Consider the primary source about Chief John Ross’s letter. Conduct research to locate a secondary source on the letter. Then, w
rite a 300-500 word compare/contrast essay that discusses the similarities and differences between the primary and secondary source regarding Chief John Ross’s letter to President Lincoln. Your claim should answer the question: How does the study of secondary sources challenge a person’s understanding of history? Use evidence from both sources to support your explanations. Be sure to conclude with a commentary on the use of primary and secondary sources when studying history.
Cherokee leader John Ross sent a a letter to Abraham Lincoln in 1862. In this document, Ross stated that the growing pressure over his people forced them to support the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Also, he claimed for the Union to ratify the existing treaties in order to maintain the inegrity and welfare of the Cherokee Nation. Ross however, stated that his people supported the Union cause.
A second source of the letter is the analysis that you can find in the book "The Cherokee Diaspora" by Gregory Smithers which provides new elements over the motivation of Ross when wrote the letter and also the deep division within the Cherokees.
By reading the book, the readers can find the motivations why Ross and a part of the Cherokee nation were reluctant to side one of the factions during the Civil War. Also, readers can understand what happened aftermath and the consequences still remained until 21st century.
