18th-Century Americans Invented the 'Indian' Costume

18th-Century Americans Created the "Indian" Costume to Claim Liberty

On May 1, 1765, in Boston, Massachusetts, a group of colonists, including Samuel Adams, organized a protest against British taxation, dressing up as Native Americans to emphasize their desire for freedom. Historian Alfred Young notes that this event marked the beginning of a peculiar trend. By 1775, the "Indian" costume had become a staple in American protests, with colonists using it to symbolize their resistance against British rule in locations like New York and Philadelphia.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the "Indian" costume was a spontaneous creation, born out of the colonists' desire to blend in with Native Americans and avoid detection by British authorities. Most people think that this disguise was a practical choice, allowing protesters to move undetected and strike against their opponents. However, this understanding oversimplifies the complex cultural and historical context in which the costume emerged.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Philip Deloria and Nancy Shoemaker have extensively researched the origins of the "Indian" costume, revealing a more nuanced story. In 1763, the Proclamation of 1763 restricted westward settlement, prompting many colonists to feel suffocated by British rule. By 1768, colonists had begun to use Native American imagery in their protests, with the "Indian" costume becoming a powerful symbol of resistance. The fact that colonists deliberately chose to dress up as a marginalized group to claim their own freedom is a striking aspect of this history. Historian Barbara Clark Smith argues that this phenomenon was not limited to protests, as evidenced by the writings of colonist and future president John Adams, who in 1775 wrote about the need for Americans to shed their British identities and adopt a new, distinctly American persona. As historian Gordon Wood notes, this process of identity formation was closely tied to the idea of liberty, with the "Indian" costume serving as a potent symbol of the colonists' desire for autonomy. By 1776, the costume had become an integral part of American protests, with its use documented in various accounts, including those of the Declaration of Independence signer, Samuel Chase.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like George Bancroft and Francis Parkman deliberately omitted this story from their accounts of American history, focusing instead on the patriotism and courage of the colonists. The decision to gloss over this aspect of American history was largely driven by the desire to create a unified national identity, one that emphasized the bravery and determination of the American people. By leaving out the story of the "Indian" costume, these historians were able to present a more sanitized version of American history, one that ignored the complexities and contradictions of the colonial experience. The Smithsonian Institution, for example, has been criticized for its role in promoting a simplistic and romanticized view of Native American culture, which has contributed to the erasure of this story from the historical record. Furthermore, the fact that many historical records from this period were written by European-Americans, who often had a limited understanding of Native American cultures and experiences, has also contributed to the suppression of this story.

The Ripple Effect

The invention of the "Indian" costume had a direct impact on the development of American cultural identity, influencing the way that Americans thought about themselves and their relationship to the natural world. The Boston Tea Party, for instance, was a direct result of this phenomenon, as colonists dressed up as Native Americans to protest British taxation policies. This event, in turn, has had a lasting impact on American politics, with many modern-day protests and demonstrations drawing inspiration from this tactic. The modern-day cosplay industry, which allows people to dress up as their favorite characters or personalities, also owes a debt to this historical phenomenon, as it represents a continuation of the same impulse to use costume and disguise as a means of self-expression and social commentary.

The Line That Says It All

The fact that 18th-century Americans felt the need to dress up as Native Americans in order to feel free is a stark commentary on the complexities and contradictions of American history.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to 18th-century American cultural history and the colonial experience.