A History of Genocide

Native American Genocide Have you heard of this before? Occurs over a period of 4 centuries 1492: Columbus has first contact with Indians---first known oppression of Native Americans by European settlers Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion-What role did these play? "By conservative estimates, the population of the United states prior to European contact was greater than 12 million. Four centuries later, the count was reduced by 95% to 237 thousand”

Sand Creek Massacre

Sand Creek Massacre November 29, 1864---Colorado Territory Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes attacked by Colorado Militia Estimated 70-163 Indians killed and mutilated I saw the bodies of those lying there cut all to pieces, worse mutilated than any I ever saw before; the women cut all to pieces ... With knives; scalped; their brains knocked out; children two or three months old; all ages lying there, from sucking infants up to warriors ... By whom were they mutilated? By the United States troops ...—- John S. Smith, Congressional Testimony of Mr. John S. Smith, 1865

Wounded Knee Massacre December 29, 1890---Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota 153 Sioux killed "There was a woman with an infant in her arms who was killed as she almost touched the flag of truce...A mother was shot down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was still nursing...The women as they were fleeing with their babies were killed together, shot right through...and after most all of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed or wounded should come forth and they would be safe. Little boys...came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there.”-American Horse-Indian Chief Time: 5:30-6:45 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc7fZonjD1M&feature=related

Reflection Thoughts on the video? Should there be more awareness for this genocide? Does the American government owe the Native Americans reparations?

Ottoman empire Armenian Genocide

Armenian genocide The killing of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I also known as the Great Crime Between 1 million to 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1923 Assyrians and Greeks were also killed during this genocide by the Ottoman Empire Ottoman military forced Armenians from their homes and march hundreds of miles with no food and water to a desert in what is now Syria

Armenian Genocide Started on April 24, 1915 The day when Ottoman authorities arrested 300 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were also killed in the streets and their homes Armenian massacres consisted of mass burnings, drowning, use of poison and drug overdoses

Map of 1915 Armenian Genocide

Armenian Genocide Today Considered to be one of the first modern genocides Second most-studied case of genocide after the Holocaust Today, 20 countries have officially recognized these events as a genocide

Sudan Darfur Genocide 2003-2010

Background Arab vs. African Civil War between North and South Darfur region left out of economic gains Rebels from Darfur attack Sudanese Government

Conflict Government funds Janjaweed to expel Darfur residents through genocide and forced immigration. International community recognizes the conflict but does NOT take any relevant action to prevent genocide.

Aftermath Violence stopped around 2010 Peace agreement gave Darfur region more economic opportunities and political power Over 300,000 killed Around 3 million people displaced