Research paper on Chief Joseph

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Chief Joseph1

The war with the US2

The most brilliant retreat in American history2

Historical relationship3

Outstanding contribution3

Similarities to some one of his time3

Similar Issues today4

Conclusion4

Research paper on Chief Joseph

Introduction

Chief Joseph a leading humanitarian for choosing peace over war for his people, was born Hinmuuttu-yalatlat which literally means, thunder rolling down the mountain, in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon. As his father was baptized by a Christian and took the name Joseph, he was called as Young Joseph. He was known as Young Joseph. Initially, when the American came, he was hospitable to them, but soon grew tired of their thirst for more Indian land. These tensions grew when they started using traditional lands of the Indians for farming and livestock. Even though it was his land that was being taken from him and his people, he strived for peace. He is one of the few people in history that persistently chose peace over war for the safety of his people.

Chief Joseph

The man, who soon came to be known as the national celebrity with the name of “Chief Joseph” was born in a valley named Wallowa Valley, in 1840. He was one of the first natives to convert to Christianity in the land, and was a strong supporter of the tribe`s peace with the Americans. Initially he and his tribe accepted the new comers, and even helped their territorial administration to outline a reservation for their people which extended from Oregon into Idaho. He felt betrayed when the government took back almost 6 million acres of the land allocated to the Indians, following the gold rush, leaving the reservation to one tenth of its original size. This led the young chief to denounce the United States, destroying the US flag, and his Bible and refused to move from the land.

After the death of his father in 1871, Joseph was chosen to take his place. He not only took the name, but also an increasingly volatile situation in which whites people continued to come and settle in the Wallowa Valley. Being militarily inferior, Joseph reluctantly moved out of the land when General Oliver threatened to attack Joseph`s band and people with a cavalry attack in 1877.

The war with the US

Joseph and his band unfortunately could not get to the reservation, as some young Nez Perece warriors frustrated by the loss of their home, attacked and killed nearby settling whites. ...