Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans The Story of the Nez Perce’

The Nez Perce’ were a group of Native Americans living in what is now Idaho and parts of Oregon and Washington state. After acquiring horses in the early 1700’s they began going on long expeditions to hunt and trade. The Nez Perce’ learned to breed a strong and beautiful horse called the Appaloosa and soon boasted one of the largest horse herds on the continent.

Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans The Story of the Nez Perce’, continued The arrival of white settlers gradually changed Nez Perce’ life. At first the newcomers ~ farmers, ranchers, trappers, miners ~ lived peacefully with the Nez Perce. But when gold was discovered on Nez Perce’ land, the government forced the Nez Perce to sign a treaty that reduced their land by 75%!!!

Manifest Destiny vs. native americans The Story of the Nez Perce’, continued As time passed, more and more Americans moved west. Many white settlers didn’t want any Indians living near them. In the end, the Nez Perce were forced to move to a reservation. At first they obeyed but then they refused to go!

Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans The Story of the Nez Perce’, continued For five months a small band of 250 Nez Perce’ warriors, under the leadership of Chief Joseph, held off 5,000 U.S. troops!!! The army tracked them a thousand miles through Idaho, Yellowstone Park, and Montana before the Indians finally surrendered. The Nez Perce were assigned to a reservation in Oklahoma. Adding even more tragedy to the story, the reservation was infested with malaria! Hundreds of people died!! It seems that Chief Joseph never gave up hope of returning to his homeland. But on September 21, 1904, he fell dead as he was sitting in front of his fire. A local doctor filed the report that the chief had “died of a broken heart.” * * Now let’s listen to a song that tells the sad story of the Nez Perce people

Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans The Story of the Nez Perce’, continued Your group will be responsible for ONE verse of the song “The Heart of the Appaloosa.” 1.ONE NOTEBOOK PAPER, answer the questions for your verse. 2.ONE THE POSTER PAPER PROVIDED, prepare a lyric poster for your verse: * WRITE THE VERSE across the bottom 1/3 of the poster – use the original poem format. * Using the upper 2/3 of the paper, ILLUSTRATE THE VERSE **use something SYMBOLIC or draw an appropriate SCENE.

Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans The Story of the Nez Perce’, continued Think-and-Write TITLE: Manifest Destiny vs. Native Americans CONTENT: Considering what you have learned about the impact of Manifest Destiny on Native Americans, AGREE or DISAGREE with the following statement and explain WHY you feel the way you do: The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Manifest Destiny vs. native americans Persuasive Writing The year is Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the Indian Removal Act. –PARAGRAPH #1: Explain what you are writing your letter about (the law/what it says) and TAKE A STAND either in favor of the law or against it. –PARAGRAPH #2: Restate your position about the Indian Removal Act and GIVE AT LEAST THREE REASONS FOR YOUR OPINION. Review ALL your class notes for info that will support your opinion ~ ESPECIALLY the Revolutionary War and Constitution/Bill of Rights. –PARAGRAPH #3: This will be your shortest paragraph. Simply restate your position one more time and thank the editor for reading your letter.