Jefferson and the Indians: The Tragic Fate of the First Americans

by Anthony F.C. Wallace

Book Overview

In Thomas Jefferson's time, white Americans were bedeviled by a moral dilemma unyielding to reason and sentiment: what to do about the presence of black slaves and free Indians. That Jefferson himself... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674000668
• ISBN13: 9780674000667
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Belknap Press
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

As Much About the Early Indian Treaties as About Jefferson

This is a pretty remarkable book that focuses not just on Jefferson's philosophy and dealings with Native Americans but the abundance of treaties during the pre-revolution up through Jefferson's administration. As always, any book about Jefferson is challenged by Jefferson's complex personality and the reader should be cautioned that the author sees Jefferson in a less than enlightened manor than many historians who in turn are great admirers of the man. For one, the author does not see Jefferson as a man of original ideas but one who is well educated and refines the ideas of others. The author also sees Jefferson, as many of the prominent signers of the declaration of independence as a major investor in securing western lands. The author tackles Jefferson's unique view of the Indians that in some ways parallel his view on slavery. Although an admirer of the Indians and anxious to make treaties, there is no doubt that Jefferson believed in expansionism as his treaties secured America a wealth of land making Jefferson the greatest securer of territories other than President Polk. The author details a multitude of treaties among the tribes conveyed by numerous Indian agents in the various territories and describes them in detail from the various Indian chiefs to the complexities of the land dealings. I would have preferred more maps to clearly understand the tribal boundaries in contrast to U.S.'s current boundaries. Included with the treaties are descriptions of the various Indian clashes particularly in the northwest that after a disaster is reconciled by the whites victory at Fallen Timbers by "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Of particular interest for a student of Jefferson is his philosophy of westernizing the Indians by attempting what in his mind were fair treaties while encouraging trading with the Indians to increase an interdependency that would eventually lead Indians to end up becoming more like whites, cultivating land and living in settlements. As one European writer noted who traveled to the frontier noted, life was extraordinarily difficult for the pioneers living on the fringe; he did not see this being successful for the Indians who were very far from transportation and commerce areas. In addition, Jefferson had no expectations that Indians could actually intermingle in a white society and he had expectations that all tribes would have to move further west, an action taken by force by Andrew Jackson during his presidency. The author covers a great deal of territory including the fascinating relationship between President Jefferson and the controversial General Wilkinson who was not only commander of all U.S. forces, temporary governor of the Louisiana territory but also as an Indian agent. The author frequently sprinkles letters and documents written by key participants, including Jefferson, and he provides numerous insights into the Native American point of view. As stated earlier, the author has a more direct objective look at Jefferson,

Fallen Hero?

The detailed review by Robin Friedman (below) gives a fair and ample account of this book's content and quality. I'm afraid Thomas Jefferson does not escape with his reputation intact, but I doubt that AFC Wallace intended to besmirch or belittle him for any political agenda. Jefferson was my hero in high school, but almost nothing I've learned about him since then has polished his image. John Quincy Adams, who knew him well, slowly came to regard him as hypocritical, cunning, self-absorbed, given to magnifying his own exploits... what today might be called "narcissistic". Wahington detested him in his later years and cut off communication. Obviously, Jefferson can't be blamed for the uses later generations have made of him to justify secession, states-rights conservatism, racist forms of populism, etc, but history does provide a lens for interpreting his ideologies and for finding that aside from the noble rhetoric of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson's legacy is mostly pernicious. This is, however, a very well-written and readable book, superbly researched, and not at all tendentious. Don't read it alone! (Of course, if you read it at all, you've probably read other books on Jefferson and on the 18th C). Take a look at FORCED FOUNDERS as a counterweight.

