Targeted Adaptations
Government
Language
- As part of the Cherokee Nation's attempts to counter U.S. imperialism through targeted adaptations, they established a written constitution. Formalizing their government in a written document was an attempt to assert their status as a sovereign nation.
- Another adaptation was the Cherokee Nations development of a written language. By developing a written language they could record and preserve their traditions and history. Sequoyah, a member of the Cherokee Nation, crafted the Cherokee syllabary using symbols for the Cherokee syllables.
- With the advent of change, the Cherokee Nation also demonstrated their place as a modern government and on equal footing with the U.S. This provided further opposition to U.S attempts to dismiss Cherokee's place as an independent nation.
- The results of this adaptation also included an increase in literacy among the Cherokee people. Books, and newspapers, flourished as well and provided a way to hold onto their history and traditions in the face of the cultural destruction, and loss of life at the hands of U.S. imperialism.
Motivation
Legitimacy
Instituting a written constitution was an adaptation that asserted the legitimacy of the Cherokee government. As such it was another means of resisting the incursion of the U.S. government.
Heritage
In developing a written representation of their oral language, the Cherokee were able to protect and preserve their heritage. adaptations that asserted the legitimacy of the Cherokee government This adaptation saved Cherokee stories and traditions which was extremely important as information was at risk of being lost due to forced assimilation and the death of many native people as a result of actions of the U.S. government.
Equality
Both of these adaptations represented the equal standing of the Cherokee Nation. As such, they were an additional method to resist the U.S. attempts to ignore Cherokee independence.
Statement
"While Cherokee resistance to U.S. imperialism took many forms, targeted adaptations were utilized to affirm their sovereignty and authority as an independent nation with its own distinct culture."