Native Americans in the West (1850’s)

The Plains Indians way of life

Nomadic on the Great Plains since not in one spot, Americans thought the land

was available World centered around the buffalo

Americans hunting bison to extinction & forcing Plains Indians away from their home

depended primarily on them for food, shelter, & clothing

Negotiations & Conflict

Fort Laramie Treaty – U.S. accepted Indian claims to the land & allowed U.S. to build RR across Indian homelands. Didn’t last long bc of treasure seekers & farmers

Reservations – areas of fed. Land set aside for Natives. Many Indians refused to leave homeland. The Long Walk – Navajos pushed from AZ to

NM; 100s of Navajo died.

Negotiations & Conflict

Dawes Act – taking & redistributing Native American land, the way American govt. wants; goal – to take Native resources & make American $$$

Indian Schools – part of U.S. Govt. Indian Policy; boarding schools were mandatory; kill the Indian, not the man; brainwash them into being “American” & Christian

Americanize the savages!

Native American Resistance a.k.a. the Indian Wars

war between U.S. fed. govt. & Plains Indians Battle of Little Bighorn – Colonel Custer &

Sioux people; Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse refused to leave for reservations worst defeat of U.S. Army in the west; also last Sioux victory; Custer & troops slaughtered a Native American victory in a series of

defeats Geronimo – Apache who led a band of

warriors to fight U.S. soldiers; his courage to remain free made him a legend.

Colonel Custer

Sitting Bull

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqyAtyvMccQ&list=PLCQW6suT3zhK9xXa2rsX8_RMZiiTEmay7

Geronimo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ow7iSPZZFE

Native American Resistance (contd.)

Nez Perce – resistance in NW (Oregon & Idaho reservation)

U.S. govt. took back land reserved for Natives for gold miners & settlers

Chief Joseph reluctantly agreed & surrenders to U.S. army: “I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed… It

is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death… My heart is sick and sad. From where the Sun now stands I will fight no more forever.”

Native American Resistance (contd.)

The Ghost Dance - a religious movement predicting the arrival of paradise free from all settlers; paradise could be achieved if you performed this dance (like worshiping)

The Massacre at Wounded Knee – U.S. troops killed 300 Sioux (men, women & children) this marked the end of more than 25 years of war on the

Great Plainshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=tRMUd4azFZs&list=PLCQW6suT3zhK9xXa2rsX8_RMZiiTEmay7

SUMMARY

QUIZ TIME

1. What was the main life source for the Great Plains Indians?

2. What U.S. law took Native land and gave it to settlers, as well as divvying up the land that would belong to the Natives (no more communal living)?

3. Which Indian War battle was the most famous Native American victory?

4. Which Apache warrior became a legend because of his constant fighting with the U.S. military?

5. What horrendous event ended the Indian Wars?