Facing East From Indian Country Summary

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Matthew Howard June 24, 2013 History 309 Jeffery Glasco Facing East from Indian Country: A Comprehensive Review The misrepresentation of the relationship between Native American’s and European settlers has been widespread throughout United States history. In the book Facing East from Indian Country, author Daniel K. Richter provides an informative and compelling clarification of common misconceptions regarding initial exchanges between the two civilizations. Richter sets out to dispel notions regarding European dominance over Native Americans from first contact. Using a combination of primary sources and creativity Richter paints a contradictory picture to that of traditional United States history. He does so by reliving Native American-European relations from the Native American perspective. Richter’s retelling of tragic yet well know tales from the Native American perspective highlights the opportunity for cultural accommodation that was missed on both sides.…show more content…
Therefore the reconstruction of early America demands a great amount of imagination for the interpretation of the era’s anthropology, archeology, and oral tradition-later recorded by Europeans. Richter uses his first chapter ‘Imagining a Distant World’ as a double entendre. He is describing the motivation that drove tens of thousands to leave Europe in search of a storied new land, while simultaneously admitting that he too is using his imagination to reconstruct an image of early America. Richter sites Carl Becker’s “Every Man His Own Historian”, which was published in American History Review, to support his admitted use of imagination in the reconstruction of events through the eyes of those who were facing
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