This document discusses the history and foundations of the American flag in relation to broken treaties with Native Americans. It notes that the country was built on broken promises to Native peoples and that we should acknowledge this history rather than repress it. Specifically, it discusses treaties between the US and the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole) east of the Mississippi River in the late 18th/early 19th century that were not upheld, as well as over 370 broken treaties with Native Americans since 1722. The document cautions against rewriting this difficult history to make it more comfortable.

1. “HISTORY IS THE TORCH THAT IS
MEANT TO ILLUMINATE THE PAST;
TO GUARD US AGAINST THE
REPETITION OF OUR MISTAKES OF
OTHER DAYS. WE CANNOT JOIN IN
THE REWRITING OF HISTORY TO
MAKE IT CONFORM TO OUR
COMFORT OR CONVENIENCE”
- CLAUDE BOWERS
The Foundations of the American Flag
Jazlynn Williford
AMST 231
Unessay 2019

2. DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT TRYING TO DISRESPECT THE AMERICAN FLAG ANY WAY
HOWEVER, I WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS
BUILT OFF OF BROKEN PROMISES AND THE BLOOD OF NATIVE PEOPLE. WE SHOULD NOT
REPRESS THIS FACT FOR OUR OWN SOLACE.

3. What is it?
● American flag
○ The “Five Civilized Tribes”
■ Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek (Muscogee),
Seminole
○ Were east of the Mississippi River
● Broader Narrative
○ 1785 Treaty of Hopewell→ 1791 Treaty of Holston
○ 1818 Broken Arrow Agreement

4. The White Stripes
• The United States (including early colonies) has broken over 370
treaties with Native Americans since 1722.*
• There has been at least 1 treaty broken by Native Americans*
• Approx. 70 treaties that dealt specifically with Choctaw,
Cherokee,Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole affairs
• Even still, these are not all of them

5. 1797 Map of Southern United States
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/maps/maps.cfm

6. https://www.pinclipart.com/pindetail/

7. Works Cited
"Treaties Between the United States and Native Americans." Avalon Project - Treaties
Between the United States and Native Americans. 2008. Accessed April 10, 2019.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/ntreaty.asp.
"Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations." U.S. Department of State. Accessed
April 16, 2019. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775.
U.S. Department of State. Accessed April 16, 2019. https://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/tif/.
Michno, Gregory (2006). "The Indian Trail of Broken Treaties" (PDF). Wild West. p. 42.