From Treaties to Statehood

Essential QuestionWhy were treaties made with Native Americans, and what was the impact of this treaty-making period?

Relations between

Indians and Settlers

• The first contacts were peaceful and profitable.

• However, the growing numbers of settlers caused difficulties for the Indians.

• The huge numbers of miners further increased these difficulties.

• Diseases carried by whites wiped out many of the Native Americans.

Cultural Conflict

• Settlers and Indians had different ways of getting food.

• They viewed ownership of land differently.• They spoke different languages.• They had different ideas about leadership.• The whites believed their ways were

superior.

Stevens Treaties

• Indians relinquished their tribal lands.• Indians moved to reservations.• The United States agreed to pay for the land

it acquired.• The United States built agricultural and

industrial schools on the reservations.• The United States provided free health care

on the reservations.

Problems and Broken Promises

• Payment wasn’t always delivered.• Language barriers created misunderstandings.• The United States did not account for tribal

differences.• Fishing rights were disputed.

The Yakama War

• The Yakama Nation was created by the governor.

• White miners trespassed on Yakama Territory and armed conflict began.

• Following the slaughtering of 700 Indian horses and the execution of 24 leaders, peace treaties were signed.

The Nez Perce War

• The Nez Perce had helped Lewis and Clark and lived in peace with whites.

• Treaties put the Nez Perce on a reservation.• Discovery of gold on the reservation sparked

conflict.• Chief Joseph and his people were forced to

flee.• The Nez Perce fought hard.• Chief Joseph surrendered with a now-famous

speech.

Aftermath of Wars

• Disease and warfare greatly reduced the Indian population.

• Survivors were placed on reservations.• The government was unable to stop miners

and others from settling on reservations.• The Indian Homestead Act tried to turn the

Indians into farmers, and it opened the reservations to white settlement.

• Many Indians sold or were cheated out of their reservation land.

The Dawes Act

• The Dawes Act tried to reverse the damage of the reservations by breaking them up.

• Each Indian family was given a piece of reservation land.

• The remainder of the land was open to white settlement.

• Land-owning Indians could become U.S. citizens, but they had to break tribal ties.

• Tribal culture was weakened by the Dawes Act.

Boarding Schools

• Boarding schools took Indian children out of their homes and away from their cultures.

• Children were taught how to speak, dress, act, and work like whites.

• The experience was a culture shock.• Children were punished if they spoke their

native language.

The Road to Statehood

• To become a state, a territory needed:- a population of at least 60,000 people - a state constitution- public schools- basic civil rights for citizens

Creating the State Constitution

• Two constitutional conventions were held before Washington became a state.

• Delegates debated many issues, including:- voting rights for women- an end to Indian reservations- segregated schools for black children- prohibition of alcohol

• Voters rejected these issues.• The U.S. Congress rejected Washington’s first

constitution.• A second constitution was approved, and

Washington was granted statehood in 1889.

Washington’s Constitution

• The governor has the power to veto bills or sections of bills.

• Compared to the U.S. Constitution, rights are more specific and clear, such as:- the right to privacy - the right of a citizen to bear arms

• The state is responsible for educating all children.

Indian Rights

• Washington’s constitution upholds tribal sovereignty on Indian reservations.

• However, the federal law is still supreme.