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“Reading response”
In his book “Empire of the Summer Moon,” S. C. Gwynne looks to address the United States’ history in early centuries following the expansion of the west and their raids with the Indian tribes. For this response, the chapter from the book to be used is “World in Collision.” The chapter’s main discussion revolves around the Comanche, which is among the powerful Indian tribes in the country, and superiority they developed from using horses. Horses were introduced into the country by the Spanish to which this tribe started breeding them. Through these wild mustangs, the Comanche overcame other Indian tribes and even gained a reputation among the European settlers looking to expand their territories. It was believed that this tribe realized the power they had after they started using horses.
One of the best features witnessed from this chapter is the fact that Indian tribes were not painted as the weak groups. In most historical records and books, the white expansion across the land is described as a magnificent undertaking, often praising the white’s abilities to conquer the tribes they found. However, Gwynne clearly defined the strength of the Comanche describing them as one of the most feared communities in the region whose prowess in battle could see them lose twenty arrows when it took a soldier to load and fire a gun (Gwynne 33). One cannot help but appreciate the personal narratives from other white leaders that the author included in the chapter. These brief descriptions bring a feeling of pride that even white leaders recognized the prowess of the Comanche. For instance, Colonel Richard Dodge detailed that he believed these people were among the best skilled Calvary in the world, beating those in Europe and America (Gwynne 32). These accounts show that the chapter was methodically researched, making it that more interesting.
From personal experience of going through the chapter, the details are highly educational and well written. They thus can be recommended to history lovers looking to see the western expansion in a different light.
Works Cited
Gwynne, S. C. “World in Collision.” Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History, Simon & Schuster, 2010, pp. 23-35.