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Jefferson and the Indians: The Tragic Fate of the First Americans
In Thomas Jefferson's time, white Americans were bedeviled by a moral dilemma unyielding to reason and what to do about the presence of black slaves and free Indians. That Jefferson himself was caught between his own soaring rhetoric and private behavior toward blacks has long been known. But the tortured duality of his attitude toward Indians is only now being unearthed.
In this landmark history, Anthony Wallace takes us on a tour of discovery to unexplored regions of Jefferson's mind. There, the bookish Enlightenment scholar--collector of Indian vocabularies, excavator of ancient burial mounds, chronicler of the eloquence of America's native peoples, and mourner of their tragic fate--sits uncomfortably close to Jefferson the imperialist and architect of Indian removal. Impelled by the necessity of expanding his agrarian republic, he became adept at putting a philosophical gloss on his policy of encroachment, threats of war, and forced land cessions--a policy that led, eventually, to cultural genocide.
In this compelling narrative, we see how Jefferson's close relationships with frontier fighters and Indian agents, land speculators and intrepid explorers, European travelers, missionary scholars, and the chiefs of many Indian nations all complicated his views of the rights and claims of the first Americans. Lavishly illustrated with scenes and portraits from the period, Jefferson and the Indians adds a troubled dimension to one of the most enigmatic figures of American history, and to one of its most shameful legacies.
In this landmark history, Anthony Wallace takes us on a tour of discovery to unexplored regions of Jefferson's mind. There, the bookish Enlightenment scholar--collector of Indian vocabularies, excavator of ancient burial mounds, chronicler of the eloquence of America's native peoples, and mourner of their tragic fate--sits uncomfortably close to Jefferson the imperialist and architect of Indian removal. Impelled by the necessity of expanding his agrarian republic, he became adept at putting a philosophical gloss on his policy of encroachment, threats of war, and forced land cessions--a policy that led, eventually, to cultural genocide.
In this compelling narrative, we see how Jefferson's close relationships with frontier fighters and Indian agents, land speculators and intrepid explorers, European travelers, missionary scholars, and the chiefs of many Indian nations all complicated his views of the rights and claims of the first Americans. Lavishly illustrated with scenes and portraits from the period, Jefferson and the Indians adds a troubled dimension to one of the most enigmatic figures of American history, and to one of its most shameful legacies.
- GenresHistoryNative American
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 2, 2024
The Beginnings Of America's Indian Policy
Many works on early United States history tend to give Indian affairs less attention than it deserves. There are two recent books with which I am familiar that help correct this situation. The first is Robert Remini's study of Jacksonian America, "Andrew Jackson and his Indian Wars". The second is Professor Wallace's book on Jefferson's relationship to the Indians, which I am reviewing here.
Remini's and Wallace's book can be read together because both tell parts of the same sad story. Expansionist pressures from settlers and the fear of the United States of Indian attacks, particularly when incited by hostile European nations led to a policy of land cessions, wars, and forced removal westward of the Indian tribes. The process culminated with Andrew Jackson's Indian wars and presidency, the subject of Remini's book, but it was effectively put in place by Thomas Jefferson, as shown by Wallace.
Jefferson and his Indian policy, however, seem to me to present a more complex case than Jackson. As Wallace's book shows, Jefferson was indeed a polymath, a scholar and intellectual as well as a, paradoxically, man of power and position. Jefferson took a genuine interest in Indian archaeology, culture and language and made himself or encouraged others to make, scholarly and ethnological contributions that are still important towards understanding the Indians.
Jefferson, even on Professor Wallace's account, had compassion for the Indian tribes and an interest in their well-being, even if this interest was overshadowed, as it was, by his desire to obtain Indian land for the new nation and even though his view of Indian interests was misguided and partial.
Wallace's book traces Jefferson's early relationship with Indians beginning before the revolution when Jefferson was a land speculator in the then Western United States. He explores in detail Jefferson's writing on Indians, particularly his writing on the Indian chief Logan in his "Notes on the State of Virginia." Jefferson's partial reading of the fate of this "Noble Savage", according to Wallace, shows the ambivalent character of Jefferson's approach to the Indians.
