Chapters 18-20 Summary and Analysis

This chapter begins in the year 1873. By this time, the American government has created reservations. The author has explained to readers that American policy was controlled by the whole idea of technological progress. Anything that stood in the way of progress would be destroyed or harmed. This attitude, combined with the white view that the incoming tide of immigrants was going to cause demand for occupation and use of most of the remainder of the Continent, regardless of how the Natives or Americans felt about it, caused a small number of important decisions. This is given by Stephen Ambrose as the real reason why even those who liked the natives chose "civilization" for them. Better this, the thought was, than destruction at the hands of the transformation taking place.

This summary chapter covers approximately 50 pages of the text. This...