Historical Textbooks Unveiled

“As another evidence of the simplicity of the Indians, it is said that having seized a quantity of gunpowder belonging to the colonists, they planted it for seed, expecting to reap a full harvest of ammunition for the next contest.” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 47-48

“Captain John Smith “was taken prisoner by the Indians. With singular coolness, he immediately tried to interest his captors by explaining the use of his pocket compass, and the motions of the moon and stars. At last, they allowed him to write a letter to Jamestown. When they found that this informed his friends of his misfortune, they were filled with astonishment. They could not understand by what magical art he made a few marks on paper express his thoughts. They considered him a being of superior order and treated him with the utmost respect.” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 47-48

“On the arrival of Columbus, “They [the Indians] supposed the ships to be huge white-winged birds, and the Spaniards to have come from heaven. How sadly and how soon these simple people were undeceived!” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 23.

“The Indian of the present “opposes the encroachments of the settler, and the building of railroads. But he cannot stop the ride of immigration. Unless he can be induced to give up his roving habits and cultivate the soil, he is doomed to destruction. It is to be earnestly hoped that the red man may yet be Christianized, and taught the arts of industry and peace” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 14-15.

“It was his glory to bear the most horrible tortures without a sign of suffering” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 13.

“The Indian had neither cow, nor beast of burden. He regarded all labor as degrading, and fit only for women…the leavings of her lord’s feast sufficed for her, and the coldest place in the wigwam was for her.” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 12-13.

“In war, the Indian was brave and alert, but cruel and revengeful, preferring treachery and cunning to open battle. At home, he was lazy, improvident, and an inveterate gambler.” Steele, Joel Dorman. A brief history of the United States. New York : American Book Co., 1885. 13.

“1. Let some of the girls in class imagine that they are Indian girls. Let them describe in a two paragraph theme how they helped to move from one hunting-ground to another.
2. Let a number of boys in the class tell how Indian boys made weapons with which to hunt.” Theme Topics from “Chapter 1, The Indian.” Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of the Perpetual Adoration. The cathedral history of the United States : a revision of a history of the United States for Catholic Schools. Chicago : Scott, Foresman and Company, 1923. Page 21, Print.

“Whether the Indians have been justly deprived of the New World will remain a subject of debate; that they have been deprived can be none. The White races have taken possession of the vast domain. To the prairies and forests, the hunting grounds of his fathers, the Red man says farewell.” Ridpath, John Clark. History of the United States : prepared especially for schools : on a new and comprehensive plan, embracing the features of Lyman’s historical chart. Cincinnati : Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1876. Page 14. Print.

“The Indians belong to the Bow-and-Arrow family of men. To the Red Man the chase was everything. Without the chase, he languished and died. To smite the deer and the bear was his chief delight and profit. Such a race could live only in a country of woods and wild animals.” Ridpath, John Clark. History of the United States : prepared especially for schools : on a new and comprehensive plan, embracing the features of Lyman’s historical chart. Cincinnati : Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1876. Page 11-12, Print.