Understanding Peace Medals and Their Historical Context

The video explores the history and significance of Peace Medals, which were given by European and American rulers to Native American leaders as symbols of allegiance and friendship. Dr. Steve Nash discusses the cultural and symbolic meanings of these medals, highlighting their role as status symbols and their complex messages. The video also addresses modern perspectives on these artifacts, including issues of repatriation and cultural significance.

What was the primary purpose of Peace Medals given by European and American rulers?

• To commemorate historical events

• To reward military achievements

• To symbolize allegiance and friendship

• To serve as currency for trade

How did Native American tribes perceive the Peace Medals they received?

• As tools for agricultural development

• As symbols of wealth and leadership

• As mere decorative items

• As religious artifacts

What is the significance of the replica shell gorget discussed by Dr. Steve Nash?

• It was used as a weapon in tribal conflicts

• It served as a status symbol among tribes

• It was a tool for agricultural purposes

• It was a religious artifact

Which president's Peace Medal was the first to be mass-produced?

• Andrew Johnson

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• Abraham Lincoln

Why were Peace Medals considered prestigious by some Native American leaders?

• They were made of gold

• They were rare and symbolized alliances

• They were used as currency

• They were part of religious ceremonies

What was depicted on the back of Abraham Lincoln's Peace Medal?

• A Native American chief

• A map of the United States

• A farmer with a plow and a horse

• A handshake between two leaders

What does the depiction of violence on some Peace Medals represent?

• The agricultural development of the West

• The unity of Native American tribes

• The justification for Manifest Destiny

• The peaceful coexistence of different cultures

What does the design on Andrew Johnson's Peace Medal symbolize?

• The completion of the transcontinental railroad

• The establishment of new trade routes

• The division of land between Americans and Native Americans

• The victory of the Union in the Civil War

What is a key challenge in the repatriation of Peace Medals to Native American tribes?

• Determining the monetary value of the medals

• Proving the medals' sacred or cultural significance

• Finding the original recipients of the medals

• Locating the exact burial sites of the medals

How does Dr. Steve Nash view the Peace Medals in terms of human behavior?

• As purely decorative items

• As tools for economic gain

• As attempts to ease relationships

• As symbols of oppression