Chief Joseph is trying to explain to a white audience the reason why his people chose to fight against the white man. He explains that his people have always been taught to be truthful, honest and “that is was a shame for one man to take from another his wife, or his property without paying for it.” He explains that all of the Nez Perces befriended Lewis and Clark and promised to always allow them safe passage through their land and vowed to “never make war on the white man.” His people felt as though they had a lot to learn from the white man and where not bothered when white men began to settle on their land. General Stevens soon addressed the Nez Perces with a treaty stating that the Indians should have land set apart from the white settlers that they should be restricted to. Chief Joseph’s father, who was the chief at that time, refused to sign the treaty because he believed that all men were free and no man could own part of the earth. Eight years later, a chief named Lawyer sold nearly all the Nez Perce land at a treaty council without consulting his fellow tribesmen. Chief Joseph argues that Lawyer had no authority to sell his land because it belonged to the people. He addresses his audience saying that, “I did not want to come to this council, but I came hoping that we could save blood. The white man has no right to come here and take our land.” Chief Joseph appeals to his audience by using pathos and ethos. He uses pathos in his initial greeting by referring to his audience as “friends” and continues in expressing the way his people are affected by the white man, and draws on the sympathy of his audience when he explains that the land he lives in has belonged to his people for generations. Ethos is clearly used when he tells of the way that his father raised him and the laws that were set for his people to be honest and kind people.
This document is significant because it allows us to understand the way that tribes like the Nez Perces were treated by early settlers in America and the feelings that they had toward them. It also explains why tribes would be unwilling to move off of their land. Chief Joseph’s argument is very convincing. It is sad that such a noble people were treated so terribly and forced off of their land. Chief Joseph does an excellent job conveying the heart of his people to his audience; it is just unfortunate that it didn’t make a difference to the people pushing for Indians to be moved onto reservations.
You have analysed the article very clearly and precisely. I completely agree with your point that the main aim of chief Joseph was to convince the white people that they don't have the right to take away their land, because this is the place, where their ancestors were born and died, and they had been living here much before the domination of white society. I believe that the emotional content of the speech lies on Chief's belief that no man has the right to tell other man what he should do, because every person is equal. He also proved his point logically by arguing that Nez Perces had been living in their designated place (a memory of their ancestors) and had never tried to cross the boundary. Instead, they were being exploited by whites, who were pressurising them to leave their land for white settlement. He also made a clear logic to defend his society by saying that they befriended the first white settlers, and even traded with them.They never broke their promises to the white people. You also brought up good point on the historical significance of the article. The article reflects how white people used Indians to expand their land and achieve prosperity.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very well written TA, good job! I agree with you that this is Chief Joseph speaking to the white people, whom he refers to as "friends" about how his people had tried to keep their land. This is a very noble man who wanted nothing more than to preserve the land that his ancestors had lived and died on.
ReplyDeleteI find this account of what Chief Joseph and his people went through to be very sad. This article just shows how the greed and selfishness of the white people destroyed the way of life and the land of the Indian people. The Nez Perces were a very patient and courageous people who tried to avoid bloodshed and maintain the land of their ancestors. I find it very interesting to hear Chief Josephs account of the Lewis and Clark expedition within this article which shows how friendly they were with the Indians in their travels. I found this article to be very sad but found the Chief's words to be very profound.
I think that this TA was extremely well written. It was very organized and easy to follow. I feel that you have done a great job on analyzing the text. You also made some very convincing points. I completely agree with what you said about the main point of Chief Joseph's speech was to convince everyone that the white men had absolutely no right to take away their land. However I completely agree with you on how he was "speaking" to the white men. He made a great point when he said that they had at first welcomed the white men, and now they are basically forcing them to give up the land that they allowed the white men to settle on. Another great point you made and I absolutely agree with is the fact that this shows us a lot about history, and how whites lied, and manipulated the Indians and brutally stole their land. Once again great job on writing this TA.
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