IV. Impact of Western Migration

A. Importance of the Buffalo Why do the buffalo seem so important to the Plains Indians? Settlers hunted buffalo to sell their hides. Why was this business now possible? Rail companies used them to feed workers. Why else would they want to kill buffalo? Indians on reservations were disgusted by reservation life because they weren’t allowed to take part in nomadic hunts.

B. Buffalo Population Ruined Not enough buffalo for both Native Americans and settlers. Wiped out buffalo population, which Native Americans depended on. U.S. army intentionally starts slaughtering buffalo. Why? Impact: Buffalo population goes from 30 million to less than a hundred. Impact: More and more American Indians forced to reservations.

C. Reservation Resistance Some groups felt that the reservations weren’t large enough or that the land reserved didn’t offer enough access to water and soil. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce (1877): Refusing to be settled on a Reservation in Idaho, Chief Joseph and his people were forced to move to Oklahoma after a brief period of resistance. Chief Joseph: “Our Chiefs are killed…the little children are freezing to death. My people…have no blankets, no food…Hear me, my Chiefs; I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. I will fight no more forever.” C. Reservation Resistance

D. Wounded Knee Wounded Knee (1890) – Native Americans were practicing a traditional ritual called “Ghost Dance” that caused the U.S. military to feel threatened. Why? Result: about 150 Native Americans (half women and children) were killed. Sitting Bull is killed. Signaled that the Indian Wars were over and all American Indians were relocated to reservations.

Independent Practice Create an annotated timeline that explains the impact of westward migration. Your timeline should include a date (if applicable) and a 3 sentence explanation as to how the event impacted the West.

Exit Ticket In the period from 1860 to 1890, which experience was shared by most Native Americans living in western states? They maintained control of their traditional lands. They benefited economically from government policy. They became farmers and small business owners. They were forced to live on reservations.

Exit Ticket 2) "[Buffalo hunters] have done more in the last two years, and will do more in the next year, to settle the . . . Indian question than the entire regular army has done in the last thirty years. . . . For the sake of peace let them kill, skin, and sell until the buffalo are destroyed.” —General Philip Sheridan What was the result of the process described in this quotation? Native American Indians were granted farmland under the Homestead Act. The disappearance of their economic base helped drive Native American Indians onto reservations. Many Native American Indians moved to Eastern cities to work in factories. Most Native American Indians migrated to Canada to find new ways to earn a living.

Exit Ticket 3) How was the environment affected by western migration and settlement, and how did this effect change the lives of American Indians?