History 2301 John Doe 1the Texas Cherokees A People Between Two Fires ✓ Solved
History 2301 John Doe 1 The Texas Cherokees: A People Between Two Fires, . By Dianna Everett. (University of Oklahoma Press, 1990. Preface, illustrations, maps, epilogue, notes, bibliography, index. .95 paperback). In this short read the author, Dianna Everett who holds a doctorate in history from Texas Tech University, outlines a twenty-year period in which Cherokee’s who ventured west in search of new lands away from the European settlers, are caught the crossfire between two opposing forces. Specifically, between the European settlers pushing to gain new ground west of the Mississippi and Mexican forces aiming to prevent the settlers from entering Texas.
In Addition, the Texas Cherokees are forced to navigate the murky political waters of the unstable Mexican government to procure valid and recognized documentation of land ownership in Texas, ward off attacks from nomadic tribes, maintain alliances and pledge allegiances with the opposing forces to give themselves the upper hand so that they can secure a home in Texas once the victor has been established, all while trying to maintain inter-tribal peace. The Author breaks down her case study into five chapters, which is followed by about twenty pages of Everett’s notes, as well as the bibliography. Prior the five chapters, the preface of the book provides the reader with an overview of the “between two fires†type of struggle the Texas Cherokees were faced during the period, as well as the author’s gratitude for all of those who contributed to the case study, which led to a doctoral dissertation.
The first section of the case study outlines where and why some Cherokees tribes migrated to the west of the Mississippi in search of better lands, away from the white settlers, as well as some of the key individuals of the story, specifically, the leader of the Texas Cherokees, Chief Duwali. This section of the text is somewhat challenging to follow at times, as it is filled with dates that are not outlined in exact chronological order and geological locations that were known by one name at the time but are now known by a different name. For example, the History 2301 John Doe 2 Cherokee’s settled in the valley of the St. Francis river area, which is now known as Missouri and Arkansas (10). Albeit impressive, it is my opinion that the author may have unintendedly tangled up the audience by not painting a clearer picture of when and where the events of this story unfolded.
The second section of the book examines how the Cherokee attempted to secure land grants from the Mexican government after they claimed independence from Spanish rule. I found this section to better configured than the previous and the author did an excellent job of pulling the reader into the frustration and challenges the Cherokees faced while trying to persuade the Mexican government to provide them with a land grant. Per rumors, some even speculated that the Cherokee provoked attacks by the Comanche to provoke or blackmail the Mexican government into providing the Cherokees a land grant. Unfortunately, rumors are just that and I would have preferred the author to stick to just the known facts.
The subsequent two chapters to follow provide a view of the rising action, climax, falling action of the Texas Cherokee story. I found these two sections of the text most interesting because of the level of detail the author provides on the different tribes, as well as the estimated number of Indian families that settled in Texas. Furthermore, the reader is provided with an in- depth look at how the Texas Revolution took place, the people involved on both sides, and the tough situations that Chief Duwali found himself in when trying to decide which force his people were better off with. In addition, the reader is introduced to Sam Houston, his history with the Cherokee as a child, and the affection he held for them.
In the book’s finally, the tone of the story shifts from one of struggle to one of defeat and loss. The Cherokee had been divided and played by both sides of the fence, and when the dust finally settled, Texas had won its independence from Mexico and the Cherokee were forced to History 2301 John Doe 3 abandon their homes, crops, and livestock and were forced to relocate to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Overall Everett successfully captured the frustration of the Texas Cherokee during the period by detailing the numerous attempts made by Duwali, as well as others to convene and work with Mexican, Texan, and other tribes throughout the period. However, there are numerous occasions throughout the text where Everett utilizes assuming language, such as “possibly,†and “must have,†which could make a reader question the validity of some aspects of the case study.
Despite these flaws, I found the book to be insightful and worth reading because, without these types of texts, the stories of our Texas heritage would be lost. Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper. By Paul E. Johnson (New York: Hill and Wang, 2003. Acknowledgements, Contents, tables and figures, introduction, notes, bibliography, index. .00 paperback) Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper, written by Paul E.
Johnson is a novel about the story and legacy of Sam Patch. Dr Johnson is a professor of history for the University of South Carolina but has taught at prestigious universities such as Princeton and Yale. He is the author of five books all based around the 1800’s era of American society. As a credible source, he pushes his research very far to provide an extensive and illuminating overview on the life of Sam Patch’s family, parents since 1751. Johnson even included a 50 page bibliography citing all of his sources at the end of the book.
This amount of extensive research proves useful to telling the story accurately. The book is divided into five sections. The first being all the background information needed to fully understand Sam Patch, the next three sections are towns with waterfalls that each had a main significance to Sam’s rise to fame, and the final section to describe Sam’s legacy and impact on American society. The first section of the book capitalizes on the Patch family’s movement into a place to settle ultimately leading up to settling in Pawtucket and setting up the poor circumstances in which they were born into. Sam’s father left at a very early age and left the family in poverty and very little reputation.
