The Declaration of Independence refers to Native people as “merciless Indian savages.” Graphic by Mark Charles / Wireless Hogan The Colonies’ demand to launch their own separate country was fueled by the promise of conquering the land and resources that Native people relied on since time immemorial. The only place online that I’ve found any serious discussion of this passage is on Native American blogs and news sources. Even the Wikipedia page on the Declaration doesn’t deal with the issue. About the best I’ve found is Adrian Jawort at Indian Country Today, The Declaration of Independence—Except for “Indian Savages.” NPR’s “All Things Considered” interviewed Donald Grinde Jr. about a racist passage in the Declaration of Independence. The passage in question wrongfully labels Native Americans as “merciless Indian savages.” Grinde said, “This is part of the political rhetoric to justify, you know, wars along the frontier and take land. The dark shirt has "Merciless Indian Savages" in white type, with "Declaration of Independence" in smaller type below — a play on shirts with inspirational quotes. Native Americans also have used the phrase in social media memes, comedy shows and art to draw attention to Indigenous history in the U.S. Does the Declaration of Independence really state “all Men are created equal,” then hypocritically proclaim indigenous are “merciless Indian savages”? We, as Americans, are all too familiar with the statement from the Declaration which states “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”—yet, lines below refers to Native Americans, who we all know are the first inhabitants and stewards of this land, as “merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare Ask students to read the Declaration and highlight key concepts and ideas regarding freedom and the portrayal of the British and American Indians. You could also provide students with a copy of the Historical and Primary Document Analysis Worksheet to use as they do their analysis. The last of these complaints, however, is one that reads: He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on the Fourth of July in 1776. We, are all too familiar with the statement from this Declaration which states “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” —yet, lines below refers to Native Americans as “merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is Although the reference to the “merciless Indian savages” appealed to the “inhabitants of our frontiers,” Jefferson and others who signed the Declaration had their own reasons for detesting As we approach this Fourth of July, we're going to look specifically at one passage in the declaration called Grievance 27. It includes an offensive racial slur to describe Native Americans, Yes, the Declaration of Independence does include the phrase "merciless Indian savages." It is found in the document's list of grievances against King George III, accusing him of inciting Native John R. Wunder, "Merciless Indian Savages" and the Declaration of Independence: Native Americans Translate the Ecunnaunuxulgee Document, 25 Am. Indian L. Rev. 65 (2000), Declaration of Independence. The condition of the parchment Declaration of Independence is a sign of the place it has held in the hearts of many Americans. Years of public display have faded and worn this treasured document. Today it is maintained under the most exacting archival conditions possible. The "Savages" charge arose from the Proclamation of 1763 which declared all the land beyond the Appalachians as belonging to the Indians. The withdrawal of British support for frontier colonialists resulted in many massacres of families who had ventured into these areas. I have a colleague who celebrates Independence Day by reading out loud the Declaration of Independence with her neighbors, friends and family. I asked her, “When you get to the part of this sacred document that says, “merciless Indian savages,” what do you do?” She replied, “We just sort of gloss over it.” The 3Read Read more » We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. “ He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions. Indians recognized that the Declaration of Independence established a right to revolution in "the people."67 "All men are created equal," wrote Jefferson. They are "endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights" ? those being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is especially evident in the Declaration of Independence, where, 30 lines below the inclusive and benevolent statement "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal", that document refers to the indigenous peoples of Turtle Island as "merciless Indian savages."
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