Question

document 3: deputy captain john ordway describes meeting the teton sioux (september 25th 1804)
september 25, 1804
a clear and pleasant morning. all things made ready to receive the band of the sioux nation of indians, called the tribe of tetons. about 10 a.m. they came flocking in from both sides of the river. when 30 or so sioux men were selected, capt lewis and capt clark went out to speak with and greet them. gave the 3 chiefs 3 new medals and 1 american flag, some knives and other small articles of goods; and gave the head chief, the black buffalo, a red coat and a cocked hat and feather and also some tobacco. ... the indians did not appear to talk much until they had got the goods, and then they wanted more, and said we must stop with them or leave one of the large open cargo boats with them, as that was what they expected.
...capt clark used moderation with them told them that we must and would go on and would go. that we were not pushovers or weak women, but warriors. the chief said he had warriors too, and if we were to go on without giving them the boat, they would follow us and kill us.... then capt clark told them that we were sent by their great father the president of the u. s. and that if they misused us that he or capt lewis could by writing to the president have them all destroyed as it were in a moment...
analysis questions:

1. close reading: what did lewis and clark give the native americans?
2. close reading: how does deputy captain ordway describe the native americans and their reaction to the american explorers?
3. close reading: according to this primary source document, how do captains lewis and clark use intimidation or threats to force the native americans to comply?

a) contextualization: how do you think this made the native americans feel?
b) corroboration: if you wanted to learn how the native americans felt after this encounter, what kinds of historical sources could you use?

1. corroboration: comparing document 3 to document 1, do you think lewis and clark carried out the wishes of president jefferson with regards to how he wanted the native americans to be treated?

Explanation:

1. The text explicitly states "Gave the 3 Chiefs 3 new medals and 1 American flag, some knives and other small articles of goods; and gave the head chief, the Black Buffalo, a red coat and a cocked hat and feather and also some tobacco".
2. Deputy Captain Ordway describes the Native Americans as initially not talking much until they got goods. Then they wanted more, expected the explorers to stop or leave a boat.
3. Captain Clark told the Native Americans that they (the explorers) were sent by the president (their "great father") and that if the Native Americans misused them (the explorers), he or Captain Lewis could write to the president and have the Native Americans "all destroyed as it were in a moment".

a) Based on the interaction where the Native Americans were initially quiet (maybe cautious or reserved), then asked for more (showing they had expectations), and were threatened, they might have felt a mix of being unheard (since their demand for the boat was refused), intimidated (by the threat of destruction), and perhaps distrustful (as the explorers didn't fully meet their expectations and used a power - based threat).
b) To learn how the Native Americans felt, one could use Native American oral histories (as they would directly convey their community's feelings and perspectives), their written records if available (journals, treaties from their side that might mention emotions related to such encounters), and archaeological evidence (if it can be linked to the time and place of the encounter, for example, if there were changes in settlement patterns that could indicate emotional responses like fear or anger leading to relocation).

1. Without knowing Document 1, but assuming President Jefferson wanted the Native Americans to be treated with respect and perhaps in a way that fostered cooperation (common in early American exploration policies where they wanted to "civilize" and have good relations), in Document 3, while there were gifts (which could be seen as a positive gesture), the use of a threat ("have them all destroyed") might go against a purely respectful and cooperative treatment. So, it could be argued that they did not fully carry out the wishes if the wishes were for only positive and non - threatening interaction, but if the wishes included a show of power (as part of a "civilizing" mission that also had an undercurrent of dominance), then maybe they did.

Answer:

1. 3 new medals, 1 American flag, some knives, other small articles of goods, a red coat, a cocked hat, a feather, and some tobacco (for the head chief).
2. The Native Americans were initially not talkative until they received goods. Then they wanted more and expected the explorers to stop or leave a boat.
3. Captain Clark threatened that they (the explorers) were sent by the president and that the president (through the explorers' communication) could destroy the Native Americans if they misbehaved.

a) They might have felt intimidated, unheard, and distrustful.
b) Native American oral histories, their written records (if available), and archaeological evidence.

1. (Answer depends on Document 1. But a sample answer could be) If Document 1 emphasized only respectful and non - threatening interaction, then no. If it allowed for a show of power as part of the interaction (to assert American authority), then maybe partially.