Question

What is the central idea of “Black Hawk’s Surrender Speech 1832”? How does the central idea emerge and develop over the course of the passage? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least two complete paragraphs.

Answer 1

The central idea is that Black Hawk and his people needed to fight the white men to save their culture and avoid becoming corrupt like them. White men despised Indians and cheated them out of everything. Black Hawk could not just sit and witness injustice take place. Black Hawk states “We were becoming like them, hypocrites and liars, adulterers, lazy drones, all talkers, and no workers.”

The disgusting injustice led him to believe that fighting back was completely necessary. Black Hawk says, “The spirit of our fathers arose and spoke to us to avenge our wrongs or die.” The central idea that Black Hawk needed to fight back develops the passage. This happens as he explains how the white men are and it progressively led to the prepare of battle. His feelings and the central idea never changed he stayed strong even though taken prisoner.