A Century of Dishonor: A Sketch of the United States Government's Dealings with Some of the Indian Tribes

Jackson’s introductory chapter establishes four key points. First, Indigenous Americans possess a right of occupancy to the lands on which they live. In the age of contact and colonization, all European powers agree on this point. At its inception, the United States government adopts this same principle, which the Supreme Court consistently upholds. Second, the moral obligations that apply to individuals also apply to nations; stealing and lying, for instance, are equally reprehensible in one as in the other. Established authorities on the Law of Nations agree that a society as a collective is held to the same moral standards as each member of that society individually. To demonstrate this consensus, Jackson uses lengthy quotations from notable scholars such as 17th century Dutch diplomat Hugo Grotius and 18th century Swiss lawyer Emer de Vattel. Third, in light of the first two points, the United States government has behaved dishonorably toward Indigenous Americans, breaking treaties and then attempting to justify the breach of faith. Finally, the only way to achieve national redemption is for US citizens to rise up and demand that their government behave honorably.