Essay on the whitman massacre

On November 29, 1847, fourteen people were killed and there were fifty people held hostage by the Cayuse Indians for a month. This event is known as The Whitman Massacre.   The Whitman’s took advantage of the Cayuse Indians’ kindness by selfishly taking over their land and using their resources without reimbursing them. The lack of respect by the Whitmans and settlers toward the Indians had severe consequences.

It all started in 1836 when Marcus and Narcissa Whitman moved to Cayuse Indian land in Oregon Country. The Indians helped the Whitmans farm and build houses for themselves. In 1847 the Whitmans had their first child, Alice Clarissa, who the Indians called Cayuse Te-Mi or Cayuse girl. Alice Clarissa was very popular with the Indians, She is what brought the two sides together. While the Whitmans were living on Indian land they tried to get the Indians to become Christian, and live like white people. But, the Indians were not interested in adapting to the Christians ways.Cultural disagreements caused tension between the Whitmans and the Cayuse Indians. Both sides had different ways of living life which caused distress and disagreement between the two sides. The Cayuse Indians asked the Whitmans to start paying for the land they lived on and resources they used, but the Whitmans refused. In 1839, Alice Clarissa drowned in a river, the key element that held the two sides together was broken that day.

While Narcissa was mourning over her only childs death, Dr. Whitman contacted other settlers who traveled and settled in Oregon Country with the Whitmans. Dr.Whitman took the Indians land and were taking advantage of their kindness The American board started sponsoring Missionaries over in Oregon Country. Whitman was relocated as a missionary, but was soon returned to Cayuse land in 1843 with over 800 immigrants. In 1844, 1500 people had settled in Oregon Country. This hurt the Indians because the settlers were killing the Indians game, living on their land, and taking their resources. In 1847 over 4000 settlers were living in Oregon  Country. The Indians were exposed to measles, brought by the settlers,and over half the Indians living near the Whitmans died. Only about a dozen white people became sick with measles and one 6 year old died from them. Dr. Whitman’s patients that were white normally  recovered while most of his Indian patients did not. Some Indians suspected that the Whitmans Were deliberately trying to hurt the Indians so they could take their land. In the Cayuse Indian tradition, a healer or doctor who’s patients died would be considered guilty of misusing his power and be killed himself. 

Sometime after 1pm, Fourteen to eighteen Indians armed themselves and concealed their weapons with blankets. They Made their way in to the house demanding medicine, and when Dr. Whitman’s head was turned the indians took action. Dr. Whitman was hit in the back of the head by one of the indians; but tribal historians believe that the indian who killed Dr. Whitman may  have been trying to release the evil spirits who he thought were in lie inside. Four hours later nine other people were dead.  Two men were killed the day after the attack,and most of the hostages were women and children. This event shows us that taking advantage of people can result in severe consequences. 

The lack of respect by the Whitmans and settlers toward the Indians had severe consequences. Alice Clarissa was the only thing holding the two sides together, When she died no one ever really recovered, after that Dr.Whitman took advantage of the Indians kindness by taking their land and resources, finally the Whitmans learned the hard way that taking advantage of people has consequences. On November 29, 1847, fourteen people were killed and there were fifty people held hostage by Cayuse Indians for a month. This event is known as The Whitman Massacre. try switching it up a little add some new words and youll be good.