Wallace describes in detail Jefferson the politician approaching Indian affairs in the original United States territory and in the Louisiana purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. The announced goals of the policy were peace, land cessions and civilization for the Indians. Too often, these policies became simply the means for tribal destruction and deprivation and for the removal policy, for both the southern and the northern tribes, that culminated in the administration of Andrew Jackson. (again, see the Remini book.)
There are some fascinating quotations in the book that illustrate Wallace's points that are set aside and emphasized in blocked-type and quotes. It is a good way of gaining focus. The book has a wealth of documentation and is not simply a political history. Jefferson was a complex individual and this book shows him, focusing on Indian affairs, in all his personal and political variety.
Wallace has a clear feeling for the tragedy of the American Indian. Yet his book is balanced in tone and does not degenerate into ideological or special pleading. His opinions are stated clearly and eloquently in his introduction and conclusion and in his discussions of the events described in the text. The book has the measure of a scholar and encourages the reader to reflect on the record.
There are those who are skeptical of the public's recent interest in American History, as shown by the success of McCollough's John Adams as well as other popular historical works, on grounds that this popular history constitutes a new attempt to promote American exceptionalism and downplays the tragedies of our past. I disagree. I think, this interest in history shows a renewed love and interest in our country with no desire to minimize its failings. Wallace's book to me shows both love of our country and a sense of one of its major tragedies.
Robin Friedman
Many works on early United States history tend to give Indian affairs less attention than it deserves. There are two recent books with which I am familiar that help correct this situation. The first is Robert Remini's study of Jacksonian America, "Andrew Jackson and his Indian Wars". The second is Professor Wallace's book on Jefferson's relationship to the Indians, which I am reviewing here.
Remini's and Wallace's book can be read together because both tell parts of the same sad story. Expansionist pressures from settlers and the fear of the United States of Indian attacks, particularly when incited by hostile European nations led to a policy of land cessions, wars, and forced removal westward of the Indian tribes. The process culminated with Andrew Jackson's Indian wars and presidency, the subject of Remini's book, but it was effectively put in place by Thomas Jefferson, as shown by Wallace.
Jefferson and his Indian policy, however, seem to me to present a more complex case than Jackson. As Wallace's book shows, Jefferson was indeed a polymath, a scholar and intellectual as well as a, paradoxically, man of power and position. Jefferson took a genuine interest in Indian archaeology, culture and language and made himself or encouraged others to make, scholarly and ethnological contributions that are still important towards understanding the Indians.
Jefferson, even on Professor Wallace's account, had compassion for the Indian tribes and an interest in their well-being, even if this interest was overshadowed, as it was, by his desire to obtain Indian land for the new nation and even though his view of Indian interests was misguided and partial.
Wallace's book traces Jefferson's early relationship with Indians beginning before the revolution when Jefferson was a land speculator in the then Western United States. He explores in detail Jefferson's writing on Indians, particularly his writing on the Indian chief Logan in his "Notes on the State of Virginia." Jefferson's partial reading of the fate of this "Noble Savage", according to Wallace, shows the ambivalent character of Jefferson's approach to the Indians.
Wallace describes in detail Jefferson the politician approaching Indian affairs in the original United States territory and in the Louisiana purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. The announced goals of the policy were peace, land cessions and civilization for the Indians. Too often, these policies became simply the means for tribal destruction and deprivation and for the removal policy, for both the southern and the northern tribes, that culminated in the administration of Andrew Jackson. (again, see the Remini book.)
There are some fascinating quotations in the book that illustrate Wallace's points that are set aside and emphasized in blocked-type and quotes. It is a good way of gaining focus. The book has a wealth of documentation and is not simply a political history. Jefferson was a complex individual and this book shows him, focusing on Indian affairs, in all his personal and political variety.
Wallace has a clear feeling for the tragedy of the American Indian. Yet his book is balanced in tone and does not degenerate into ideological or special pleading. His opinions are stated clearly and eloquently in his introduction and conclusion and in his discussions of the events described in the text. The book has the measure of a scholar and encourages the reader to reflect on the record.
