Question
SOCIAL STUDIES: The following passage is an excerpt from Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains by Charles A. Eastman.
EVERY age, every race, has its leaders and
heroes. There were over sixty distinct tribes of
Indians on this continent, each of which boasted
its notable men. The names and deeds of some of
5these men will live in American history, yet in the
true sense they are unknown, because they are
misunderstood. I should like to present some of
the greatest chiefs of modern times in the light of
the native character and ideals, believing that the
10American people will gladly do them tardy justice.
It is matter of history that the Sioux nation, to
which I belong, was originally friendly to the
Caucasian peoples which it met in succession—
first, to the south the Spaniards; then the French,
15on the Mississippi River and along the Great
Lakes; later the English, and finally the
Americans. This powerful tribe then roamed over
the whole extent of the Mississippi valley,
between that river and the Rockies. Their usages
20and government united the various bands more
closely than was the case with many of the
neighboring tribes.
During the early part of the nineteenth century,
chiefs such as Wabashaw, Redwing, and Little Six
25among the eastern Sioux, Conquering Bear, Man-
Afraid-of-His-Horse, and Hump of the western
bands, were the last of the old type. After these,
we have a coterie of new leaders, products of the
new conditions brought about by close contact
30with the conquering race.
This distinction must be borne in mind – that
while the early chiefs were spokesmen and leaders
in the simplest sense, possessing no real authority,
those who headed their tribes during the transition
35period were more or less rulers and more or less
politicians. It is a singular fact that many of the
"chiefs," well known as such to the American
public, were not chiefs at all according to the
accepted usages of their tribesmen. Their
40prominence was simply the result of an abnormal
situation, in which representatives of the United
States Government made use of them for a
definite purpose. In a few cases, where a chief met
with a violent death, some ambitious man has
45taken advantage of the confusion to thrust himself
upon the tribe and, perhaps with outside help, has
succeeded in usurping the leadership.
Red Cloud was born about 1820 near the forks
of the Platte River. He was one of a family of nine
50children whose father, an able and respected
warrior, reared his son under the old Spartan
regime. The young Red Cloud is said to have been
a fine horseman, able to swim across the Missouri
and Yellowstone rivers, of high bearing and
55unquestionable courage, yet invariably gentle and
courteous in everyday life. This last trait, together
with a singularly musical and agreeable voice, has
always been characteristic of the man.
After the arrival of the Europeans to the
60Americas, and their exposure to different Native
American tribes, the peoples of the Sioux tribe
entered upon the stormiest period of their history.
The old things were fast giving place to new. The
young men, for the first time engaging in serious
65and destructive warfare with the neighboring
tribes, armed with the deadly weapons furnished
by the white man, began to realize that they must
soon enter upon a desperate struggle for their
ancestral hunting grounds. The old men had been
70innocently cultivating the friendship of the
stranger, saying among themselves, "Surely there
is land enough for all!"
Red Cloud was a modest and little known man
of about twenty-eight years when the American
75General Harney called all the western bands of Sioux
together at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, for the purpose of
securing an agreement and right of way through
their territory. The Ogalalas held aloof from this
proposal, but Bear Bull, an Ogalala chief, after
80having been plied with whisky, undertook to
dictate submission to the rest of the clan. Enraged
by failure, he fired upon a group of his own
tribesmen, and Red Cloud's father and brother fell
dead. According to Indian custom, it fell to Red
85Cloud to avenge the deed. Calmly, without
uttering a word, he faced old Bear Bull and his
son, who attempted to defend his father, and shot
them both. He did what he believed to be his duty,
and the whole band sustained him. Indeed, the
90tragedy gave the young man at once a certain
standing, as one who not only defended his people
against enemies from without, but against injustice
and aggression within the tribe. From this time on
he was a recognized leader.
(Source)
EVERY age, every race, has its leaders and
heroes. There were over sixty distinct tribes of
Indians on this continent, each of which boasted
its notable men. The names and deeds of some of
5these men will live in American history, yet in the
true sense they are unknown, because they are
misunderstood. I should like to present some of
the greatest chiefs of modern times in the light of
the native character and ideals, believing that the
10American people will gladly do them tardy justice.
