Riles


 * What is your //general// belief about who or what is most responsible for causing the conflict?**

I believe it was a mixture of things. First off, I dont believe that the pioneers had the right to just walk in and say hey your religion and beliefs are all wrong. Nor did they have the right ot settle without the Natives permission. Had they minded their own business, explored what needed to be explored, and made off with what they could at home, then this whole massacre could have been avoided. They could of just made partners with the indians anyway. So my answer...The Pioneers. (Lambert)

**What is the relevant background information (i.e. who, what, when, where)?**

The Whitman family was to operate the Waiilatpu Mission in southeastern Washington since 1837. (Lambert) They had hoped to convert the local indian tribes to christianity and convince them to change their nomadic lifestyle to a more "civilized" society. This tensed relations between the indians and pioneers which eventually lead to the massacre of fourteen people and fourty seven taken hostage. ([|Www.Oregonpioneers.com/whitman])

**What were 3 factors that helped cause the conflict (politics, economics, geography, history)?**

The measle outbreak of of 1847, caused an eruption of anger between the Cayuse indians and the pioneers when they realized that more white patients were recovering then that of the indian patients. The real reason however, was due to measle outbreaks in Europe and America in past times so the pioneers had somewhat of an immunity to the disease.

Marcus Whitman returned with 900 pioneers who would settle in the Oregon Country. It appeared to the indians that the missionaries were encouraging more whites to come and displace the indians.

The american pioneers wanted to convert the indians to christianity and show that their life style was wrong and needed to become more civilized. The indians however felt no obligation to practice this religion. ([|Www.Oregonpioneers.com/whitman])

**Explain why one factor is more important than the others.**

Probably the tipping point that drove the indians to massacre the pioneers was the measle outbreak of 1847. Dr. Whitman had done all he could with each and every patient it was just that the pioneers driven Europe had natural immunity to the disease. (Past outbreaks weren't uncommon in Europe). The Natives were realizing that more whites (Pioneers) were recovering then their own kin. This caused them to believe that he was poisoning the tribes as part of a plot to rid the area of the Natives. Indian law states that if a medicine man, such as Dr. Whitman, abuses his power then he must be slain. ([|Www.Suite101.com/artcicle.cfm/old_west/92928])

**How could the conflict have been avoided?**

The conflict might have been avoided had the Pioneers just made friends with the indians instead of trying to curve them into the catholic religion. There were probably other causes to the conflict that modern day text can't explain because they were never recorded. ([|Www.Suite101.com/artcicle.cfm/old_west/92928])

Flora, Stephanie. "The Massacre." Whitman Massacre. Copyright 2004. Google. May 19th, 2009. [|Www.Oregonpioneers.com/whitman].
 * What sources of information have you used? **

Gibson, Elizabeth. "The Whitman Massacre." The Whitman Massacre. June 22, 2002. Google. May 20, 2009. [|Www.Suite101.com/artcicle.cfm/old_west/92928].

Lambert, Dale. Washington: A state of contrasts. East Wenatchee, Washington. Directed Media Inc, 2008.