Chapter 4

The McGillivray Moment

Summary
      This chapter discusses a three week period in July of 1790 when 27 Indian chiefs met with President George Washington to come up with a treaty and a peaceful solution to end fighting in the southwest. The obvious leader was Alexander McGillivray, the most powerful chief of the Creek Nation. The main problem that needed to be solved was the fact that Native Americans inhabited the Ohio Valley, but white settlers needed to go there. Washington did not want to fight with them or kick them out of their tribal lands, because that would go against the very principles of their new nation, but he needed to do something. One idea was "homelands under tribal control and federal protection," with an end result of the Native Americans assimilating into American culture and becoming citizens.
      Finally, they came to a conclusion with the Treaty of New York, which stated that all tribes and states must be peaceful, granted land to Native Americans under federal protection (a promise that was virtually impossible to keep - did Washington know that, or care?), constricted them by attempting to turn them into farmers rather than hunters, and secretly paid McGillivray for his loyalty. As hopeful as Washington was, problems soon arose. First off, American westward migration was unstoppable. Then, as an outward act of defiance, Georgia sold 15 million acres of Creek Nation. Washington wanted badly for there to be a peaceful compromise, but it seemed the only solution would be a tragedy.

Reflection
      I liked picturing all the chiefs at Washington's social events, shouting and chanting in the midst of a civilized society, and I wonder what everyone's reactions were. This difference in cultures was not the only one that stood out to me, though. It is very hard to believe that McGillivray "was drinking heavily throughout the conference" (60). If I were taking part in such an important meeting, I would definitely want to have all my wits about me so I didn't get cheated.
      Something I had questions about was the Trail of Tears in 1835. I have never really heard about this before, so I looked it up to get a better understanding of this chapter and learned that it is "the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations...from their homelands to Indian Territory" (Wikipedia). It's sad that Washington's promises were so hollow, and that Americans will do anything to gain more land and power.