History ETDs

Publication Date

5-24-1971

Abstract

From the early sixteenth century to the last half of the nineteenth century, a considerable portion of Texas history centered about Indian-white relations. However, the most significant era, in this respect, was the period from approximately the middle of the eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. Not only did the aborigines find their dominance in numbers slowly erode during this one hundred-year span, but also they found themselves eventually dispossessed of their native habitat. This work attempts to examine closely some of the early records to determine why the Texas Indians were destined to banishment and, in some cases, extinction. The main purpose of this study, however, is to re-examine these records from about 1758 to 1858 to determine their reliability and accuracy as historical sources. Another purpose of this paper is to examine writings of some modern authors to ascertain their use or omission of particular documents. Four of the major Texas tribes were selected for this study: The Karankawa, Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche. Some of the sources studied show a marked resemblance, which indicates that these early chroniclers borrowed heavily from one another. Moreover, many early writings were based on hearsay, and it was not unusual for a reporter to write authoritatively on Indians that he had never personally visited or seen. In regard to Indian numbers, chroniclers frequently would estimate vastly different figures for the identical tribe, although they would do so within the same year. Also, contrary to the ideas of many modern "philantrophists," this work shows that extermination policies did not originate with the Anglo-Americans, but were advocated earlier by several eighteenth century Spanish officials.

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Degree Name

History

Department Name

History

First Committee Member (Chair)

Donald Colgett Cutter

Second Committee Member

George Winston Smith

Third Committee Member

Janet Roebuck

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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