Answered Questions

Hello!

This is a difficult stance to take. I would begin by defining genocide. Once the legal definition is established, you can then address the experiences of American Indians.

Resources on genocide, including the accepted definition, are linked on the Genocide LibGuide at http://libguides.brenau.edu/genocide . On the home page, under Pertinent Documents, choose the link "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide". When the page opens, near the top you will see Text : United Nations,  Treaty Series, vol. 78, p. 277. Click the vol. 78 link and then find page 277 in the text. This is the legal definition. Then check out the link to the Audiovisual Library of International Law, also under Pertinent Documents. This link will provide additional information and commentary on the Convention and the meaning of the term.

Next I would search for books and articles on the topic. Much of what you find will use the word genocide, but you can decide, based on the legal definition of the acts that constitute genocide, whether these articles are correct in their conclusions. To locate articles and books, click on the yellow-orange tab at the top of the LibGuide labeled Further Reading. This tab contains links to books and to databases of books and articles whick will help.

Begin by clicking Humanities International Complete. To log in, use your Brenau username and password. Once you are logged in, search Indians AND genocide AND convention. This will yield 4 articles. The second is a commentary that speaks to your topic: Lewy, Guenter. 2004. "Were American Indians the Victims of Genocide?." Commentary 118, no. 2: 55-63. Humanities International Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed September 18, 2012). Also check out the first article for the opposing argument, so you know what you have to counter. You can also search Indians AND genocide. This will yield articles, most of which come down on the side of genocide. They can be analyzed to determine of the events discussed meet the criteria for genocide, and whether the evidence is strong and convincing.

For further research, try these searches in the Library Catalog, Ebooks on Ebscohost, Research Library, JSTOR, and Academic Search Complete, all linked on the Further Reading tab of the Genocide LibGuide.