are not in vain, the American government had taken measures to ease the contradiction. For example, the government decided to earmark founds about 45 million to Indians for compensating what they had done to Indians.However Indians still faced severe problems, namely unempl
15、oyment, poverty, economic hardship. Some of those living the reservation made a living by offer goods or develop tourism, operate gambling that are prohibited elsewhere under state law. But some white people think that Indians have not right to open casinos. It is unfair to Indians, they have right
16、to chose what they want to do under the law. America calls himself as a democratic, equal and respect human rights country. But in fact we can still find unequal things, racial discrimination in it. Indians, Blacks, Chinese and other races are considered inferior to white.In a summary, it is a long way to Indians to fight for freedom and equal right. This sweltering summer of the Indians legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. But fight they have nothing to do.
