The Sand Creek Massacre Historical Essay Example

Historical Context

The Sand Creek Massacre was a horrific event in which over a hundred indigenous people were murdered by the US army which took place in Sand Creek, Colorado on November 29, 1864. On the evening of November 28th 1864, Colonel Chivington led over 700 soldiers toward the Ingenious people’s villages of Sand Creek. The soldiers attacked at sunrise while most of the warriors in the village were away hunting buffalo. This meant that the village was filled with women, elderly, and children. The indigenous people lived peacefully due to them believing an agreement that was made between them and the government would keep them safe. These people were scalped, body parts were dismembered, genitals were mutilated, and body parts were used as trophies. About 163 Cheyenne were murdered with two-thirds being children and women. 

This Story Needs To Be Told Because…

This story needs to be told and remembered because it was one of the most horrific events that took place from the United State’s taking violent action on peaceful people. The United States lied to these people by making an agreement between them and the indigenous people in Sand Creek and then breaking that agreement in a brutal, dishonest, and disgusting way. This event took place during the Plains Indian Wars. Despite leading the massacre, Colonel Chivington escaped without discipline. It is an extremely important story to tell because it is a crucial and brutal part of American history. 

Rationale for Location/Style

The monument I am proposing will be a large, colorful statue which will be of Cheyenne children, warriors, women, and Chief Black kettle holding hands. It will be about 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It will be large in order to display and honor this important historical event which is not spoken about and is not taught enough. There is already a monument in place to honor the lives lost in the Sand Creek Massacre however, it has been described as “small” and “standing unnoticeably” in Denver. I want to create a large monument because this event deserves something large to commemorate the lives lost due to the United States brutality during that time. Doing it at the site where it happened is a way to honor the soil of where these people lost their lives. 

Purpose

The Sand Creek Massacre demonstrates a social issue of prejudice in its representation of a time in which the United States committed horrific acts of brutality against groups it held hate against. Additionally, it represents a social issue of white supremacy which was pushed as an ideal by the United States during this historical event. Also, the Sand Creek Massacre showed how politics ended in gruesome ways when ideology of a perfect America was propelled by the government leaders in an attempt at genocide of indigenous people.  

Historical Memory

The Sand Creek Massacre brings collective memory. The indigenous people of Sand Creek had stories which were told from family members which were passed down from the original people who were at this horrific event and survived. One of the people who managed to escape the Sand Creek Massacre was Chief Black Kettle. Additionally, the Sand Creek Massacre deserves national memory as it was an important historic event of American history. My monument adds to the current official memory which should receive more recognition and discussion.

Message I Want to Convey

This monument should honor the lives of the Cheyenne people in Sand Creek who lost their lives in the Sand Creek Massacre. This story should leave you with emotions such as anger, sadness, disgust, horror, and remorse just to name a few. It was an atrocious and violent attack fueled by hate from the United States. I want my composition to make people interested in learning the story. When people learn about the Sand Creek Massacre, I want them to question and be angry about why it is not an event spoken about in our history books and history classes more.