"They Made Us Many Promises": The American Indian Experience 1524 to the Present

by Philip Weeks (Editor)

A descendant of The American Indian Experience , this compelling anthology showcases the work of sixteen specialists. Those chapters retained from the original volume have been carefully revised to make them more accessible to the average undergraduate, while six entirely new and original essays consider important American Indian women; Indian-Spanish relations in the Greater Southwest in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Indian affairs during the Civil War; the ongoing issue of Native Sovereignty; U.S. Indian policy since the Nixon Administration; and the emotional fight over Repatriation. Designed for use as a core text in one- or two-semester courses in American Indian History or as a supplement to any standard U.S. History survey, "They Made Us Many Promises" is certain to challenge readers' assumptions about the past and current roles of Indians in American society.

Genres: History

330 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2001

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was collection of 16 different essays, by 16 different authors. Each had very much their own voices. Three were excellent, most were pretty good, three weren't very good. I was really impressed by the suggested reading lists at the end of each essay, so I've made a mental note that this book is worth referring to in the future. I know where it is in the local public library.

[Luke Koran · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid follower of the history, culture and traditions of Native Americans, I have long awaited for a book on this matter which would satisfy my interest and that of these great peoples. This book’s title, “They Made Us Many Promises”, immediately captured my attention, as this quote of Red Cloud is one of my favorite quotes regarding American Indians. Though this is my first full-length work regarding the history of indigenous peoples throughout North America since the 16th century, I can still appreciate the hits and misses that I perceive each essay entailed. A combination of 16 authored pieces make up this edition, edited by Philip Weeks in 2002, and aside from a chapter or two, this work does an excellent job of covering many aspects of the various tribes of the region over the last 500 years. As with any large subject over such a vast amount of time, there are inevitably more books to read, and I look forward to reading more in my lifetime.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard read emotionally and story wise. It is a collection of accounts and descriptions of the American Indian experience and the acts of misguided justice that they have been objected to. It's a hard read, but a valuable one if you are interested in how horrible we are as a nation in terms of bloodshed and discrimination. I choice to review this book because I believe it is a necessary read for all teachers. It will help you think twice about how we explain American history and Columbus Day. It makes you more aware of the past and how your words and actions can worsen the future.