NATIVE AMERICANS History and Culture

Types of Native American Tribes  Southeast Indians  Eastern Woodlands Indians  Northwest Indians  Great Plains Indians  Southwest Indians

Southeast Indians  These Native Americans were hunters and gatherers.  The main crops grown were the “Three little sisters” – corn, squash and beans.  The Southeastern tribes were “matriarchal” – mother was the center of family.  Tribes lived in longhouses.  Example Tribes:  Seminole  Cherokee  Blackfoot

Southeastern Indians Longhouse

Eastern Woodlands Indians  These tribes mostly spoke Iroquoian.  The tribes formed the Iroquois League.  Most of their homes were log cabins or wigwams.  They used wood to make homes, tools, utensils and weapons.  Examples of tribes:  Mohawk  Senaca  Cayuga

Eastern Woodlands Wigwam

Northwest Indians  The Northwest Indians were the oldest tribes in North America. (App. 16,000 yrs.)  They were considered the richest tribes because of their abundance of food and shelter.  There main food was crops and fish, but also they had an abundance of wild game.  They used Totem Poles to tell their history.  Examples of Northwestern Tribes:  Nez Perce  Chinook  Spokane

Northwestern Indians Great House

Plains Indians  These tribes were located between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.  These tribes were nomadic…They followed the buffalo.  The buffalo was the main source for clothing, food, tools, weapons and shelter.  They lived in Teepees, the first mobile homes.  Examples of tribes:  Souix  Cheyenne  Comanche

Plains Indians – Totanka (Buffalo)

Southwestern Indians  These tribes were located in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.  These tribes are most remembered for their art, jewelry and pottery.  The greatest skill of the Southwest tribes was basket-weaving.  The Southwestern tribes were referred to as Pueblo.  These tribes lived in adobe homes called Pueblos.  Examples:  Hopi  Navajo  Apache

Southwest Indians - Pueblos

Famous Historical Events Native Americans

Native Americans and Europeans Meet  The Taino Tribe (The Bahamas) met Christopher Columbus in  Spanish Conquistador Cortez conquers the Aztecs in 1619 (Central Mexico).  Spanish Conquistador Pizarro conquers the Incas in 1621 (Peru).  As a result from slavery, war and disease, more than 8 million Native Americans were killed…89% of their original population.

Conflicts Between Indians and European Settlers.  The struggle for land was at the heart of the conflicts between Native Americans and European Settlers.  Whites felt that Indians used the land inefficiently – Underutilized.  This was the justification for taking their land.

Trail of Tears  President Andrew Jackson signed a new law called the Indian Removal Act in  The main reason for this new law was to open Southern lands to white settlers.  Southeastern tribes were forced to leave their homes and travel more than 600 miles to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  More than 2,000 died due to cold, disease and hunger.  By 1838, more than 46,000 Native Americans moved from the South.

Massacre at Sand Creek  1864 – the Cheyenne were forced onto a barren area of the Colorado Territory known as Sand Creek Reserve.  The starving Cheyenne began raiding trails and nearby settlements for food and supplies.  The Territorial Governor ordered the militia to attack the Native Raiders.  Rather than attack the raiders, the militia attacked the reserve at Sand Creek, killing 200 Cheyenne.  Mostly women and chilldren.

Battle of Little Bighorn  Miners began to move into the Black Hills of South Dakota to hunt for gold.  The Sioux protested.  The Army sent Civil War Hero George Custer to investigate.  On June 25, 1876, Custer rode out with 700 troops of the 7 th Calvary to face the Sioux.  They were expecting between 1,000 and 1,500 warriors.  There were actually between 2,500 and 3,000 Sioux Warriors.  The Sioux, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, attacked Custer’s Army and within 20 minutes they all were killed.

Battle of Wounded Knee  Sitting Bull had a vision that the Native American lands were restored, the buffalo returned, & the whites disappeared  He promised this would come true if the ritual called the Ghost Dance was performed.  The US Army were alarmed by the Ghost Dance…Sitting Bull was arrested.  On December 29, 1890, the 7 th Calvary was sent to disarm the Sioux.  At Wounded Knee, the Army opened fire on the Sioux killing more than 300 unarmed Sioux.  This event would bring the Indian Wars to an end.