The shells were 600 lbs, they could deliver a 15-20 kiloton blast yield, and it took 5-7 crewmen to load.  This gun was tested at the Nevada proving grounds at test site Frenchman Flat in 1952. 

After the successful test fire, 20 cannons were ordered. The cannons were 84 feet long, 16 feet wide, 12 feet tall, 83.3 tons, and 800,000$ a piece. It took a tandem semi truck setup to move, and The T72 gun carriage was used to cradle the gun when it was fired.

These "sun guns" were deployed to the Fulda Gap to prevent a Soviet invasion of Western Europe if the need arose. The rest were sent to Korea to discourage another war over the Korean border. The cannons had to be frequently moved to avoid being targeted by enemy forces if a war started. They were eventually phased out due to more nuclear shells for the existing artillery pieces in the American arsenal and they did not have the desired range for firing.

After the test fire, the original cannon was swapped with the other cannon that was at Frenchman Flat on the testing grounds, which was named "Sad Sack" because he didn't get to fire, so when the cannons were shipped off to the front, no one knew where Atomic Annie was.  As a result, she was given the new nickname name AWOL Annie. 

Conflicts with Settlers and The Indian Removal Act (early 1800s)

Andrew Jackson, the president from 1829 to 1837, fought against the Natives and wanted to displace them from areas east of the Mississippi river.

Georgia soon extended into Cherokee lands seeking out gold that had been discovered. Many people claimed that they were violating Cherokee rights, but Jackson refused to stop.

He then signed the Indian Removal Act which forced all Native American tribes to abandon their homes and move to reservations in the West.

The Supreme Court said that Georgia did not have the right to do so and stated that the state had no control over the Cherokee lands, but Jackson refused.

So in 1838-1839, Cherokee were required to go farther west. Throughout the journey, the tribe suffered horrible weather and lack of resources resulting in over a thousand deaths. They then named the journey the Trail of Tears. 

Impact of Native American Movement

Ever since the Indian Removal Act, the Native American tribes have been moved all over the country so that more colonists could expand. Because of this, many tribes and native languages have been lost. Some of the tribes such as the Métis, even colonized into Canada.

Land Restoration in California (2023)

Native Americans known as the Acjachemen and Tongva people were given back over six acres of land in Orange County, California. Native leaders gathered at the White House Tribal Nations Summit, which is where Biden promised to give Natives greater authority over their homelands.

Dustin Murphey, who is Acjachemen, and Tina Calderon, who is of Tongva as well as Chumash, describe that it means more to them than just getting their land back, it means that they are able to reclaim a part of themselves. Tina Calderon says, “Tobacco is sacred to us - something we pray with.” 

Researchers found other things belonging to the Natives such as house foundations, beads, and hearths in the land given to them from long ago when the tribes used to live there. They haven’t had space to practice traditions that were in place millenniums before the temples of Greece, or the pyramids of Egypt.

Challenges that the Native Americans Face

Though we have given back some land to the Natives, there are still many problems that they suffer from. Experts have found out that many Native Americans suffer from PTSD and have been facing poverty along with substance abuse and mental health problems. These things have stopped Natives from asking professionals for help. Thankfully, organizations such as the Indian Health Service are working to help Native Americans with their health problems. You can check out their website at ihs.gov and find other organizations helping the Natives by searching “organizations that help Native American's health”.