Native Americans and the 1776 revolution: In the Hands of the Great Spirit

I must confess, I am a Christian American who is not a fan of the American Revolution. I don't believe that Romans 13 gives Christians license to revolt due to taxes. As Jake Page notes in his book, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, the revolution was bad for the invaded people.

But for the Indians, the American Revolution was an unmitigated catastrophe of incalculable proportion. By July 1776, the handwriting was not just on the wall; it was inscribed clearly in that most quoted American document, the Declaration of Independence. There, in enumerating the sins of the British in the person of King George III, the document points t the tyrant’s effort “to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.” This clause is rarely quoted these days at Fourth of July celebrations. It seems to have been mostly unsubstantiated rumors that the British were inciting both the southern tribes and the black slaves to rise up against the rebellious American colonials. It signals a larger truth, that one of the main roles the Indians would play in the Revolution was that of propaganda pawns, with each side rallying its energies and forces by accusing the other side of colluding with merciless savages. (226)

There is an endnote here. I'm a big reader of footnotes and endnotes. I can empathize with Page's feelings.

I feel obliged to confess that with this chapter, the story of the American Indians heads so far “south” that chronicling it up to the middle of the twentieth century became the most depressing research and writing assignment I have ever taken on. (445)

A friend shared an anecdote from a talk he heard by apologist Norm Geisler when he also pointed out the unChristian revolt of America. The talk occurred in early July, so someone from the audience asked Geisler what he makes of the 4th of July. Geisler's reply has been very helpful for me. He said he mourns the rape but celebrates the birth. Unfortunately, the burden of justice towards Native Americans falls on the shoulders of the new U.S. Government which subsequently failed to keep any treaty with the Indians for the next 130 years.

See more posts on native Americans, history, book reports, and human rights.