The tribe focused on in this paper is the Creek Indians. The primary sources chosen to discuss this tribe are a copy of a talk, between the Creek Chiefs and U.S. commissioners, and a copy of a set of laws of the Creek Nation of Indians. The talk is written by the U.S. commissioners, and is from their point of view, whereas the laws are written by the Creek Indians. The two sources discuss a similar topic from two opposite points of view. Both, however, give a very accurate depiction of the Creek Nation Tribe.
The first source, the talk, is in reply to the Creek Chiefs from U.S. Commissioners Duncan G. Campbell and James Meriwether on December 9, 1824. The Commissioners also include excerpts from President John Quincy Adams and Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. The authors’ point of view was obviously quite different than that of the Creek Indians. In fact, it was the opposite; however this source was very credible for the point of view it was depicting. This talk was a firsthand source of how the United States Government viewed Native Americans. The Commissioners looked down on the Creeks, and wanted them to change their way of life. In the talk, the Commissioners were informing the chiefs that their land belongs to the United States now. The talk begins with the Commissioners applauding the chiefs for being kind in their previous talk, although they expected nothing less “on account of the kindness and protection which has always been extended to you by the United States.”1 The Commissioners then go on to explain that whether they were pleased by it or not, at some point the Creek Nation had taken this land from someone else, and now it is being taken from them; or as they put it, “All the Country which was conquered, belonged then to the Conquerors.”2 The Commissioners also explained that their tribe, just like many others, had been treated like this because their forefathers fought on the side of the British in the Revolutionary War. However Adams now wanted to show mercy towards them, if they accept his terms, or he would “propose schemes for your injury or destruction.”3 Adams insisted that they move west and begin creating civilized laws, become good Christians and “free yourselves from barbarism.”4 This was a very typical view point of the United States. They viewed the Creeks as living poor lives, and wanted to improve their lifestyle by forcing them to become more “civilized” through laws and Christianity. They also discussed that they gave the same talk to the Cherokees and said they must do the same and they warned against the two tribes meeting and giving advice to one another. They went on to explain that a treaty had been signed with the Seminoles that they would be removed from their land and relocated. Essentially, the chiefs were being told their tribes must become more civilized, by creating a set of laws to follow and becoming Christians, and relocate and “By deciding for yourselves, it may prevent others from deciding for you.”5
The second source is a copy of law set by the Creek Nation of Indians on January 7, 1825 transcribed by Chilly McIntosh, a Creek leader and son of Chief William McIntosh. The laws also include the punishments associated with them if they are broken. The laws cover topics in depth such as murder, theft, past due debts, starting fires, marrying negro, livestock and not paying taxes. The punishments had a wide range from paying fines to death. The following is an example of the 39th law “And be it farther enacted if a man and wife should steal, while living together and after parted one Should tell on the other both Shall be punish as a thief.”6 These are laws the Creek Nation came up with and planned to live by. This source is from the point of view of the Creek Nation. It depicts the change in Creek culture as they become more “civilized”. While in the past this was not a typical document of the Creek’s, their lifestyle had been forced to change by the U.S. Government. This source is reliable in the fact that it was written by a Creek Indian, however the Creeks were forced into making these laws and therefor it is not an accurate depiction of their point of view.
These two sources relate to one another in that they both deal with Creek Nation of Indians’ laws. In the first source, the Creek Nation was being told they must start making and abiding by laws from the U.S. Government. In the second, they set out to make a list of laws and punishments to follow. The second document came almost exactly one month after the first. This could mean that the Creek Nation agreed to the terms the U.S. Commissioners set and made strides to becoming a more civilized nation, although they did not have much of a choice.
The two sources differ in the fact that they come from different authors. The first is a talk coming from the U.S. Commissioners to the chiefs of the Creek Nation whereas the second is a copy of laws set by the Creek Nation of Indians themselves. The second source seems to be a response in some way to the first. These sources could be used to analyze the relationship between the U.S. Government and the Creek Indians. The sources come from the viewpoint of both sides involved and how they interact with one another.

1. “[Talk] 1824 Dec. 9 to the [Creek] Chiefs / [delivered by] Duncan G. Campbell, James Meriwether, U.S. Comm[issione]rs” Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842: Accessed September 22, 2014. http://metis.galib.uga.edu/ssp/cgi-bin/tei-natamer-idx.pl?sessionid=c3c6ca82-0dae2f8a72-2075&type=doc&tei2id=TCC008
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. “Copy of laws of the Creek Nation, 1825 Jan. 7” Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842: Accessed September 22, 2014. http://metis.galib.uga.edu/ssp/cgi-bin/tei-natamer-idx.pl?sessionid=c3c6ca82-0dae2f8a72-2075&type=doc&tei2id=KRC026

Bibliography
1. “Copy of laws of the Creek Nation, 1825 Jan. 7” January 7, 1825. http://metis.galib.uga.edu/ssp/cgi-bin/tei-natamer-idx.pl?sessionid=c3c6ca82-0dae2f8a72-2075&type=doc&tei2id=KRC026
2. “[Talk] 1824 Dec. 9 to the [Creek] Chiefs / [delivered by] Duncan G. Campbell, James Meriwether, U.S. Comm[issione]rs” December 9, 1824 http://metis.galib.uga.edu/ssp/cgi-bin/tei-natamer-idx.pl?sessionid=c3c6ca82-0dae2f8a72-2075&type=doc&tei2id=TCC008