This story is significant because it reflects the attitudes during this period. Not only the fear of losing control but the fear of having to open up society's door to change.
[If the Rochester area were returned to the Iroquois Indian Nation today] The small number of pure Iroquois [Native Americans] would hardly justify the entire area of Rochester. Especially considering the enormous population of Rochester people who would be displaced.
Both Speckled Snake and Sitting Bear would realize what kind of an injustice this is to the present inhabitants and through their own horrible experience they both know their is no excuse for such a travesty. Even if I had the words "savage" to ease my guilty conscious. [Note: There/Their error]
This is a shameful form of greed. Not only because they are basically taking everything which other people owned, but even more so due to the fact that it was supported by the public.
This story deals with the differences between white and black. How the difference in skin color can determine if you are a slave or free. If you can be bought or sold.
Desiree's husband dumps her because he thinks she is black. Which it turns out that he is the one who is black.
The husband feels betrayed because his wife has a black child. He can't stand it any more and lets her have it. Believing that the color comes from her side of the family.
Hugh is sentenced to 19 years of hard labor as a result of stealing. An imprisonment that ultimately leads to Hugh taking his own life.
All their lives are ruined. Never to be able to go back and change them again.
People in the industrial days had little money and had to do all the work they could for it. Which they still had barely anything to eat.