Native Americans and Native Americans and Western SettlementWestern SettlementFocus Question: How did the Focus Question: How did the

pressures of westward pressures of westward expansion impact Native expansion impact Native

Americans?Americans?

Decline of Native American CultureDecline of Native American Culture By the end of the By the end of the

Civil War, around Civil War, around 250,000 Native 250,000 Native Americans lived Americans lived west of the west of the Mississippi RiverMississippi River

What do we already know

about how Native Americans are treated by the

U.S. Government?

The Great PlainsThe Great Plains The large grassland extending through The large grassland extending through

the west central portion of the United the west central portion of the United StatesStates

The BuffaloThe Buffalo Clothing, food, shelter, shoes, and blanketsClothing, food, shelter, shoes, and blankets

Buffalo PopulationBuffalo Population

18001800 65,000,00065,000,000 18501850 15,000,00015,000,000 18701870 1,0001,000 20002000 260,000260,000

The loss of the Buffalo due to massive The loss of the Buffalo due to massive over-hunting by American Settlers led to over-hunting by American Settlers led to the demise of many Plains tribesthe demise of many Plains tribes

Main Difference between American Main Difference between American Settlers and Native Americans:Settlers and Native Americans:

LAND!!!LAND!!!• Native Americans did not believe in private ownership of land

• American Settlers believed that Natives gave up their rights to the land because they didn’t “improve” it (farm, build, etc)

When gold was discovered out West When gold was discovered out West – millions move west – come in – millions move west – come in contact with Native Americanscontact with Native Americans

Sand Creek Massacre 1864Sand Creek Massacre 1864 US Militia attacked Native Americans US Militia attacked Native Americans

at Sand Creekat Sand Creek 150+ Native Americans were killed 150+ Native Americans were killed

(mainly women and children)(mainly women and children)

Lt. Colonel John Chivington

Chivington became violently angry at them and brought his fist down close to LT Cramer’s face. “Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians!” he cried. “I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God’s heaven to kill Indians.” ~ from Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Words of a SiouxWords of a Sioux[We] have been taught to hunt and live on the game [buffalo]. You tell us that we must learn to farm, live in one house, and take on your ways. Suppose the people living beyond the great sea should come and tell you that you must stop farming, and kill your cattle, and take your houses and lands, what would you do? Would you not fight them?

Reservation or ResistanceReservation or Resistance Friendly tribes were forced onto Friendly tribes were forced onto

reservationsreservations Resisting tribes were met with violent Resisting tribes were met with violent

forceforce

ReservationsReservations: : Specific areas setSpecific areas setaside by the aside by the government forgovernment forIndians to live. Indians to live.

Problems for Native Americans:

Loss of freedom

Little $ (Poverty)

Disease from white men

Problems for Native Americans:

Loss of freedom

Little $ (Poverty)

Disease from white men

NOTES BREAK!!!NOTES BREAK!!!

OPEN YOUR TEXTBOOK TO PAGE. OPEN YOUR TEXTBOOK TO PAGE. 411 AND ANALYZE THE MAP.411 AND ANALYZE THE MAP.

BE READY TO ANSWER THE TWO BE READY TO ANSWER THE TWO QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM. QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM.

Sitting Bull: Sioux Chief General Custer: US Army

Battle of Little BighornBattle of Little BighornJune 25, 1876June 25, 1876

Underestimating Sioux strength, Custer Underestimating Sioux strength, Custer attacked the Sioux encampment on the attacked the Sioux encampment on the banks of the Little Bighorn Riverbanks of the Little Bighorn River

Led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, the Led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, the Sioux force totaled over 1,200 warriorsSioux force totaled over 1,200 warriors

In less than one hour, all the 220+ In less than one hour, all the 220+ members of Custer’s military were deadmembers of Custer’s military were dead

Sitting BullSitting Bull After the victory at Little Bighorn, the After the victory at Little Bighorn, the

weakened Sioux began to suffer weakened Sioux began to suffer losses in 1876 losses in 1876

He took his people to Canada to avoid He took his people to Canada to avoid destruction by the US Armydestruction by the US Army

Because of starvation, Sitting Bull led Because of starvation, Sitting Bull led his people back to surrender in the US his people back to surrender in the US in 1881in 1881

AssimilationAssimilation

Defined:Defined: A plan for Native Americans to A plan for Native Americans to give up their beliefs and way of life and give up their beliefs and way of life and become part of white culturebecome part of white culture

Dawes Act (1887)Dawes Act (1887) ~ Broke up large ~ Broke up large reservations and gave the land reservations and gave the land

to individual Native Americans to individual Native Americans

to farm to farm

(160 acres to every family)(160 acres to every family)

Critics of AssimilationCritics of Assimilation

Helen Hunt Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson wrotewrote A Century of A Century of DishonorDishonor- - said the said the government should government should treat the Native treat the Native Americans fairly and Americans fairly and make up for past make up for past wrongs.wrongs.

Wounded Knee MassacreWounded Knee Massacre

In 1890, the army collected 350+ In 1890, the army collected 350+ starving Sioux into a camp at Wounded starving Sioux into a camp at Wounded Knee Creek, South DakotaKnee Creek, South Dakota

The US demanded the Sioux give up all The US demanded the Sioux give up all their weaponstheir weapons

A shot was fired in the camp A shot was fired in the camp somewhere and the US Soldiers opened somewhere and the US Soldiers opened fire killing everyone to include women fire killing everyone to include women and childrenand children

Chief Big Foot dead in the snow at Wounded Knee

Wounded Knee ended Native American resistance

Why do you think forced assimilation

doesn’t work?

RAFT or History FrameRAFT or History Frame

You will need to investigate further to You will need to investigate further to do the assignment correctly. More do the assignment correctly. More information can be found on pgs. information can be found on pgs. 409-413409-413

This will be due at the end of class This will be due at the end of class today!today!