Abstract
Decimation of California Indians has been seen from two diametrically opposed points of view. The settlers and the hodgepodge of humanity drawn to California during and after the gold rush of 1849 saw the Indian as a degraded savage, worse than an animal, who cluttered up the land the whites desired for purposes of agriculture or mining. Their answer to the Indian problem was simple, eliminate the Indians. On the other hand, we find a more sympathetic view widely accepted by recent generations. This pictures the Indian as the product of his environment, very peaceful, and a victim of white abuse. This change of attitude was reflected in the 1880 1s by the works of Helen Hunt Jackson. Whether these books were the manifestation of a new feeling, or the foundation, their acceptance marked the beginning of a happier era for the Indian. The adherents of this view point an accusing finger at the United States Government for failing in its duty of protecting these more or less helpless people.The government did try to deal with the problem of Indian-white relations, and there were men contemporary with the problem who held the same view that prevails today. Three of these men led a government-sponsored peace expedition in California that had as its purpose the preservation of the Indian in his conflict with white culture. Treaties were made, but they were unratified and pigeonholed in Washington. Other efforts to help the Indians were made, but in most instances these efforts failed. As a result of the failure of these efforts, the California Indians suffered a drastic reduction in numbers. Now, only 11,000 exist on reservations in California. There are some 20,000 outside the reservations. The first effort to preserve some vestiges of the aboriginal races of California met defeat. Why?