Jefferson and the Indians

While I found the book, on the whole, to be an interesting entry in a historical space that is lightly populated; meaning that few books are written about the Indian culture during Colonial times and the impact of expansionism on their culture, I felt there were aspects of the book that adversely affected its quality: 1. The detail surrounding the land, colonial speculation (including Jefferson's holdings) and the treaties to expand the colonies' territory to be excessive and ineffective in their attempt to connect Jefferson's said holdings with an overall strategic conspiracy. 2. The book's focus on Jefferson's interest and approach to the American Indian, while interesting and keeping with the title, limited the potential of the book which, I believe, would have been better served if the premise focused more on the colonies' overall perspective and dealings with the Indians. This would have included a more extensive overview of the interaction of the specific tribes, the impact of the six nations and how this interaction diluted or enhanced the Indian culture. 3. I don't believe that it is contradictory for a man of science (based on Jefferson's interest in language and culture correlations and origin), to suggest that certain tribes represented a real threat to the safety of citizens that were, technically, the responsibility of Virginia and,eventually,the United States. Decisions to support eradication of "bad" elements versus those tribes that were cooperative seems logical given the reports that were received and magnitude of the violence that was observed. Having said that, the chapters regarding the tracking of language patterns, formulating questions that would uncover additional information about tribal history and Jefferson's desire and passion to explore the role of the Native American and determine whether there were connections with the Welsch were fascinating and were great reading. Overall, while I enjoyed the book, I sensed too much intent to discredit Jefferson and too little effort to suggest the overall importance of Jefferson's desire and approach to collecting and preserving data on the American Indian.

The Beginnings of America's Indian Policy

Many works on early United States history tend to give Indian affairs less attention than it deserves. There are two recent books with which I am familiar that help correct this situation. The first is Robert Remini's study of Jacksonian American, "Andrew Jackson and his Indian Wars". The second is Professor Wallace's book on Jefferson's relationship to the Indians, which I am discussing here.Remini's and Wallace's book can be read together because both tell parts of the same sad story. Expansionist pressures from settlers and the fear of the United States of Indian attacks, particularly when incited by hostile European nations led to a policy of land cessions, wars, and forced removal westward of the Indian tribes. The process culminated with Andrew Jackson's Indian wars and presidency, the subject of Remini's book, but it was effectively put in place by Thomas Jefferson, as shown by Wallace.Jefferson and his Indian policy, however, seem to me to present a more complex case than Jackson. As Wallace's book shows, Jefferson was indeed a polymath, a scholar and intellectual as well as a, paradoxically, man of power and position. Jefferson took a genuine interest in Indian archaeology, culture and language and made himself or encouraged others to make, scholarly and enthnological contributions that are still important towards understanding the Indians.Jefferson, even on Professor Wallace's account, had compassion for the Indian tribes and an interest in their well-being, even if this interest was overshadowed, as it was, by his desire to obtain Indian land for the new nation and even though his view of Indian interests was misguided and partial.Wallace's book traces Jefferson's early relationship with Indians beginning before the revolution when Jefferson was a land speculator in the then Western United States. He explores in detail Jefferson's writing on Indians, particularly his writing on the Indian chief Logan in his "Notes on the State of Virginia." Jefferson's partial reading of the fate of this "Noble Savage", according to Wallace, shows the ambivalent character of Jefferson's approach to the Indians.Wallace describes in detail Jefferson the politician approaching Indian affairs in the original United States territory and in the Louisiana purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. The announced goals of the policy were peace, land cessions and civilization for the Indians. Too often, these policies became simply the means for tribal destruction and deprivation and for the removal policy, for both the southern and the northern tribes, that culminated in the administration of Andrew Jackson. (again, see the Remini book.)There are some fascinating quotations in the book that illustrate Wallace's points that are set aside and emphasized in blocked-type and quotes. It is a good way of gaining focus. The book has a wealth of documentation and is not simply a political history. As I indicated Jefferson was a complex individual

Excellent BooK!

I felt that this was an excellent book on Thomas Jefferson's views toward the native people of North America. It illuminated many parts of his feelings toward native people and their place in the "American Republic." I felt that it also raised many questions about his participation in early land speculation with Henry, Washington, and Franklin as well as his role in the eventual displacement of native people. Anyone interested in early colonial policy toward natives will surely love this book.