The Phenomenon of White Indians: Captive Women in Early American History Rachel Jackson: Religion, Social Issues and Reform
Skill: High School/College Time Required: Three to four class periods.
The phenomenon of “White Indians” is part of the story of colonial America on into the 19th century as whites continued their march inland from the Atlantic coast and settled in lands held by Native Americans. Stories of whites captured by various Indian tribes fall into the category called “captivity narratives,” and relate “capture stories” of both men and women. However, stories of women captives became highly popular, as well as highly sensationalized, in part because the lives of women in these years were rigidly controlled by values that regarded women as “lesser, “ “weaker,” and less able to cope with violence, hard work, and difficult travel than men. In addition, the white perception of Native Americans as savages was supported by these stories and helped whites rationalize their steady encroachment into Indian lands.
1. Begin the lesson by eliciting ideas of what “White Indian” might mean. Lead the discussion to an understanding that these were colonists or Americans who had either (a) chosen to live with Native Americans as a renunciation of “white man’s ways”; or (b) were women who had been kidnapped as children or young adults by Native American tribes and who had been raised within the Native American culture. 2. Organize students into seven groups. Assign each group (or let each group select) one of the “captive” women listed below. 3. Each group should research the “captivity narrative” of its chosen person. Included in the research should be the following: Where was the person born and what was her life like before capture? When was the person captured? What else was going on at the time of the capture? (see First Ladies Timeline) By what Native American group was the person captured? What was happening to that particular group at the time? How long was the person held in captivity? How did the person respond to her captivity? What happened to the person after release (if release occurred)? How does the “captivity narrative” support or undermine contemporary (at the time of capture) prejudices about both women and Native Americans? How and where did the person die? 4. Each group a should prepare a presentation of their findings and present to the whole class; the presentation should be from the point of view of the captured person.
5. As a matter of class discussion, ask students to compare and contrast the views that each source provides into the life and culture of the “White Indians.” What do the stories have in common? How are they different?
