1. Settlement of the Great Plains, 1848 to 1890• Homestead Act of 1862• Conflicts with Native Americans• U.S. Policy on NativesBroken Treaties and Relocation to ReservationsDawes Act of 1887--- Americanize Native

AmericansAssimilation

2. The Cowboy Culture

3. Mining Industry• Iron Ore for steel

3. Life on the Plains• Agriculture backbone of American Economy

Tribes of the Great

PlainsSioux

CheyenneCrow

ArapahoKiowa

Homestead Act was a law developed in 1862 by Congress to promote settlement of the Great

Plains.Government knew that Agriculture was to be

impetus for American economy

Age 21 and the head of the family could have 160 acres of land if they improved it in five yearsCultivate land, raise livestock, build, etc.

The US Government wanted to encourage farming and ranching, and the Homestead Act allowed

thousands of settlers to onto the plains.

Population Changes in the West, 1850 to

1900

A Pioneer’s Sod House, SD A Pioneer’s Sod House, SD

Differences in land ownershipRailroads

Settlers trespassing on Indian Land

Discovery of goldSlaughter of the buffalo

Broken treaties

Promontory, Utah

•May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah

•“The Wedding of the Rails”

•Central Pacific and Union Pacific

•May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah

•“The Wedding of the Rails”

•Central Pacific and Union Pacific

U.S. Policy on NativeAmericans

Negotiate treaties to sell land to US

Americanization or assimilation

Adopt Christianity White education

Individual land ownership Adopt agriculture

Take away food source to force to Reservations = tracks

of land

Map 13 of 45

Dawes Act of 1887Quicker Americanization

Assimilate, mainstreamed and absorbed into US societyAdopt Christianity and White education Individual land ownership

Abandon tribe, culture and become farmers Male claimed 160 acres of land (allotment)Children would be sent to Boarding schoolsFarm land for 25 years. 1924 gain citizenship and right to vote

•1866 to 1900, the US supported the extermination of

11 million buffalo.

•General Sherman (Sherman’s

march) knew that if the buffalo

were gone, the US government

could control Native Americans

Skull

• Take away the food source

from the Native American and

they will be forced to submit

and go to the reservations.

• This will help make way for

more railroads in the west

• Take away the food source

from the Native American and

they will be forced to submit

and go to the reservations.

• This will help make way for

more railroads in the west

G o l d !G o l d !• Gold discovered in the Black

Hills.• Govt. tries to purchase the

land, but the Sioux refuse.• Gold miners refuse to

respect Sioux land…..• Conflict erupts!

• Gold discovered in the Black Hills.

• Govt. tries to purchase the land, but the Sioux refuse.• Gold miners refuse to

respect Sioux land…..• Conflict erupts!

Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse• Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse

were two chiefs who refused to sign the treaty.

• They defiantly left the reservation.

• "One does not sell the earth upon which the people walk" Crazy Horse

• Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were two chiefs who refused to sign the treaty.

• They defiantly left the reservation.

• "One does not sell the earth upon which the people walk" Crazy Horse

Little Big Horn River, Montana - 1876• George Armstrong

Custer was sent to force the Sioux, Cheyenne and

Arapaho back to their reservations.

• He was in command of the 7th

Calvary.

• June 26, 1876

• George Armstrong Custer was sent to

force the Sioux, Cheyenne and

Arapaho back to their reservations.

• He was in command of the 7th

Calvary.

• June 26, 1876

The Battle of Little Big Horn 1876

The Battle of Little Big Horn 1876

He was heavily outnumbered and trapped. Custer & all 220 of his men died. “Custer’s Last Stand” outraged Americans and led to govt.

retribution. The Sioux and Cheyenne were crushed within a year.

He was heavily outnumbered and trapped. Custer & all 220 of his men died. “Custer’s Last Stand” outraged Americans and led to govt.

retribution. The Sioux and Cheyenne were crushed within a year.

Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn

Memorial-Little Bighorn

Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SD

Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SD

Battle of Wounded Knee – Dec.1890

• Violence erupted, 300 Native Americans and 25

whites lay dead.• This is the last of the

Native American conflicts.

• Violence erupted, 300 Native Americans and 25

whites lay dead.• This is the last of the

Native American conflicts.

Chief Big Foot

• The dead of Big Foot's people were buried in a mass grave. The still frozen stiff bodies

were dumped unceremoniously into the hole.

• The United States handed out over twenty Congressional Medals of Honor to soldiers

of the Seventh Cavalry who had participated in the battle.

• The dead of Big Foot's people were buried in a mass grave. The still frozen stiff bodies

were dumped unceremoniously into the hole.

• The United States handed out over twenty Congressional Medals of Honor to soldiers

of the Seventh Cavalry who had participated in the battle.

Battle of Wounded Knee – Dec.1890

Colt .45 Revolver and the Winchester Repeating RifleColt .45 Revolver and the

Winchester Repeating Rifle

“The weapons which won the West”“The weapons which won the West”

Legendary Gunslingers & Train Robbers

Legendary Gunslingers & Train Robbers

Jesse JamesJesse James

Butch CassidyButch Cassidy

Billy the KidBilly the Kid

Curly Bill BrociusCurly Bill Brocius

Legendary Female Western Characters

Legendary Female Western Characters

Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane

Annie OakleyAnnie Oakley

Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890

Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890

Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889• This opened Native Territory to the settlers.

• What used to be Native American Territory out west

was opened to Americans once they were finally on

the reservation.• State of Oklahoma would

be formed.

• This opened Native Territory to the settlers.

• What used to be Native American Territory out west

was opened to Americans once they were finally on

the reservation.• State of Oklahoma would

be formed.