It is matter of history that the Sioux nation, to
which I belong, was originally friendly to the
Caucasian peoples which it met in succession—
first, to the south the Spaniards; then the French,
15on the Mississippi River and along the Great
Lakes; later the English, and finally the
Americans. This powerful tribe then roamed over
the whole extent of the Mississippi valley,
between that river and the Rockies. Their usages
20and government united the various bands more
closely than was the case with many of the
neighboring tribes.
During the early part of the nineteenth century,
chiefs such as Wabashaw, Redwing, and Little Six
25among the eastern Sioux, Conquering Bear, Man-
Afraid-of-His-Horse, and Hump of the western
bands, were the last of the old type. After these,
we have a coterie of new leaders, products of the
new conditions brought about by close contact
30with the conquering race.
This distinction must be borne in mind – that
while the early chiefs were spokesmen and leaders
in the simplest sense, possessing no real authority,
those who headed their tribes during the transition
35period were more or less rulers and more or less
politicians. It is a singular fact that many of the
"chiefs," well known as such to the American
public, were not chiefs at all according to the
accepted usages of their tribesmen. Their
40prominence was simply the result of an abnormal
situation, in which representatives of the United
States Government made use of them for a
definite purpose. In a few cases, where a chief met
with a violent death, some ambitious man has
45taken advantage of the confusion to thrust himself
upon the tribe and, perhaps with outside help, has
succeeded in usurping the leadership.
Red Cloud was born about 1820 near the forks
of the Platte River. He was one of a family of nine
50children whose father, an able and respected
warrior, reared his son under the old Spartan
regime. The young Red Cloud is said to have been
a fine horseman, able to swim across the Missouri
and Yellowstone rivers, of high bearing and
55unquestionable courage, yet invariably gentle and
courteous in everyday life. This last trait, together
with a singularly musical and agreeable voice, has
always been characteristic of the man.
After the arrival of the Europeans to the
60Americas, and their exposure to different Native
American tribes, the peoples of the Sioux tribe
entered upon the stormiest period of their history.
The old things were fast giving place to new. The
young men, for the first time engaging in serious
65and destructive warfare with the neighboring
tribes, armed with the deadly weapons furnished
by the white man, began to realize that they must
soon enter upon a desperate struggle for their
ancestral hunting grounds. The old men had been
70innocently cultivating the friendship of the
stranger, saying among themselves, "Surely there
is land enough for all!"
Red Cloud was a modest and little known man
of about twenty-eight years when the American
75General Harney called all the western bands of Sioux
together at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, for the purpose of
securing an agreement and right of way through
their territory. The Ogalalas held aloof from this
proposal, but Bear Bull, an Ogalala chief, after
80having been plied with whisky, undertook to
dictate submission to the rest of the clan. Enraged
by failure, he fired upon a group of his own
tribesmen, and Red Cloud's father and brother fell
dead. According to Indian custom, it fell to Red
85Cloud to avenge the deed. Calmly, without
uttering a word, he faced old Bear Bull and his
son, who attempted to defend his father, and shot
them both. He did what he believed to be his duty,
and the whole band sustained him. Indeed, the
90tragedy gave the young man at once a certain
standing, as one who not only defended his people
against enemies from without, but against injustice
and aggression within the tribe. From this time on
he was a recognized leader.
(Source)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Questions and Answers Based on the Passage
**1. What is the main purpose of the passage?**
The main purpose of the passage is to illuminate the lives and roles of Native American leaders, particularly the Sioux tribe, by highlighting Red Cloud's character and actions amidst the challenges faced by Native Americans during the 19th century.
---
**2. How does the author distinguish between early Sioux chiefs and later leaders during the transition period?**
The author distinguishes the two by noting that early chiefs were spokesmen who held no real authority, whereas later leaders were more akin to rulers and politicians who emerged due to new circumstances brought on by contact with European settlers. The later chiefs often played roles shaped by external pressures and political maneuvering rather than traditional leadership structures within their tribes.
---
**3. Describe Red Cloud's early life as portrayed in the passage. Mention any significant traits or skills he had.**
Red Cloud was born around 1820 to a respected warrior father and raised in a strict, traditional environment. He was a skilled horseman and able swimmer, demonstrating high natural abilities and courage. Despite his formidable skills, Red Cloud was also noted for his gentleness and courteousness in everyday interactions, along with a pleasant voice, making him a well-rounded individual.
