Context

Jackson was inspired to write this book after hearing a lecture by Standing Bear (pictured in photo above), a Ponca Indian chief. He was famous for arguing before the United States District Court in Nebraska that Indians had all the rights of U.S. citizens and were people under the law. In his lecture tour he spoke of their forced removal from Nebraska by the U.S. government. This led her to investigate and research the plight of other tribes. A Century of Dishonor A Sketch of the United States Government's Dealings with Some of the Indian Tribes is the end result of her research. She intentionally used the term "Sketch" in the subtitle because it was meant to be an overview not a complete history.

The book is divided into ten chapters, Seven of these chapters are devoted to background on each of the following tribes: The Delaware, The Cheyenne, The Nez Perces, The Sioux, The Poncas, The Winnebagoes, and The Cherokees. It also contains an Appendix (this includes an account of the Sand Creek Massacre, mentioned in more detail under the Colorado section of this blog).

She became further committed to reform after traveling around California to observe the conditions of Natives there. The report on her findings is included in the Appendix.

At the time of original publication in 1881, this title was written only five years after Custer's Last Stand in 1876. The Navaho chief, Geronimo, was not captured until the latter part of 1886. So, the book was written at a time when these events were not just fresh memories, but still ongoing events.