Destruction

Throughout history millions of people have come to the United States in pursuit of the “American Dream”. But what exactly is this dream? Is it perhaps the riches and the billions of opportunities that are found in America? Or for some is it as simple as living somewhere that you feel safe, and more importantly, free? The American Dream carries a wide variety of positive implications, but as many Americans know, it isn’t all sunshine and daisy here in our country. As with other countries, there is pain, strife, and unfairness at almost every turn that you must deal with. These struggles are universal, these opportunities are not guaranteed, so what exactly is “The American Dream” and how is its pull so strong? This idea will be dissected and looked at through a different set of eyes than what we normally hear about when talking about this topic. The eyes we will be looking through to see the impacts of the “American Dream” belong to Sitting Bull, one of the great Native American leaders. Coming from a group that was truly native to America, his “American Dream” story may not be what we are accustomed to hearing. When it comes to the Native Americans, the “American Dream” bears some horribly catastrophic impacts.

Sitting Bull is one of the most notable leaders of the Native American, and rightly so. Sitting Bull was born into a life steeped in tradition, as was common with most Native Americans. We have a large amount of information on Sitting Bull mainly because he was “a prominent and influential Indian during a crucial period in the history of his tribe”[1]. Sitting Bull belonged to the Lakota Indians, a group that, like many other Native American groups, was often in conflict with the white settlers. These conflicts of course stemmed from the clash between Native Americans trying to retain their land and their territory, which was often sacred to them, while the white settlers attempted to pursue their own interest, often fortune and new opportunities. It made it easier for the Americans to take the land of the Natives, because they simply viewed them as “unfortunate savages” and had no problem destroying their people for their own gain[2]. This situation is a prime example of what happens when multiple “American Dreams” clash. One group wishes to maintain their land and way of life, the other is looking for a totally new life and only one of the groups can win.

Unfortunately, resistance proved futile for the Native Americans; the power of the invaders was too great. Despite some notable wins, such as Sitting Bull’s dominant victory over George Custer, of which “no captives had been taken, there was no torture,”[3] eventually the Native Americans were subdued and contained. The American Government wished to push these Indians towards civilization, and unfortunately for Sitting Bull those in power thought this would only be possible if Sitting Bull was removed from the reservation, yet again splitting him from everything he knew[4]. When it comes to the Native Americans and Sitting Bull, the concepts of exploitation and destruction are what really stand out to me. While exploitation and destruction are not what many think of when they hear “American Dream,” the truth is that exploitation and destruction are driving forces for the American Dream. The Indians wished to keep their land and their way of life, but everything was stripped from them. Many of their lives were taken, and those who remained were forced into an oppressive, unhealthy lifestyle

While this take on the “American Dream” is darker and sadder than most, this is a harsh reality of the American Dream. For some, it is great, many Americans were able to pursue all new opportunities thanks to the defeat of the Native Americans. Unfortunately, many Native Americans were negatively impacted by the various pursuits of the American Dream. Many natives lost everything they had ever known. When one group is attempting to advance their idea of the American Dream, those standing in their way are often destroyed. Although it is a bitter pill to swallow, destruction and exploitation are key factors that must be considered when thinking of the American Dream.

 

 

[1] M. W. Stirling, Three Pictographic Autobiographies of Sitting Bull (Smithsonian Institutions, July 22, 1938) 1-3

[2] Alexander B. Adams, Sitting Bull (New York, 1973) 327-328

[3] Stanley Vestal, Sitting Bull Champion of the Sioux (University of Oklahoma Press, 1956) 177

[4] Robert M. Utley, The Last Days of the Sioux Nation (New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1966) 146-147