---
**4. What event marked the beginning of Red Cloud's recognition as a leader?**
The turning point for Red Cloud's recognition as a leader occurred when he took revenge on Bear Bull, the Ogalala chief, after Bear Bull killed Red Cloud’s father and brother. Red Cloud avenged their deaths according to tribal custom, which solidified his standing as a leader protected both against external enemies and internal injustices.
---
**5. Discuss the tension present in the Sioux tribe as described in the passage. What were the old men and young men’s perspectives regarding their situation?**
The passage suggests a significant tension between the old and young members of the Sioux tribe. The old men were inclined to cultivate friendships with European settlers and believed in coexistence, thinking there was "land enough for all." In contrast, the young men began to engage in serious warfare, gaining contemporary weaponry and realizing the urgency to fight for their ancestral lands as they navigated the changing dynamics imposed by the encroaching settlers. This generational divide reflects a struggle between maintaining traditional ways and adapting to the new, often hostile realities they faced.
---
**6. Why does the author express a belief that the American people "will gladly do them tardy justice"? What does this imply about the historical context of Native American leaders?**
The author implies that there has been a historical misunderstanding and lack of recognition regarding the true roles and significance of Native American leaders among the American public. By stating that the American people might "do them tardy justice," Eastman suggests that despite the delayed acknowledgment, there is an expectation of a growing recognition of the contributions and sacrifices made by these leaders, pointing to a broader historical context where indigenous perspectives were often marginalized or overlooked in mainstream narratives.
**1. What is the main purpose of the passage?**
The main purpose of the passage is to illuminate the lives and roles of Native American leaders, particularly the Sioux tribe, by highlighting Red Cloud's character and actions amidst the challenges faced by Native Americans during the 19th century.
---
**2. How does the author distinguish between early Sioux chiefs and later leaders during the transition period?**
The author distinguishes the two by noting that early chiefs were spokesmen who held no real authority, whereas later leaders were more akin to rulers and politicians who emerged due to new circumstances brought on by contact with European settlers. The later chiefs often played roles shaped by external pressures and political maneuvering rather than traditional leadership structures within their tribes.
---
**3. Describe Red Cloud's early life as portrayed in the passage. Mention any significant traits or skills he had.**
Red Cloud was born around 1820 to a respected warrior father and raised in a strict, traditional environment. He was a skilled horseman and able swimmer, demonstrating high natural abilities and courage. Despite his formidable skills, Red Cloud was also noted for his gentleness and courteousness in everyday interactions, along with a pleasant voice, making him a well-rounded individual.
---
**4. What event marked the beginning of Red Cloud's recognition as a leader?**
The turning point for Red Cloud's recognition as a leader occurred when he took revenge on Bear Bull, the Ogalala chief, after Bear Bull killed Red Cloud’s father and brother. Red Cloud avenged their deaths according to tribal custom, which solidified his standing as a leader protected both against external enemies and internal injustices.
---
**5. Discuss the tension present in the Sioux tribe as described in the passage. What were the old men and young men’s perspectives regarding their situation?**
The passage suggests a significant tension between the old and young members of the Sioux tribe. The old men were inclined to cultivate friendships with European settlers and believed in coexistence, thinking there was "land enough for all." In contrast, the young men began to engage in serious warfare, gaining contemporary weaponry and realizing the urgency to fight for their ancestral lands as they navigated the changing dynamics imposed by the encroaching settlers. This generational divide reflects a struggle between maintaining traditional ways and adapting to the new, often hostile realities they faced.
---
**6. Why does the author express a belief that the American people "will gladly do them tardy justice"? What does this imply about the historical context of Native American leaders?**
The author implies that there has been a historical misunderstanding and lack of recognition regarding the true roles and significance of Native American leaders among the American public. By stating that the American people might "do them tardy justice," Eastman suggests that despite the delayed acknowledgment, there is an expectation of a growing recognition of the contributions and sacrifices made by these leaders, pointing to a broader historical context where indigenous perspectives were often marginalized or overlooked in mainstream narratives.