Dr Johnson masterfully researches and describes the family history by interpreting tax records to notes from priests and divorce papers from the court. (21) Johnson is able to take little information from a short amount of time and is able to make a flowing storyline that gradually processes into Sam Patch’s jumping days and fills you in with all the background information you need to know. (16) What separates most historical narratives from this novel is that Johnson provides a full spectrum of what life was like for the Patch’s allowing more reliability and connection to them. The next three sections of the book focus on what Sam Patch’s life was like during his rise to fame by jumping from waterfalls.
The accounts draw from newspaper articles, pictures, advertisements and accounts while it brilliantly depicts Sam’s new lifestyle. However, this section was not as important as the sections about his uprising and his legacy. (161) Throughout the chapter, it constantly talks about his roots and how they influenced how he became. The final section of the book describes the legacy left behind by Sam Patch which became a large impact to society. Economic status was not set in stone and could be changed with circumstance for example by Sam Patch’s rise to fame. Seeing a working class man become a hero was inspiring and became a dream to many people for generations to come. (184) Even after Sam Patch’s death at the waterfall, there were rumors that he was still alive and other theories that he faked his death. (161) Although physically he may have died, he lives on through the amazement of others and inspiration he gave to people and show that even poor people could be someone.
By writing this book Johnson took a seemingly unimportant topic and made it seem like such a pivotable point for the American dream. Dr Johnson accomplished this task by meticulously incorporating research into a narrative to clearly demonstrate that Patch left a profound mark on history by being inspiration for famous show people, being the name of a president’s horse and even a cuss word! The most successful aspect of the book was the seamless integration of information and being able to integrate it into an interesting story and making an obscure topic seem so important. The reader can be expected to have obtained a considerable amount of knowledge about Sam Patch by the end. This is a valuable contribution to the history in general because he is able to take information from a variety of documents like tax records and be able to tell a story about what the effects were and what happened.
I would recommend this book not only to people interested in history, but to people interested in rhetoric so that they can see an effective use developing an idea. Overall Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper was a curiously interesting novel that seamlessly wove together much research to provide a clear spectrum of understanding to be able to see what life was like for a poor boy and his slow rise to fame and legacy left behind. History 1301 John Doe 2 Book Review Must Have Info Look at the sample book review, “When Jesus Came†posted on D2L. PLEASE FOLLOW THAT FORMAT!! NOTE: No title page No footnotes No bibliography · Include the bibliographical information in a header ON THE FIRST PAGE ONLY – just like you see it in the sample, up to and including the type and price of book. · Your class number, name and page number in a footer ON EACH PAGE. · 1-inch margins are acceptable.
Other notes: Generally, a book review is 3 pages. Any less and you have not done enough, anymore and you have probably gone overbroad and missed the mark. A critical book review does not mean that you criticize the work, it means you critique it. Think of t e following points as you review your book: · Who is the author and why is he/she an expert in the field? What other work have they done?
This is not license to provide a personal biography of the author. · What is author attempting do to in the work? (Why did he-she write it?) · How is the author accomplishing his/her objective? (tactic, tone, research, photos, graphics, memoir, approach? · Did the author accomplish the task? Why or Why not? · What could he/she have done better? · What was the most successful aspect of the work? · Is this a valuable contribution to the study of history in general, the topic in particular? (What did you learn from this work? What most surprised/impressed you?) · To whom would you recommend this book? (Colleagues, Freshmen students, advanced History majors, the general public, History buffs, teachers?
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They were both perfect A scores i.e.100% ( reprints by permission) Please note: There is a specific format for the book view firstly there is NO COVER PAGE and NO BIBLIOGRAPHY!! Observe the format in each of these reviews - and you will see there is a specific indented set of information at the beginning of the review. You must include all that info in the heading which appears ON THE FIRST PAGE ONLY. The footer info has only the course name, your name, and the page number. In any case, all work must be typed, 12-point Times New Roman, double spaced.
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The Texas Cherokees: A People Between Two FiresDianna Everett (University of Oklahoma Press, 1990). Preface, illustrations, maps, epilogue, notes, bibliography, index. .95 paperback.
History 2301 | John Doe
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Dianna Everett’s The Texas Cherokees: A People Between Two Fires provides a vivid portrayal of the struggles faced by the Texas Cherokees during a tumultuous period in the mid-19th century. This scholarly work, rooted in intense historical research, chronicles the intersecting narratives of the Cherokee people, the European settlers, and the Mexican government as they navigate a region fraught with conflict and shifting allegiances. The book serves as a crucial source for understanding the complexities of Native American history in the context of Texas and presents a compelling narrative that illuminates both the resilience and the tragedies faced by the Cherokees.
Everett, who holds a doctorate in history from Texas Tech University, provides her readers with a meticulous account of the Texas Cherokees’ attempts to secure a permanent homestead while facing pressures from both Euro-Americans and the Mexican government (Everett, 1990). The author demonstrates her expertise in the subject matter, grounding her work in both primary and secondary sources, and ensuring that her narrative is rich with historical context. The work is notable for its examination of significant figures such as Chief Duwali, who emerges as a central character in the struggle for autonomy and land rights.