There are those who are skeptical of the public's recent interest in American History, as shown by the success of McCollough's John Adams as well as other popular historical works, on grounds that this popular history constitutes a new attempt to promote American exceptionalism and downplays the tragedies of our past. I disagree. I think, this interest in history shows a renewed love and interest in our country with no desire to minimize its failings. Wallace's book to me shows both love of our country and a sense of one of its major tragedies.
Robin Friedman
July 27, 2011
A neat blend of ethnography, politics and history, this dense book fills a unique place in Jefferson biography. Jefferson's figure is actually relegated to a secondary role here; while his policies are extensively dealt with, they are always done so in the context of the native peoples they affected. This emphasis, as opposed to the tack of viewing Jefferson's policies as an outgrowth of his character, is important for several reasons: first, it reveals that the attitudes and prejudices behind Jeffersonian Indian policy existed on a national scale, and secondly, that they were not necessarily borne out of Jefferson's personal vendetta against Native Americans.
This widened scope has it's drawbacks; it can make following the thread of history difficult, because so many people had a role in Indian policy. It also obscures Jefferson's personal role in the affair. "Jefferson and the Indians" as a title implies a more personal and focused approach than is actually taken.
The book's best parts are what is not implied in the title: the rich array of Native voices, often taken directly from the original texts; Jefferson's extra-political ventures in ethnography; the analysis and criticism of popular sentiment towards Indians, including religious missionary efforts, analyzed separately by denomination. In this area, the book is deep and interesting, if not so different from more general histories. In this way, the book is a more valuable resource on Native American history than on presidential history. The generality I found disappointing, because it wasn't what I was looking for from this particular book, but it's not a bad thing in itself.
With the breadth of scope, a brisker style might have worked better. Wallace can drone at times, blurring the line between academic lecture and narrative history. The personal, human scale of the book is often neglected in favor of a more mechanistic, large-scale perspective so that little is made of the "tragedy" of the story. Still, the point ought to be obvious for any reader with a little patience.
A book for a bird's-eye view of the topic, rewarding with some forbearance for its flaws.
This widened scope has it's drawbacks; it can make following the thread of history difficult, because so many people had a role in Indian policy. It also obscures Jefferson's personal role in the affair. "Jefferson and the Indians" as a title implies a more personal and focused approach than is actually taken.
The book's best parts are what is not implied in the title: the rich array of Native voices, often taken directly from the original texts; Jefferson's extra-political ventures in ethnography; the analysis and criticism of popular sentiment towards Indians, including religious missionary efforts, analyzed separately by denomination. In this area, the book is deep and interesting, if not so different from more general histories. In this way, the book is a more valuable resource on Native American history than on presidential history. The generality I found disappointing, because it wasn't what I was looking for from this particular book, but it's not a bad thing in itself.
With the breadth of scope, a brisker style might have worked better. Wallace can drone at times, blurring the line between academic lecture and narrative history. The personal, human scale of the book is often neglected in favor of a more mechanistic, large-scale perspective so that little is made of the "tragedy" of the story. Still, the point ought to be obvious for any reader with a little patience.
A book for a bird's-eye view of the topic, rewarding with some forbearance for its flaws.
March 17, 2025
A great explanation of the world in which Jefferson lived and his policy actions and goals regarding Native Americans. Jefferson is known for a lot of things for which he was a hobbyist and two of them are archeology and ethnography. Jefferson excavated one burial mound and had some correspondence in early linguistics, but his investigations into the Native American way of life were cursory, biased, and second-hand. His curiosity was boundless, but that doesn't make him an expert or a pillar of scholarship, but he had to react to Native American effects on American politics, and the ways that, say, siding against Washington and Hamilton during the Whiskey Rebellion led him on a trajectory of favoring backwoods farmers who were strong advocates of Native removal. Jefferson was sure that a policy of removing Native Americans to the western side of the Mississippi was a perfect solution to everything, at least for a generation or two. There was also a vague attempt to move white people from west of St. Louis, but that was, of course, never enforced and never got going.
The best part of this book is the general state of eastern Native America during Jefferson's presidency, in all its diversity and political interests. This is a good book for setting the scene of the clash between Native America and early America.
The best part of this book is the general state of eastern Native America during Jefferson's presidency, in all its diversity and political interests. This is a good book for setting the scene of the clash between Native America and early America.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews