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In "All the Real Indians Died Off , Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker state “The United States gave Indians Their Reservations”.  In my childhood, I believed this myth as I grew up hearing about the Native reservations in Connecticut. However, Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker state that no American Indian myth, “...Is as confounding as the misunderstanding that the federal government gave Indians their lands.” The authors go on to say that North America was Indigenous land far before American colonization. After stealing almost all the Native American land, the U.S. controls the little land the Natives have through the Federal Trust System.

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I always thought Thanksgiving celebrated the Indians welcoming the Pilgrims through a friendly feast; however, in All the Real Indians Died Off  Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker state Thanksgiving was a, “Forming of political alliances built on a mutual need for survival.” The Wampanoag people have been devastated by disease and altercations with other tribes leaving their population weak and vulnerable. With threats from other tribes, the Wampanoag were left with no other option but to form an alliance with the Pilgrims. The traditional Thanksgiving story hides this reality and turns a forced relationship into a myth of friendship.

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The myth that Indians were savage and warlike dates back to the Declaration of Independence. In All the Real Indians Died Off , Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker mention that Native Americns got into mourning wars over family members in which tribes would attack other tribes as revenge for killing one of their own. That is a natural way of fighting and does not make Native Americans savage. “Rarely were military conflicts the kinds of large-scale, destructive affairs they had been in Europe”. In my opinion wars in which millions die make Europeans far more savage and warlike than Native Americans.

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“Indians are expected to flow seamlessly into the civic and political landscape of the United States and let go of their cultures, homelands, and their very identities.” In "All the Real Indians Died Off," Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker claim the past hardships of Native Americans are still very present today. Native Americans lost the very great majority of their land to the U.S., and during this land loss period, they were raped and killed. The U.S. allowing Native Americans to live on small parts of their prior land is in no way a reason to forgive and forget.

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DALL·E 2025-03-28 14.15.21 - A realistic and somber image of a Native American man in his mid-30s, with distinct Native American facial features, long dark hair, and a strong bone

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Many people assume all Indians to be rich due to casinos. In "All the Real Indians Died Off , Dunbar-Ortiz and Gilio-Whitaker show how casinos do not “Make Them All Rich.” While some Natives who are on reservations of extremely successful casinos benefit economically, “...Even if gaming revenues were evenly distributed, $3,000 per person would not be enough to raise the Indigenous per capita income.” In my opinion, assuming every Indian is rich because of casinos is like assuming every white person is rich due to Wall Street. In reality, this stereotype overlooks the reality of Native Americans.

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DALL·E 2025-03-28 14.27.17 - A symbolic, realistic scene illustrating the economic divide among Native Americans regarding casino profits. On the left side, a small group of well-

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I grew up thinking the founding fathers were a group of seven unified and noble men that started America. In “American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers,” Heike states, “...The founders had pronounced differences in background and upbringing, in political vision and experience, in temperament and in career.” The founders had vast differences as some held slaves and others did not. While they are often portrayed as unified, in reality they were deeply divided, and the idea of a group of 7 men in harmony is a myth.

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I previously believed that women were absent in the founding of America, but In “American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers,” Heiki proves my last assumption wrong. Abigail Adams, Judith Sarget Murray, and Mercy Otis played influential roles that advocated for women's rights and ability. I agree with Heike in saying that, “All of the Individuals involved in these revolutionary activities may be considered Founding Mothers of some sort.” Without these women’s writings, activism, and support the exclusion of women in the founding documents may have remained unchanged as these early efforts planted a seed for change.

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I used to believe that the Founding Fathers acted solely on American ideals until Heiki opened my eyes to the reality in  “American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers.” Heiki explains the realities of the Founding Fathers seeing themselves as part of a national movement. The reading states, “Many of The Founding Fathers would have defined themselves as a part of a broader international culture,” meaning the Founding Fathers made their decisions resulting from external influence from other nations. This opened my eyes to the interconnected nature of America's Founding and proves my prior opinion incorrect.

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DALL·E 2025-03-28 14.41.10 - A symbolic and historical illustration of the Founding Fathers of the United States deep in thought during a constitutional discussion. The scene is s

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Before getting educated, I once thought our nation was built for everyone. Heike proved this idea wrong in “American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers.” The founding Fathers drafted their writings regarding freedoms and having rights towards only white men. Heiki states, “Women could not start from the same place.” Neither could African Americans or many other marginalized groups. In my opinion Women, African Americans, and other diverse groups are finally starting to gain equality after years of fighting for their rights through protests, legislative, and social movements.

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I always thought that the Founding Fathers were equally as important and remembered.  In “American Independence and the Myth of the Founding Fathers,” Heike states, “Jay has no monument or memorial on the National Mall dedicated to him.” While John Jay played an influential role in writing the Federalist Papers, his legacy is still overshadowed. In my opinion this myth shows how some figures like Washington and Jefferson are remembered significantly more than other deserving members. This shows our nation chooses not to promote everyone deserving, only the ones that fit a heroic, simplified version of history

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DALL·E 2025-03-28 14.56.30 - A historical scene depicting John Jay, an 18th-century American statesman with white hair tied back in a queue, wearing a colonial-era suit with a lon