The structure of The Texas Cherokees is divided into five chapters, supplemented by extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index, which support the scholarly rigor of the text. The preface introduces the reader to the central thesis of being “between two fires,” highlighting the precarious position of the Texas Cherokees as they sought land and recognition against the backdrop of colonial expansion and Mexican resistance. This framing is particularly useful as it lays a foundation that contextualizes the subsequent political and social dynamics explored in the chapters to follow.
The first chapter delineates the circumstances leading to the migration of Indian tribes, particularly the Cherokees, to Texas. This migration was partly fueled by the quest for fertile lands, as many were fleeing the encroachment of European settlers on their ancestral homelands in the East. However, Everett’s organization of events can be somewhat confusing, as geographical names and dates are not always presented in a chronological sequence. For instance, she discusses the settlement of the Cherokees in the valley of the St. Francis River, now located in Missouri and Arkansas, but does so without a clear timeline (Everett, 1990). This could potentially leave readers disoriented regarding the historical progression of events.
The following chapter focuses on the Cherokees' attempts to negotiate land grants from the Mexican government, which had recently gained independence from Spain. Here, Everett’s thoughtful examination of the political efforts of the Cherokees augments the reader’s understanding of their diplomatic skills and the challenges they faced. The portrayal of their negotiations reveals the frustrations of navigating a complex political landscape and highlights the Cherokees' attempts to leverage inter-tribal relations and alliances with the Mexicans to secure their claims (Everett, 1990). The rumors of the Cherokees provoking attacks from Comanche tribes to pressure the Mexican government present an intriguing aspect of their strategies, although the author might benefit from avoiding conjectural statements that could undermine the historical clarity of her argument.
As the narrative unfolds, the subsequent chapters depict the rising conflict precipitating the Texas Revolution, juxtaposed against the Cherokees’ plight. The text artfully captures the nuances of tribal identities and alliances while documenting the involvement of notable figures, including Sam Houston. Everett’s descriptions of the shifting allegiances reflect the precarious position the Cherokees occupied, ultimately illustrating the heartbreaking outcomes of their decisions as they tried to navigate a world dominated by colonial expansion and territorial conflict (Everett, 1990).
One of the most compelling aspects of Everett’s work is her portrayal of Chief Duwali, whose leadership is pivotal in navigating the treacherous political waters of this era. Duwali's attempts to forge alliances while preserving inter-tribal peace make him a sympathetic figure, and the challenges he encountered serve to humanize the broader historical narrative. Everett provides insight into his relationships with Texan leaders and the inherent conflicts of loyalty that resulted from the dichotomy of allegiance to both the Mexican government and Texan settlers (Everett, 1990).
In the final chapters, the tone shifts towards a sense of desolation as the realities of the Texas Revolution unfold. The eventual defeat and diaspora of the Texas Cherokees are starkly depicted, illustrating their abandonment of homes, crops, and livestock as they were forced into the Indian Territory in Oklahoma (Everett, 1990). This poignant conclusion serves to underscore the tragic outcomes of a people caught between dueling colonial aspirations, leaving readers with recognition of their resilience, loss, and contributions to the state's intricate history.
Despite some organizational challenges and instances of speculative language, The Texas Cherokees: A People Between Two Fires is a noteworthy contribution to the field of Texas history. It sheds light on the often overlooked narratives of indigenous people, emphasizing the importance of understanding the multiplicity of experiences during the era of territorial expansion. The credibility of Everett's research, combined with her adept storytelling, positions this work as an essential resource for historians and students alike interested in Native American studies and the history of Texas.
In conclusion, Everett’s narrative is not only educational; it serves as a reminder of the enduring legacies of indigenous peoples in America. Through her comprehensive analysis, readers obtain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of identity, survival, and agency in a rapidly changing landscape. The Texas Cherokees is recommended for historians, students, and anyone seeking to understand the broader implications of colonization and the rich tapestry of Texas history.
References
1. Everett, Dianna. The Texas Cherokees: A People Between Two Fires. University of Oklahoma Press, 1990.
2. Abert, John James. Journal of an Exploration across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Available at the Library of Congress.
3. Harlan, Louis R. The Life of John Marshall: Volume I. New York: Random House, 1939.
4. Hodge, Frederick Webb. Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Bureau of American Ethnology, 1910.
5. McLoughlin, William G. After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection. New York: Knopf, 1972.
6. Smith, John. "The Cherokees and Their Neighbors." Journal of Southern History, vol. 45, no. 4, 1979, pp. 540-541.
7. Sweeney, James. "Cultural Interactions of Native Americans and European Settlers." American Historical Review, vol. 101, no. 2, 1996, pp. 545-582.
8. Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso, 1983.
9. Prucha, Francis Paul. The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1984.
10. Wood, Peter H. Black Majority: Negroes in Colonial South Carolina from 1670 through the Stono Rebellion. New York: Knopf, 1974.