The history of the Native Americans and their plights during the era of Manifest destiny has been glossed over in modern literature. Dee Brown offers this Indian-centric point of view that probes into the details of this period in the American West. American expansionism accelerated by the idea of manifest destiny prompted the acts of violence between the European-Americans and the Natives. Brown incorporates details from the English settling in 1492 to the Natives' turmoil that ensued in the mid-19th century. It is critical in its account of the history that altered the way of life for the Natives.
Akin to the title it accounts for prior events before the Wounded Knee massacre that took place at the close of the 19th century. It was a massacre of the Lakota people that later ignited condemnation against manifest destiny in justifying violence. Thus, the author reassesses these conflicts between the Natives and the federal government to reveal injustices and oppression. The Anglo-centric narratives of the frontier ingrained in modern culture have long self-vindicated acts of violence against Native Americans. Although these conflicts are portrayed as quid pro quo the impact on the indigenous people was far greater than represented.
Brown focuses on the pressure placed upon the Natives and their land as tensions rise between them and the government. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 initiated the relocation of the Natives from their ancestral lands to allow for expansionism. Consequently, the chaos increased shortly after this resulting in the brutal killings and massacre of several Native tribes. Brown highlights the dark part of history that is customarily polished over to promote the honorable values of a nation. The author expounds on the crimes against humanity in building the nation to allow for a better representation of unbiased history. To give perspective the author analyzes the period from tribe to tribe including the Navajo people, the Lakota Sioux, and the Apaches.
