The American Indian in the United States, Period 1850-1914... the Present Condition of the American Indian; His Political History and Other Topics; A Plea for Justice

Published in 1914, this groundbreaking work documents one of the most devastating periods in Native American history. Moorehead, an archaeologist and curator with direct experience in Indian affairs, traces the systematic displacement, broken treaties, and cultural destruction that defined the half-century leading up to the First World War. He details the devastating impact of forced assimilation policies, the Dawes Act's destruction of tribal governance, and the exploitation of Native peoples caught between vanishing traditions and an indifferent federal government. But this is not merely a historical account; it is a passionate argument for justice. Moorehead names the cruelty he witnesses, critiques the policies that devastate Native communities, and holds America accountable for its promises broken. The result is an indispensable primary source that captures a transitional moment when Native Americans were fighting to survive as distinct peoples while being pressured into extinction. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of modern Native American struggles and the ethical failures that shaped a nation.