Drew


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

I believe that it was the accusations of the Indians that caused the conflicts because they thought Mr. Whitman was purposely trying to kill the Indians by Measles. They thought since more Indians were dying then white people because white people have something in there immune system that helps them heal but the Indians didn't. In result, the Indians went into the Whitman's house and killed him.

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

The Whitman's had a mission to convert the Walla Walla Indians to a christian religion. Mr. Whitman used his doctor skills to help the Indians to. Then, the Measles Epidemic broke out and people got sick. The white people were healing faster because they had natural immunity to it. This meant more white people were getting sick than the Indians which caused the Indians to accuse Marcus Whitman of healing the white people and not the Indians. Then, one morning two Cayuse warriors came into the Whitman's house and killed them. One indian distracted Mr. Whitman while another came up behind him and slit his throat.

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

One factor was the fact that the Whitman's were trying to make the Indians change their tribe religion to the religion of Christian. This angered the Cayuse Indian tribe. Another factor was that the Whitman's decided to move only 6 miles away from the present site of Walla Walla, Washington. The tribe was angered because they thought the Whitmans moved onto their land. A third factor that Measles was spreading and the White people were healing faster than the indians so the indians thought Mr. Whitman was purposely trying to kill them.

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

I believe the spread of Measles was the most important factor because it was the factor that finally made the Indians really mad and this caused the killing of the Whitmans. The second most important factor was the Whitmans trying to change their tribe religion because it is one thing for them to move onto their land, but it is a whole different thing when you try to change someones religion.

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

I think the conflict could have been avoided if the Whitmans and the Indians would have sat down and had a conversation about why the Measles were not healing as fast for the Indians as they were for the White people. It could have also been avoided if the Indians just decided not to go to Mr. Whitman for treatment. Another way it could have been avoided is if the Whitmans would have just moved away from the Indians.


 * What sources of information have you used? **

Lambert, Dale A. and Clark. "Washington, a state of contrast,". East Wenatchee, WA:DMI, 2008 "the Whitman Massacre: A verdict is reached," __Oregon State Archives.__ [] "Wahsington State Legends," __Legends Of America__. August, 2007. []