Most 19th-century Americans neither appreciated nor understood their Indian neighbors. The Native American way of life seemed alien and uncivilized compared to American society, which was experiencing unprecedented technological and engineering revolutions. Because of this, a myth began to develop in the minds of the American people that the Indian presence in the West was unacceptable and that the U.S. government needed to take action to solve the problem of "uncivilized" Indians. Over time, two conflicting opinions developed as to what form the proposed government intervention should take. Some believed that Native Americans were pitiful, uneducated people who needed to be trained to assimilate and succeed in the modern world. Others were convinced that the Indians were a violent, subhuman race that needed to be exterminated in order to facilitate their westward expansion. These opposing views were expressed not only in politics, but also in painting. Several 19th century painters attempted to capture different aspects of this debate in their art, but regardless of the painters' opinions, all of these paintings were based on the myth of the uncivilized Indian. In 1863, Albert Bierstadt completed Lander's The Rocky Mountains. Peak, a painting that fantasizes about the Rocky Mountains and depicts Indians as “noble savages” (The Humanities p. 1047-1048). In the foreground of the painting is a green meadow populated by Native Americans. Some Indians are shown seated, while others are gathered around the spoils of a recent hunt. Beyond the field is a glassy lake, fed by a foaming waterfall from the mountains. The land then gradually rises into forested ridges and sunlit cliffs, finally culminating...... middle of paper ...... successfully within the confines of this culture for centuries before the arrival of Europeans on the American continent. Although Americans had different opinions on how the government should handle Native American tribes, the myth accepted by most people was that the Indians were uncivilized and had a poor way of life. Americans also believed that the government should act, whether by exterminating the Indians completely or integrating them into society. Ultimately, well-intentioned policies and acts of violence proved devastating for Native people. Many Indian tribes were either exterminated or displaced in gruesome ways (The Humanities p. 1050-1051). As American nationalism grew during the 19th century, early American culture was wiped out because it was seen as an obstacle to progress and the advancement of civilization..