American Indians Under Pressure ! Topic 2.1

Nomads People who move their homes regularly, usually in search of available food sources

Great Plains Vast grassland between the Mississippi river and the Rocky Mountains

Great Plains Life of The Plains Indians Buffalo provided life-sustaining supplies to the Plains Indians

The Indian Problem Why do we have difficulties? Different concept of land. Settlers viewed the land as a resource that could be used to produce wealth Clashed with Native American traditions

Treaties Government tried to restrict movement of Native Americans by Negotiating treaties Reservations Federal land set aside for Native Americans Misunderstanding and fraud Gold miners refused to stay off the land.

Sand Creek Massacre, 1864 In the fall of 1864 Promised protection Chief Black Kettle and other chiefs camped at Sand Creek near Fort Lyons (Cheyenne and Arapaho)

Sand Creek Massacre, 1864 Men. Women, and Children slaughtered while trying to surrender Colonel Chivington wants a military victory Black Kettle tries to surrender.

Little Bighorn-1876 The Black Hills Gold Rush of 1875 Drew prospectors onto Sioux hunting grounds in the Dakotas and neighboring Montana Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull assembled to drive them out

Little Bighorn The U.S. Army sent its own troops against the Native Americans Lieutenant George A. Custer Custer sent to round up Indians Custer split up his forces expecting a smaller enemy

Little Bighorn He invades sacred Sioux grounds, and rushes ahead of other army regiments to Little Bighorn. 2,000 Sioux warriors cut him off. 250 soldiers dead

This was Custer’s Last Stand Stunned Americans! Army flooded the area forced most Sioux back to their reservations

1877- NEZ PERCE INDIANS CHIEF JOSEPH: Idaho A CONVERTED CHRISTIAN PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE with THE WHITE MAN. CHIEF JOSEPH

CONFLICT: THE GOVT. BROKE THE TREATY FROM 1866 U.S. TOOK BACK HIS FATHERS LAND REFUSING TO MOVE TO A SMALLER RESERVATION, CHIEF JOSEPH CHOSE TO FIGHT THE MOVE PLAN WAS TO LEAD HIS TRIBE TO CANADA.

CHIEF JOSEPH WALKED MORE THAN1300 MILES Stopped just short of the border ARMY FINALLY CAUGHT THEM THEY WERE THEN SENT TO RESERVATIONS IN OKLAHOMA

Wounded Knee-1890 Prophecies spread. Return to traditional life if people performed purification ceremonies The Ghost Dance religion forms. Their leader, Sitting Bull, is arrested. Sitting Bull hesitates. The soldiers shoot him.

Wounded Knee In response a group of Sioux left their reservation Troops sent out after them During disarmament, shots are fired – MASSACRE! More than 100 men, women, and children died This was the last armed battle of the Indian Wars.

WHAT ENDED THE INDIANS WAY OF LIFE? 1. THE RAILROAD- BROUGHT THE SOLDIERS, SETTLERS, MINERS, AND BUFFALO HUNTERS. 2. DAWES ACT 1887- FORCE THE INDIAN INTO ACCEPTING THE LIFESTYLE / VALUES OF THE WHITE MAN (Farmers).

Assimilation What’s next? Most still believed that Native Americans still needed to be “civilized” Assimilation into American society Assimilation the process by which one society becomes a part of another, more dominant society by adopting its culture We want to AMERICANIZE the Indian

Assimilation General assimilation (Americanization) Bring them to civilization give up their traditions learn English Christianity white dress & customs learn a trade

Army Captain Richard H. Pratt opened the United States Indian Training and Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Before and after picture at the Indian school in Carlisle Pennsylvania

Opening of the Indian Territory 1889-When all western lands were taken, the government opened the only land left, the Oklahoma Indian Territory

Conclusion Not successful Indians did not join the American mainstream. By the end of the century, disease and poverty had reduced the Indian population to just 200,000.

Moving West Frontier - “the land or territory that forms the furthest extent of a country's settled or inhabited regions Harsh weather Vast area Native Americans

Westward Migration Westward Migration “Push” Factors “Pull” Factors Civil War displaced Thousands Exodusters -50,000 migrated west Farmland became costly in the East Failed enterprises Religious repression Sheltered outlaws on the run “Pull” Factors Pacific Railway Acts Morrill Land-Grant Act Homestead Act Property rights