Chief JosephChief JosephJoseph’s father was Joseph’s father was converted to christianity converted to christianity by white missionaries.by white missionaries.Joseph became chief of Joseph became chief of the Nez Percthe Nez Percé Indians in é Indians in 1871 after his father died.1871 after his father died.

Being educated in a Being educated in a mission school, Joseph mission school, Joseph was one of the only was one of the only Indians that could read Indians that could read and write.and write.

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

White settlers’ desire White settlers’ desire for more cattle ranges for more cattle ranges and the discovery of and the discovery of gold caused the Nez gold caused the Nez PercPercé war.é war.

A treaty pressured A treaty pressured them to move from them to move from their homeland to a their homeland to a much smaller much smaller reservation in 1863.reservation in 1863.

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

The Indians agreed The Indians agreed to move, but soon to move, but soon faced raids.faced raids.

They moved from They moved from Oregon to Montana, Oregon to Montana, fighting against the fighting against the U.S. Army.U.S. Army.

In 1877, Chief Joseph surrendered at In 1877, Chief Joseph surrendered at Bear’s Paw Mountains.Bear’s Paw Mountains.

Historical BackgroundHistorical BackgroundChief Joseph gave Chief Joseph gave his surrender his surrender speech, and the Nez speech, and the Nez PercPercé were forced é were forced onto a reservation.onto a reservation.Eloquent speech Eloquent speech was an important was an important quality to Native quality to Native Americans because Americans because traditions and traditions and legends were legends were passed down orally.passed down orally.

The Surrender Speech of Chief JosephThe Surrender Speech of Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph says that Chief Joseph says that he is tired of fighting he is tired of fighting and “will fight no more and “will fight no more forever”.forever”.

He expresses his He expresses his sadness.sadness.

He mentions that many He mentions that many chiefs are dead, and he chiefs are dead, and he wants to look for his wants to look for his missing people.missing people.

An Indian’s Views of Indian AffairsAn Indian’s Views of Indian AffairsA magazine article by Joseph A magazine article by Joseph two years after surrender.two years after surrender.Joseph wants whites to see Joseph wants whites to see Indians as civilized people, Indians as civilized people, not animals or savages.not animals or savages.He mentions the Indian's He mentions the Indian's morals and laws by which morals and laws by which they live.they live.He also talks about the He also talks about the Nez Nez PercPercé religion, which has é religion, which has beliefs about afterlife that are beliefs about afterlife that are similar to Christianity.similar to Christianity.

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Repitition in Surrender Speech:Repitition in Surrender Speech:

“…“…is dead…is dead…are dead.”is dead…is dead…are dead.”

““Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired. Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired. My heart is sad and sick…Hear My heart is sad and sick…Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad.”heart is sick and sad.”

Personification in Surrender Speech:Personification in Surrender Speech:

““From where the sun now stands…”From where the sun now stands…”

The ImpactThe Impact

““The Surrender The Surrender Speech of Chief Speech of Chief Joseph” reflected Joseph” reflected the times. the times.

It came as a result It came as a result of white settlers of white settlers taking Native taking Native American land, a American land, a characteristic of the characteristic of the time period.time period.

The ImpactThe Impact““An Indian’s Views of An Indian’s Views of Indian Affairs” shaped Indian Affairs” shaped the times.the times.

Most white settlers Most white settlers viewed Native viewed Native Americans very poorly.Americans very poorly.

The article, written from The article, written from an Indian’s view point, an Indian’s view point, showed whites that Native Americans are showed whites that Native Americans are moral, respectable people, not animals.moral, respectable people, not animals.

This shaped public opinion.This shaped public opinion.

Importance to American LiteratureImportance to American Literature

These works showed a These works showed a side of Native Americans side of Native Americans that was rarely seen.that was rarely seen.

Native Americans were no Native Americans were no longer viewed as savage, longer viewed as savage, uneducated brutes.uneducated brutes.

This was a very This was a very enlightening point of view.enlightening point of view.