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Gottlieb F. Oehler, a Moravian missionary working with the Chippewa and Munsee Indians in Kansas Territory, wrote this letter to Eli Price regarding the mistreatment of Indians and whites' disrespectful attitudes toward Indian lands. Oehler was appalled that white squatters frequently settled on Indian land with no response from the federal government, who should have protected Indian land claims. While most white Americans agreed with the government's approach to removal, Oehler hoped that Price would speak out against federal policies and educate the public in the eastern United States about the treatment of Indians out west.
Creator: Oehler, Gottlieb
Date: July 11, 1859
This source demonstrates how some whites sympathized with Native Americans and wanted to reform the federal government's policies towards Indian lands. It also illustrates how some Americans (particularly in the eastern U.S.) were unaware of how Indians were being treated in Indian Territory. This could be paired with the letter by Amelia Labedia, which was also chosen for the 7th-grade standard.
KS:7th:1.4:Indian Removal (2005)
Item Number: 210061
Call Number: Miscellaneous Oehler
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 210061
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Religion - Missionaries
Collections - Manuscript - Miscellaneous
Community Life - Religion - Christianity - Moravian
Community Life - Religion - Missionaries
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Government policies
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Indian Removal Act (Indicator 4) - Loss of land and resources
Date - 1854-1860 - 1859
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Indian affairs
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - American Indians - Indian lands
People - American Indians - Indian removal
Places - Cities and towns - Prairie City
Places - Counties - Douglas
Thematic Time Period - Bleeding Kansas, 1854 - 1861
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Letters
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210061
