They leap from the trees and scream like animals or appear to us as noble representatives of a dying race - the Native Americans in James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales. Even today, his images influence our perception of the indigenous peoples of North America. Starting with an insight into the author's life, the historical background of his works, and the foundations of stereotype research, this study seeks to explore the origin and purpose of these representations. The central question is what purpose Cooper's depictions of Native Americans served: Were they a critique of a nation that ruthlessly annihilated an entire people to secure its own progress? Or were they intended to help soothe a guilty conscience and justify the ruthless actions of the United States? This book is of particular interest to Americanists and historians of North America, but it may also be entertaining for those outside the field.