manifestdestiny

John Gast American Progress Story Ben B We felt exhausted after our seemingly endless day of developing land. Our land now covered four thousand acres, and there was still much more to acquire. My three friends and I watched as the last of the natives once again set out west. Although sunset was coming, I could not understand why the land became brighter as the natives continued to migrate, and as we studied the arrangements for our farm. I felt pride when I considered being one of the owners of Kansas’s largest farm and still growing. However, the days ahead would be filled with hard work, more riding, a group of aggravating natives to deal with, and bringing the light of liberty to the dark west. Buffalo *By Andrew* I lived in the land of peace Grazed in the great pastures I resided in harmony with the Indians But over the horizon I saw the end of this world We saw the white man come He came with weapons There they came, with a desire The white man forced us out of our land Wood and metal rods were laid on our pastures Metal towers with wire were erected in our homes Settlers took the Indians’ homes and turned them into farms Now, I think of these men as they thought of us, savages Yoni Pioneer of the West Blazer of trails I am American Cutting swaths through the uncharted land I continue, With my brave men and their wives. We have incentive and pride We will help all of America New fertile land waiting to be settled We bring the light of the new dawn Noah Daniel Boone Through the beautiful brush, The everlasting prairies, And the incredible meadows, We trudge. Our leader, Daniel Boone Points us in the right direction. For it is he who explains to us what must be done, “We must civilize the Indians, and get more land.” With our weapons in our hands, We explore the land. As I’ve said our goal is to civilize the Indians, And gain land for our country and ourselves. There are so many questions. Do we live and survive? Will we succeed, or will we fail? I hope we succeed and live long enough to tell our children. Natalie Treading lightly, leading the way. Lighting the path as natives run astray. Making Connections, thinking of home, And taking over, civilizing, were animals once roamed. Spreading light across the ignorant plains, With wagons, horses, boats, and trains. Clutching onto knowledge, holding it close, Trying to teach natives what will matter the most. Encouraging others to keep on moving, To drive away all we think needs removing. Faith bestowed in my, a star on my brow, If there is pain, loss or sorrow, we disavow. Mira Only yesterday, children sang and laughed on the wide open prairie. Only yesterday, we were smiling. Until they came. Now here we are, far far from home. The edge of the sea. Pushed all the way to the end Nowhere else to go Doom, sorrow. Them, they’re like winter. White faces like icy snow. Cold smiles. Us, we’re like summer. Red faces, like the bright sun. Warm hearts. Summer at its closing. Not much longer left. For a long time now, the sun has been high in the brilliant sky. Today, today it is setting. Slowly falling in the distance, defeated by the cold night. Molly At first we walked It became a jog And now, we sprint From her To preserve our Mother To protect our Father To prolong our existence We run We trusted you Welcomed you in with open arms And in return We run Our land is gone Our world dissolving Our culture, terminally ill We are cross with you But not blood shall be shed No savages are among us We will continue to flee From Manifest Destiny And to do that We must run Matt It starts from the East and moves to the West We stare at the glare in the women’s hair We don’t know what we will encounter I wonder what I will do towards the end It will take time to lift the pain away I don’t know if we will ever gain hope Will we depart this life like the others Or will we live to tell the tale I look at the sunlight I look at the Pacific I look at my family But all I see is despair and resentment Sivan Scared Worried Nervous As I watch the sunset Memories go through My mind My father’s nation has Been through so much, Too much, for it all to be for Nothing Is this the end? Is there ever truly an end? Should I be afraid? What should I do? All of these questions Run through my mind I think about My family They don’t seem frightened But they do seem different Almost like they are Waiting for something to happen But what? Yes, as I watch that Sunset I realize What they are waiting for It is The end.		Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers Through the Cumberland Gap by George Caleb Bingham Sara The number of thoughts going through my mind is infinite Will my life improve as I follow Daniel Boone? I wonder if my wife is worried about me She told me that I’d find brightness with the trailblazers That I’d leave the dark side behind And join the blissful people whom reside comfortably In the West But I feel differently I feel that I am leaving my happiness behind My wife and children, the people whom I love When I explore I wish to feel power, But that power is merely a fantasy The sunny skies are behind me And darkness lies ahead Daniel Boone has a different opinion He sees light in front of him Light that he wishes to chase A light that is my dream to find Alison Scared Where are we going? Tired Is it safe? Hungry Will there be food in the new land? Frightened I am trusting Daniel Boone. Dirty Will there be a source of fresh water? Eager Will we be happy in the new land? Anxious Leaving the past to start a future Curious Leaving a life of certainty and going to a life of unknown American Progress by John Gast Doron I am an American A part of the westward expansion Why, many ask me, go on such a dangerous journey? A sense of adventure, To seize my fortune, To receive this great nation’s destiny, For gold and land Yet it is not all about me. Expanding this great nation, My children and grandchildren, And for all the generations to come Will inherit MY accomplishments Leonie It is different Now that they are here We are no longer hunted as needed, But as desired Our lives no longer feed our brothers, But our victorious conquerors Our carcasses are no longer used to the fullest extent, But wasted as if some endless recourse Those who kill us are not grateful for the lives they take, But feel it is our duty to them. As these newcomer’s numbers become great, We disappear unnoticed. From where did these monsters come? The Last of the Race by Tompkins Harrison Matteson Aaron Dear Journal, Now or never, No it’s just never, Resistance is useless, to the white plague; nothing can stop its drive, the never ending thirst to conquer more land. Years have gone by, since we started to retreat, however, now we are at out last stand. Do we fight? No, I don’t believe in certain death, but do I just let my values and beliefs depart me? As I look over the setting sun, I wonder if it might be the last one we ever see. In a generation, our children will never truly experience nature in its entirety. So, this is the end, this is what it’s like. All this time my fellow Native American brethren have gone through this very same fate. Now it’s my family and I, the last of the race, we tried, I won’t say we won, but we tried. The tears start coming, no, not from me, (but) from the surrounding nature. The sap falls from the maple’s trunk, a howling wind cries, I can hear it! Don’t doubt me, I know what I heard! The evergreen, will it be forever green, or will they slaughter it as well, the white men! Yes, yes, yes, sorrow, pain, loss, failure, but that’s not it! I know what I feel. Anger wouldn’t satisfy my feelings, I feel as though I’m dying, and I have no family to pray to the Great Spirit for me. I’m trapped, and the mob is getting closer. Is it? LET ME BREATHE! Why must it end this way, Wokentantan we were good to you. Why can’t I breathe? I am dying, where is my support? I haven’t lost, not yet, I won’t have it, I just won’t! My memories stay with me, that is how I will live. I know how I feel. Now, I can finally rest. Amen Samantha Dear Diary, It is now sunset, and I we are floating on the ocean. We are the last of our race that is left. It is getting cold and mama is sick. I am afraid that she might die, and that when she does the rest of us will only have a short life to live. Looking onto the ocean is a scary thing and floating on it with nothing and no one to save us is scarier. Before, I wasn’t lonely. We had family and friends, and suddenly we are alone. Seeing all the ocean that surrounded our country is daunting. Before we all had land and never knew the wonders outside the land. Seeing all of this for the first time is a miracle, but the reason we are seeing it is sad and frightening. I am afraid that it is time for sleep now. The family goes to sleep early and sleeps until late. There is nothing more to do. Good night!! Please g-d—save our family and cure mama. Save our race!! Phillip What do we do? What is there left? Only water can be seen past the cliff. Are we any better than them? Do our fur pelts make us the big bad wolf? We were driven away, from our land. They took our freedom, but gave back fear. I wonder if they realized what they were doing. Only on the saddest days do I see my chief crying. What use to be green turned gray, Nature use to be enriched; now it’s in railroads. I do not know what is ahead, But I have a feeling that it will cost me my identity. That a price I’m willing to take even it if means a new name. Ivan As I huddle in a blanket with my little one, I try to protect the flame that is our hope. Hope for a child who might never see the glory of the tribes, and Hope* for an old lady, that I might make it through theses hard times. As the last surviving members of the tribe, we have gathered to try to protect the flame that is the Sioux pride. Never, will we admit defeat to the White man, for I have seen so much I, who has seen their deeds, would never trust them to sustain beauty. As a young one, I would come to these cliffs and look upon all our tribes land. Now, I come to these cliffs to say goodbye. To see for the last time what was beautiful and good, Now inflicted by the white mans' cruelty. At least my little one won't have to deal with the pain. She will grow up in a world where there will be less beauty, Yet she won't feel her loss. No young one will. But I do.