Essay On Sand Creek Massacre

The Sand Creek Massacre and the Massacre of My Lai The Sand Creek massacre refers to the killings and post-mortem mutilations of many members of the southern band of Cheyennes led by Black Kettle and the band of Arapahoes led by Left Hand at Sand Creek in Colorado on and after November 29, 1864. The number of those killed numbered from 100 to 500 within these materials. Some witnesses, such as John Smith, and others claimed that most of the victims were women and children, but others, such as John Chivington, would argue that the majority of Indians killed were armed warriors who fought aggressively. Around 750 United States troops were involved in the events at Sand Creek. After the killings of the band members who did not escape, approximately
In 1968 during the Vietnam War, the Charlie Company led an attack on the small village of My Lai 4. The settlement was inhabited by Vietnamese civilians and harbored no military-aged men. One of the platoon leaders, Lt. William Calley, directed the murders of many defenseless civilian women, children, and the elderly. About five hundred civilians were found in mass graves after the massacre. The buildings of the settlement were also destroyed. This is similar to the killings of the surrendering Indians of Sand Creek and subsequent burning of the village. Calley and Chivington both also fabricated military reports in an attempt to cover-up the truth. Despite the nature of both massacres being exposed for the public, no significant punishments were ever enforced on either Calley or Chivington. No criminal charges were ever filed against Chivington, and the criminal charges filed and convicted against Calley ultimately resulted in no punishment due to public and presidential support of him. Ultimately, these massacres have shown that our military has many times acted inhumanely towards other ethnicities and nationalities only to receive a slap on the wrist in punishment, as well as the significant condoning of these actions by American