Part III The US in the Gilded Age

Expansion and Civil Unrest America was being tested Labor unions v. employers Racial tensions Catholic Church was growing stronger Catholic Church had provided much of the nursing for the Civil War Many Catholics in the working force (immigrants) Catholic Schools on the rise Helped provide morality in the West as America was expanding Westward (partially due to gold rush in the West)

Native Americans America was expanding westward Native Americans already inhabited many of these lands, and had been promised them by the US US kept asking them to move further west, promising them they could then keep those lands Native Americans also lived a hunting based life, which clashed with the idea the US had of established settlements at a set location Broken promise after broken promise US forced them onto reservations of low quality land

The Catholic Effort Some Catholics tried to minister to the Native Americans and advocated their fair treatment Fr. De Smet Did not tell others of some gold he located Wanted the US government to come up with a constructive policy for dealing with the Native Americans, including teaching them how to work the land they were given if they were moved Acted as an ambassador for peace between the Native Americans and the US Government Highly respected by the Native Americans Told the US he would not negotiate with the Native Americans if the promises he made were broken by the government

Broken Promises Fr. De Smet got the government and the Native Americans to agree to a deal in which the Sioux would give up some hunting grounds in return for a promise that they would always own the Black Hills Sacred location for the Sioux Gold discovered in Black Hills Gov tried to buy the land Rejected by Chief Sitting Bull Gov told all Native Americans to report to nearest location of the Indian Bureau by a certain date It was winter, so the journey was impossible An excuse for the Gov to use force against the Native Americans for their “insubordination”

Wars in the West Second Sioux War US planned a 3 prong attack on Native American territory Would eradicate anyone unwilling to peacefully move Native Americans put up a good defense: Took out George Armstrong Custer and others Multiple other wars Native Americans Outnumbered and outgunned Chiefs started being killed off or forced to flee Wars ended with the Ghost Dance War, where Native Americans were massacred at Wounded Knee for performing a religious ritual

Blandina Segale A Sister of Charity St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s order Assigned to the Midwest Fired from teaching in public schools because she refused to not wear her habit Drunken quarrel between two men ended in a shooting Persuaded dying man to forgive his shooter Got the shooter to ask the dying man for forgiveness Got the shooter out of being hung on the spot He received ten years for manslaughter

Blandina Segale Outlaw from Billy the Kid’s gang was shot in the leg No doctor dared care for him She took care of him Billy the Kid showed up Wanted to scalp every doctor in town who denied to help Thanked Blandina for her help, promised her one favor She asked that he spare the other doctors Later his gang was going to rob a group she was riding with, but had them step down when he saw her