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American Legends
American Legends: The Life of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce
“Our fathers gave us many laws, which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good. They told us to treat all people as they treated us; that we should never be the first to break a bargain; that is was a disgrace to tell a lie; that we should speak only the truth; that it was a shame for one man to take another's wife or his property without paying for it.” – Chief Joseph
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
When he died in 1904, most Americans who knew his people’s story considered Chief Joseph, whose Nez Percé name is Himahtooyahlatkekt (“Thunder Rolling Down from the Mountains”), a military genius and an “Indian Napoleon.” This assessment of the Native American leader was based on a 1,500-mile odyssey during which he and his people left their reservation in the hopes of escaping to Canada, where the Nez Percé intended to join Sitting Bull and his Hunkpapa Sioux band. The real Chief Joseph was a gifted speaker and more diplomat than war leader. It’s not surprising that Chief Joseph was misunderstood and misrepresented by Americans because his people’s name was as well; Nez Percé literally means “pierced nose” in French, but it is unclear whether the tribe ever used nose piercing as a form of ornament.
At the time of Joseph’s birth, the Nez Percé were rapidly becoming the most influential and wealthy tribe in the region, and their prospects seemed bright. Lewis and Clark had considered his ancestors sufficiently friendly and reliable that they left their horses with them as they loaded onto canoes and journeyed to the Pacific Coast. By the time of Joseph’s birth in 1840, the Nez Percé had maintained friendly relations with American settlers for several decades. But their attitudes would soon change as the United States government began to coerce them to cede their traditional homeland to newly arrived white settlers, and the Nez Percé began suffering a fate very similar to that of other Native American tribes to the east. Joseph had inherited tribal leadership from his father in 1871, and for six tumultuous years he attempted to peacefully resist settlers who desired the tribe’s fertile potential farmland in the Wallowa Valley of present-day northeastern Oregon. Thus it was Chief Joseph who fought the Nez Perce War against the U.S. Army in 1877, earning grudging respect from the people who sought to defeat them.
American Legends: The Life of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce profiles the amazing life and leadership of the famous Native American Chief, examining the results of the war and analyzing his lasting legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Chief Joseph like you never have before, in no time at all.
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
When he died in 1904, most Americans who knew his people’s story considered Chief Joseph, whose Nez Percé name is Himahtooyahlatkekt (“Thunder Rolling Down from the Mountains”), a military genius and an “Indian Napoleon.” This assessment of the Native American leader was based on a 1,500-mile odyssey during which he and his people left their reservation in the hopes of escaping to Canada, where the Nez Percé intended to join Sitting Bull and his Hunkpapa Sioux band. The real Chief Joseph was a gifted speaker and more diplomat than war leader. It’s not surprising that Chief Joseph was misunderstood and misrepresented by Americans because his people’s name was as well; Nez Percé literally means “pierced nose” in French, but it is unclear whether the tribe ever used nose piercing as a form of ornament.
At the time of Joseph’s birth, the Nez Percé were rapidly becoming the most influential and wealthy tribe in the region, and their prospects seemed bright. Lewis and Clark had considered his ancestors sufficiently friendly and reliable that they left their horses with them as they loaded onto canoes and journeyed to the Pacific Coast. By the time of Joseph’s birth in 1840, the Nez Percé had maintained friendly relations with American settlers for several decades. But their attitudes would soon change as the United States government began to coerce them to cede their traditional homeland to newly arrived white settlers, and the Nez Percé began suffering a fate very similar to that of other Native American tribes to the east. Joseph had inherited tribal leadership from his father in 1871, and for six tumultuous years he attempted to peacefully resist settlers who desired the tribe’s fertile potential farmland in the Wallowa Valley of present-day northeastern Oregon. Thus it was Chief Joseph who fought the Nez Perce War against the U.S. Army in 1877, earning grudging respect from the people who sought to defeat them.
American Legends: The Life of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce profiles the amazing life and leadership of the famous Native American Chief, examining the results of the war and analyzing his lasting legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Chief Joseph like you never have before, in no time at all.
- GenresHistory
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2012
13 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Charles River Editors
5,652 books277 followersCharles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 19, 2022
This book was a pretty good summary of Joseph's life and contributions. It summarizes his genius while leading the the Nez Perce against the US Army in the last five minutes of the 71 minute book and uses pre judged words to describe 19th century US Indian policy. Further, Russell Stamets, he narrator, badly mangles every geographic and Nez Perce word in the book. Charles River editors needs a do-over on this one.
July 4, 2017
Great man & people, only wish they had a Joseph M. Marshall III or an author of simular storytelling capability.
January 3, 2013
Another one of these condensed history books that Charles River Editors puts out. This one is about Chief Joseph. These little books that take about a half-hour to read are great for a general background of the subject. They whet the appetite if you are interested in the subject to go out and find more detailed information.
This covers the basic timeline of Chief Joseph from birth through his tribulations with the US Government and dealing with loss of his homeland.
Fairly interesting. Not too deep. Good overview. Decently written and has a few pictures.
I like these little books. Many are free on Amazon and others are very reasonable cheap.
This covers the basic timeline of Chief Joseph from birth through his tribulations with the US Government and dealing with loss of his homeland.
Fairly interesting. Not too deep. Good overview. Decently written and has a few pictures.
I like these little books. Many are free on Amazon and others are very reasonable cheap.
January 15, 2016
A good book about one of the most famous Native American leaders, how he grew up, how he ended being a chief, and how he tried to get his people to Canada.
The book also shows quite well how the white man totally abused the Native Americans, lying to them, stealing their land, trying to brainwash their children, and killed Native Americans whenever they felt like it. It also shows how the Native Americans never really stood a chance against the much higher level of technology possessed by the whites. Cannons and gatling guns trump bows and arrows in the long run.
The book also shows quite well how the white man totally abused the Native Americans, lying to them, stealing their land, trying to brainwash their children, and killed Native Americans whenever they felt like it. It also shows how the Native Americans never really stood a chance against the much higher level of technology possessed by the whites. Cannons and gatling guns trump bows and arrows in the long run.
July 12, 2014
Outstanding!
To read of the interesting history of Chief Joseph and his people should be required for the children of this country. A proud and noble people who trusted and believed what they were told by government officials and betrayed time and time again and yet treated innocent people they encountered with honesty and fairness. Truly exceptional people. Chief Joseph was truly a great leader of his people.
To read of the interesting history of Chief Joseph and his people should be required for the children of this country. A proud and noble people who trusted and believed what they were told by government officials and betrayed time and time again and yet treated innocent people they encountered with honesty and fairness. Truly exceptional people. Chief Joseph was truly a great leader of his people.
May 6, 2015
I keep reading these Charles River Editors mini-books because when they get it right, they get it right. (Of course, when they screw up, well).
This is a case of getting it right. Nice brief biography of Chief Joseph and quite a bit on the Nez Perce, which the author refers to by the tribal name. Worth reading.
This is a case of getting it right. Nice brief biography of Chief Joseph and quite a bit on the Nez Perce, which the author refers to by the tribal name. Worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews