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** What do you believe were the causes of the conflict? **

I believe that the whole conflict was based on the assumptions of the Cayuse Tribe. For example, the Native Americans became up set with Dr.Whitman because they thought he wasn't treating them as they thought he was treating the white people beacuse more Indians died of measles then Americans. They belived that he was trying harder to cure the Americans more so then themselfs. But, in truth the Americans had a higher immune system and could tolerate more then the Native Americans.

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

Dr. Whitman came to the village of the Cayuse Tribe and began trying to cure the Natives who recived measles. While doing this, he brought along a missionary team and tried to convert the Cayuse tribe to the christan religon and also to ditch there culture and live like Americans (Lambert 200). But his aid to the Indians wasn't much help, a drastic number of Natives died compared to the number of Americans. This upset the Cayuse and led them to believe that Whitman wasn't trying as hard to cure them from measles as he was his fello Americans. This sent the Cayuse into and outrage killing 14 white citizens and capturing 47 women and children (Wilma). Whitman was one of those killed, a Cayuse warrior drove a tomahawk through the skull of Whitman (Addis). There was nothing anybody could do.

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

Three Factors for this gruesem conflict were: The Waiilatpu Missionaries came in and tried to convert the Cayuse tribe to the Christan religon (Lambert 200). In addition, the American people tried to make the Indians adapt to a new culture and walk away from the one they already had. Finally, the Cayuse tribe took the medical aid by Dr.Whitman wrong, they thought he was caring for the Americans better then he was for them but in fact he cared for everyone equally it was just the Americans had built a greater immune system so more Natives died off.

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

Dr. Whitman's attempt to care for every ones measles in the area. Its the most important because many of the Cayuse people died under the care of Whitman and many white people stayed alive under the care of Whitman. This sent an idea to the Cayuse tribe that Whitman didn't care about them and that escalated the Cayuse's anger and made them go into rage. Where they killed 14 white men and women and took 47 women and children hostage. (Wilma)

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

This conflict may have been avoided by interacting with the Indians in a less aggressive way. And also by trying extra hard to cure for the Natives because they were the first people in our country and have often not been treated well. All in all Whitman did a lot for the Natives but he didn't succeed and paid the price of his life because the Natives misunderstood the results of what Whitman tried to do for them.


 * What sources of information have you used? **

Cameron Addis. "The Whitman Massacre" 2005. Jstor. []

David Wilma. "Cayuse Attack on Mission in What is Known as The Whitman Massacre". History Link,, February 14 2003. []

Lambert, Dale A. & Clark. Washington: A State of Contrast. East Wenatchee WA: DMI, 2008 page 200-201