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September 18: Encounters on the Great Plains: Indians, Empires, and Nation-States
Readings
Study Questions
1. La Verendrye begin his journal by informing the Governor of New France that he seeks to increase the number of his children. What does he mean by this?
2. How does La Verendrye use presents when he deals with Native peoples?
3. What is the purpose of La Verendrye's expedition? What does he hope to find?
4. Explain the significance of the theft of La Verendrye's possessions?
5. How does La Verendrye communicate with the Mandan? What is the significance of this style of communication?
6. According to Hamalainen why did the U.S. fight a long war with the Dakota and quickly defeat the Commanche?
7. What does Hamalainen mean when he describes the Commanche as pastoralists? And what is the significance of this transformation in terms of ecology, economy, social structure, politics, diplomacy?
8. Describe the military impact of plains Indians adopting horses. How did this process facilitate U.S. expansion onto the Great Plains?
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September 22: The Rise of Indian Power in the Southwest
Readings
Study Questions
1. How was the Ramon expedition different from the expedition of La Verendrye?
2. What was the significance of Ramon assigning Spanish names to the places he passed through?
3. How is the Spanish relationship with Native peoples different from the French relationship with Native peoples?
4. How were the Spanish Missions incorporated into Caddo Society? How did the Caddo's reception of the Spanish compare with the Mandan's reception of the French? Did Spanish interactions with the Caddo differ from their interactions with other Indians they encountered as they traveled?
5. According to Barr how did Euro-American maps erase Indian Geography? How does this impact the historical narrative of European/American expansion? How is this linked to the mythology (as opposed to the history) of the American West?
6. What, according to Barr is the link between space and sovereignty among Native peoples. Is this the same for the Karankawa as it is for the Caddo?
7. What impact did Apache and Comanche raiding have on Spanish settlement? How did these raiding practice influence the relationship between Native peoples? How did Apache and Comanche power influence Spanish imperiual power, and how does this influence the way Americans understand the expansion of the U.S. into this region?
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