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The New Trail of Tears: America's Broken Promise to Native Americans

Henry Hayes

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Published in The New Trail Of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians

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In 1838, the United States government forcibly removed over 100,000 Native Americans from their homes in the southeastern United States and marched them to reservations in Oklahoma. This forced relocation, known as the Trail of Tears, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans.

Today, a new Trail of Tears is underway. Native Americans are being forced from their homes and communities at an alarming rate. This is due to a number of factors, including the loss of traditional lands, the destruction of the environment, and the poverty that is often prevalent on reservations.

The New Trail of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians

by Naomi Schaefer Riley

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	232 pages

The New Trail of Tears is a violation of America's promise to Native Americans. In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance declared that Native Americans had the right to "all the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States." In 1868, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans.

Despite these promises, Native Americans continue to be denied their full rights as citizens. They are overrepresented in poverty, unemployment, and crime. They are also more likely to suffer from health problems and to have shorter life expectancies than other Americans.

The New Trail of Tears is a threat to the very existence of Native American tribes. If we do not take action to stop it, we will lose a part of our history and culture that can never be replaced.

What Can We Do?

There are a number of things that we can do to stop the New Trail of Tears. We can:

Educate ourselves about the history and current status of Native Americans.
Support organizations that are working to protect Native American rights.
Advocate for policies that support Native American communities.
Visit Native American reservations and learn about their cultures and traditions.
Buy products and services from Native American-owned businesses.

By taking these actions, we can help to ensure that Native Americans have the same rights and opportunities as other Americans. We can also help to preserve the unique cultures and traditions of Native American tribes.

The New Trail of Tears is a shameful chapter in American history. It is a reminder of the broken promises that we have made to Native Americans. We must not allow this injustice to continue. We must take action to stop the New Trail of Tears and to ensure that Native Americans have the full rights and opportunities that they deserve.

The New Trail of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians

by Naomi Schaefer Riley

4.5 out of 5