Read the assignment directions and requirements in Canvas before completing and submitting this assignment. Complete this assignment by typing out your answers to all the questions below in Parts I and II. All primary source documents can be found inside of the Section II Primary Source Documents Bank.
Part I. Read and analyze the “Act for the Government and Protection of Indians (1850)” and then answer the primary source analysis questions below.
- Explain the historical context that led to the development of the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians (1850). In your response describe the status of California Indians rights in early American California. Draw from our textbook Competing Visions to help support your ideas.
- What was your initial reactions to the “Act for the Government and Protection of Indians (1850)?” Identify specific examples from the document to support your ideas.
- How does this primary source document limit the liberties and freedoms of California Indians or advocate for the liberties and freedoms of California Indians?
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Please identify specific examples from the document to support your ideas.
- Write a question to the author of this document that is left unanswered by the document.
Part II. Choose another historical primary source documents from the Section II Primary Source Documents Bank to read and analyze and answer the questions below.
- Identify by name the document you chose to analyze and answer the following questions below. Next, provide a summary of the historical context surrounding the documents you chose as it relates to California in the Early American era. Draw from our textbook Competing Visions to help support your ideas.
- Explain why you chose this primary source. Identify two points from the document that you found interesting or even bothersome. Please identify specific examples from the document to support your ideas.
- List something from the document that provided you with some insight about life in California at the time it was written.
- Drawing from the document, what evidence helps you understand why each document was created? Make direct references to both documents.
- Choose another document from the Section II Primary Source Documents Bank to read and analyze. How does your first document approach the topics of the extremes in opportunities and/or limitations of rights for certain groups of Californians and not others in comparison to second document? Be sure to identify the second document and to provide specific examples from both sources.
- Write a question to the creator of both documents that you might have about the documents, or about something that you feel is left unanswered.
