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Story
January 24, 1865
The Nashville Daily Union
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
Report on the rapid decline of Native American populations in the US from 400,000 in 1800 to 244,000 in 1860, accelerating with westward expansion, with distributions across territories like New Mexico (55,000) and Dakotah (37,000).
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Full Text
Decrease of the Indians.
The Indians dwelling within the United States are fast disappearing from among men. In 1800 there were 400,000; in 1855 350,000; and the census of 1860 shows only 244,000. This is a decrease of 50,000 every five years. The proportion of decrease is steadily augmenting as the path of empire takes its way westward. How many years will elapse, at this rate, before the Indian savage will exist only in the history of Schoolcraft, the prose fiction of Cooper and the poetry of Longfellow? The civilized Indian flourishes better than the wild one, for in the State of New York (the last census says) there are 8,000 aborigines, whereas in Colorado only 6,000 were left in 1860. The principal Indian populations are distributed as follows: West of Arkansas, 66,000; New Mexico Territory, 55,000; Dakotah Territory, 37,000; Washington Territory, 31,000; Utah Territory, 10,000; Minnesota, 17,900; California, 13,400; Kansas, 1,189; Michigan, 7,700; Nevada Territory, 7,500; Oregon, 7,000.
The Indians dwelling within the United States are fast disappearing from among men. In 1800 there were 400,000; in 1855 350,000; and the census of 1860 shows only 244,000. This is a decrease of 50,000 every five years. The proportion of decrease is steadily augmenting as the path of empire takes its way westward. How many years will elapse, at this rate, before the Indian savage will exist only in the history of Schoolcraft, the prose fiction of Cooper and the poetry of Longfellow? The civilized Indian flourishes better than the wild one, for in the State of New York (the last census says) there are 8,000 aborigines, whereas in Colorado only 6,000 were left in 1860. The principal Indian populations are distributed as follows: West of Arkansas, 66,000; New Mexico Territory, 55,000; Dakotah Territory, 37,000; Washington Territory, 31,000; Utah Territory, 10,000; Minnesota, 17,900; California, 13,400; Kansas, 1,189; Michigan, 7,700; Nevada Territory, 7,500; Oregon, 7,000.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Catastrophe
What keywords are associated?
Indian Population Decline
Us Census Statistics
Territorial Distributions
Where did it happen?
United States
Story Details
Location
United States
Event Date
1800 1860
Story Details
The text reports a declining Native American population in the US from 400,000 in 1800 to 244,000 in 1860, with accelerating decrease due to westward expansion. It contrasts civilized and wild Indians and lists populations by territories.