Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Ken Burns tells good stories, but they aren't always indisputably historically correct down to a "t".
What Rifle Really Won the West?
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Missionary
Well-Known Member
What decimated the native Americans were european germs. Whether through personal contact or "gifts" like infected clothes and blankets they had no natural defense.
Where do you think "War of the Worlds" got the basic plot.
Where do you think "War of the Worlds" got the basic plot.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
H. G. Wells was well aware of the history of germ warfare. He was basically self educated, but did earn BS degrees in Biology and Zoology by mid life.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Undisputedly true but only a part of the bigger picture. While it is true that native Americans had little to no resistance to new diseases such as smallpox, that didn’t remain a static fact. Early contact with Europeans was extremely dangerous for native Americans but successive generations were less vulnerable to these diseases.
Destruction of food sources and loss of territory was another factor. The loss of buffalo was damaging to plains Indians but not a concern for tribes that lived in other areas. However, the loss of any territory held by native Americans necessitated either relocation or assimilation.
The subduing of warring tribes was another factor. These native Americans needed to be conquered or sometimes eliminated to make way for settlers because there was no assimilation or coexistence possible.
And that’s just the native American aspect of “Winning” the West. There was also seizing control of lands held by other powers such as the British, Spanish, French and later Mexican rule.
There’s also the aspect of governing that vast territory. Settling territory involves taxing the occupants, enforcing laws, establishing communication, transportation and projecting military power.
“Winning” the west involved establishing sovereignty over a vast territory. Institutions such as the post office, courts, schools, churches, claims offices, and military bases were essential to those lands becoming part of the United States of America.
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Got haircut this afternoon. barber was describing a new video game Empires of the Undergrowth. Subject started as she told me of fungus that creates zombie ants. I told her it should be the new Japanese horror movie (like Godzilla) of monster zombie ants taking over the world.
Bison were killed off by many different forces, just as the American indigenous peoples. Look up the Mississippi peoples. So were the passenger pigeons.
Bison were killed off by many different forces, just as the American indigenous peoples. Look up the Mississippi peoples. So were the passenger pigeons.
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JWinAZ
Active Member
Pigeons will eat the acorns of the Emory oak, Quercus emoryi. This oak is native to the southwest at mid elevations. The acorns, bellotas in Spanish, are small and can be eaten without leaching. They are a traditional food of the White Mountain Apache, who still gather them. The oak was named for William Emory the Army surveyor who led the survey of the Gadsen Purchase boundary in 1855-56. He included information on the plants and inhabitants of the area in his reports. This kind of effort had a huge impact on the “winning” of the west.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
"Them!" With James Whitmore and I think an untitled cameo by a young Clint Eastwood as a pilot. "The Thing from Another World" was the one with James Arness as the monster, Kenneth Tobey as the lead male. I adore that movie!
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Arness and Fess Parker both had small roles in "Them!" Arness's "big break was in "The Thing from Another Planet", it's a cult movie legend type of thing. William Weldon directed it, great early scifi flick! I love that era and it's scifi stuff!
How did we get here from the rifle that won the west?!!!
How did we get here from the rifle that won the west?!!!
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JWinAZ
Active Member
I blame the zombie ants.
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
And there are areas of the Wild East that have yet to be won.
