The Classical Historian
  • Home
    • Start Here
    • What is the Classical Historian?
    • How is our approach unique?
    • What is the Socratic Discussion in History
    • Testimonials
  • Store
    • All Products
    • Curriculum
    • Games
    • Video Courses >
      • TSOL Video Course
      • High School History with Michael Allen
    • Federal Holidays
    • Constitution Bee
    • American Civics
  • Charter/Co-ops
    • Charter/Co-ops Info
    • Teacher Training >
      • Teacher Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Support
    • Q and A
    • Free Primary Sources
    • John's Blog >
      • Jessica's Blog
    • Videos and PodCasts >
      • My Life under Communism Podcast
    • Video Samples
    • Mac
  • Online Academy
    • History Classes Registration and Info
    • Literature Courses Registration and Info
    • Schedule
    • Our Teachers
    • Materials
    • Samples/Testimonials
    • Login instructions
  • Dolphin Society
    • Information

Geronimo

4/12/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
Geronimo (1829-1909) is one of the most-recognizable of American Indians who resisted the American government in the 1800s and 1900s. A leader of the Chiricahua tribe of the Apache, Geronimo fought Mexico, the United States of America, and other Native American Indians until he surrendered to the United States in 1886 and died a prisoner of war. Married nine times and father to many children, Geronimo brought fear into the hearts and minds of Mexicans and Americans.
 
Geronimo was born in Mexico in 1829, in present-day Arizona, and he was raised in the Apache war culture. The Apaches raided Mexican and other Indian villages as a way of life. During these raids, Apache would steal cattle and horses, kill men, and steal women as slaves. In response, Mexico tried to kill all Apache, offering $25 for every Apache scalp. As a young man, Geronimo married and had three children with his wife, Alope. On one outing while he was away on a trading trip, Mexican soldiers came into his camp and murdered women and children, including his mom, his young wife, and his three boys. He vowed to seek revenge the rest of his life against the Mexicans.
 
In 1848, the land Geronimo’s Apaches lived on changed hands from the Mexicans to the Americans, and the Apaches were now enemies of not only the Mexicans but the Americans, as well. For the next 38 years, Geronimo and the Apaches successfully waged war against Mexico and the United States of America. His band of soldiers, and women and children, would travel as far as 70 miles a day to avert capture. At the same time, they waged guerilla war against settlers. 5,000 United States soldiers, 3,000 Mexicans, and hundreds of Indian scouts hounded Geronimo’s Apaches throughout the Southwest.
 
Finally, Geronimo surrendered and he and his Apache tribe were taken prisoner to Oklahoma. Three years before Geronimo died, he converted to Christianity. In his autobiography, he said,
“Since my life as a prisoner has begun I have heard the teachings of the white man's religion, and in many respects believe it to be better than the religion of my fathers. However, I have always prayed, and I believe that the Almighty has always protected me. Believing that in a wise way it is good to go to church, and that associating with Christians would improve my character, I have adopted the Christian religion. I believe that the church has helped me much during the short time I have been a member.”

However, on his deathbed, it has been reported that he said he was no longer a Christian. This truth of this incident is uncertain, though, and he was buried in a Christian cemetery. 
 
Many Americans did not believe his conversion was real. Stories of his brutal tactics and successes would not allow them to think this Indian leader had accepted Christ. The New York Times noted when he died that Geronimo  “was the worst type of aboriginal American savage. Even his so-called religious conversion was not without cunning.” The Times journalists believed he had converted in order to persuade President Roosevelt to give the Apaches back their land in Arizona.
 
Geronimo was very fond of marriage. He married nine times and it appears he had many children. Some of his wives, like his first one, Alope, were murdered by soldiers. One witness claims he killed one of his wives when she would not escape from soldiers with him. He did have multiple wives at the same time, which was keeping in tradition with the Apache custom.
 
Toward the end of his life, Geronimo appeared in Wild West shows, at world’s fairs, and rode in President Roosevelt’s Inaugural Parade. On the reservation, he sold bows and arrows and posed for pictures. As there was little work available for Indians, it is a sign of resourcefulness that Geronimo stayed active through the age of 90. The night before he died, he went into town and got drunk. Riding home, he fell off his horse. Injured and unable to get back on, he stayed out all night long. He caught pneumonia and eventually died.
 
  1. In which country was Geronimo born and in which tribe was he a part of?
  2. As a young man, what happened to Geronimo’s wife, mom, and three children?
  3. At one time, how many American and Mexican soldiers were chasing Geronimo and his tribe?
  4.  Did Geronimo convert to Christianity or not?
  5. Explain Geronimo’s relationship with his wives. 

3 Comments
Teresa
4/13/2021 10:15:09 pm

I enjoy reading your vignettes. I am confused a bit by this one however. Did he die a prisoner of war as the first paragraph states or or by falling off his horse after drinking all night as the last paragraph says?

Reply
John De Gree
4/14/2021 10:09:00 am

Hello Teresa,
The answer to your question is, "Yes." While he was a prisoner of war, imprisoned on a reservation and unable to leave and with his freedom limited, he rode his horse into town, became drunk, etc."

Reply
Oscar
1/12/2022 11:54:09 am

Hello Mr De Gree,
I believe your article about Genorimo is not at all accurate.
The Apache settled in the Spanish Empire for many years.
The were escaping from the Comanches and they asked permission to the Spanish Governor to enter into Spanish land, that was actually granted, so they settled in a town called Arizpe founded by a Jesuit called Jerónimo.
They lived in peace for generations and most of them were Christians.
It was after the Independence of Mexico when Mexican authorities first, and the Us authorities later on starting harassed them.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    John De Gree

    John De Gree writes the current events with a look at the history of each topic. Articles are written for the young person, aged 10-18, and Mr. De Gree carefully writes so that all readers can understand the event. The perspective the current events are written in is Judeo-Christian. 

    Receive Articles and Coupons in Your Email

    Sign Up Now
    For Email Marketing you can trust.

    Archives

    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    Abortion
    American Biographies
    American Days
    American Flag History
    America's Federal Holidays
    Asia
    Biden Presidency
    Crime
    De Gree Vacations
    Economics
    Education
    Election 2020
    Elections 2016
    Environment
    Europe
    Foreign Policy
    Gun Contol
    Health
    Immigration
    Israeli Palestinian Conflict
    Politics
    Q And A
    Religion
    Science
    Society And Culture
    Sports
    The Story Of Liberty
    Trump Presidency
    War On Terrorism
    World War II

    RSS Feed

CLASSICAL HISTORIAN MISSION
​
​
Classical Historian educates and inspires youth to seek the truth in history and to champion individual liberty and virtue. ...more

​SUPPORT
Contact us
Q & A
​Testimonials
RESOURCES
Primary Sources
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
    • Start Here
    • What is the Classical Historian?
    • How is our approach unique?
    • What is the Socratic Discussion in History
    • Testimonials
  • Store
    • All Products
    • Curriculum
    • Games
    • Video Courses >
      • TSOL Video Course
      • High School History with Michael Allen
    • Federal Holidays
    • Constitution Bee
    • American Civics
  • Charter/Co-ops
    • Charter/Co-ops Info
    • Teacher Training >
      • Teacher Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Support
    • Q and A
    • Free Primary Sources
    • John's Blog >
      • Jessica's Blog
    • Videos and PodCasts >
      • My Life under Communism Podcast
    • Video Samples
    • Mac
  • Online Academy
    • History Classes Registration and Info
    • Literature Courses Registration and Info
    • Schedule
    • Our Teachers
    • Materials
    • Samples/Testimonials
    • Login instructions
  • Dolphin Society
    • Information