Dawes Act and Wounded Knee

Home

Chief Joseph Quotation "Do not misunderstand me [and] my affection for the land. I never said the land was mine to do with as I chose. The one who has the right to dispose of it is the one who has created it. I claim a right to live on my land, and accord you the privilege to live on yours. The earth is the mother of all people and all people should have equal rights upon it. “You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born a free man should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases..." Chief Joseph

Contact and Conflict Difference in values For Native Americans, community means more than the individual. Wealth is spread equally Decision making made by tribe not one person. There is not private property. People do not own the land.

Allotment Period In 1871 U.S. Government states Native American tribal groups are no longer independent nations

General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) Passed in 1887 Gave natives land to “civilize” them as farmers & ranchers Divided reservations & reduced amount of land controlled by natives Senator Henry Dawes

Dawes Act

Dawes General Allotment Act Dawes Act: Aimed to end the reservation system by implementing an allotment system. Divided reservations into 160 acre homesteads for farming. Federal government held the land in trust for 25 years. Native Americans would gain American citizenship for giving up tribal status.

Allotment Period Worked to assimilate natives into American society: Practice of traditional spiritual ceremonies forbidden Children sent to day & boarding schools

React to these two pictures: Are they the same person React to these two pictures: Are they the same person? Is one more acceptable, why? How would you feel if you were asked to change who you are?

In the White Man’s Image Group of Omaha boys in cadet uniforms, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880.

In 1875, Captain Richard Pratt escorted 72 Indian warriors suspected of murdering white settlers to Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. Once there, Pratt began an ambitious experiment which involved teaching the Indians to read and write English, putting them in uniforms, and drilling them like soldiers. "Kill the Indian and save the man," was Pratt's motto.

Carlisle School

A Cultural Experiment News of Pratt's experiment spread. With the blessing of Congress, Pratt expanded his program by establishing the Carlisle School for Indian Students to continue his "civilizing" mission.

Apache children on arrival at the Carlisle Indian School (Pennsylvania) wearing traditional clothing.

Apache children at the Carlisle School four months later.

Cheyenne woman named Woxie Haury in ceremonial dress, and, in wedding portrait with husband. Two studio portraits; on left she poses with her hair down, in a beaded & fringed dress, necklace, and beaded moccasins. On right she wears a western-style wedding dress

Before and After

Learning finger songs at Carlisle Indian School, ca. 1900 Learning finger songs at Carlisle Indian School, ca. 1900. Frances Benjamin Johnston photo

Response to Allotment: Sitting Bull Proud Lakota Chief Led Sioux in resistance to U.S. Government policies designed to strip his people of their identity, their dignity and their sacred land -- the gold-laden Black Hills of the Dakotas

Hope rose for the Sioux in the form of the prophet Wovoka (Studi) and the Ghost Dance a messianic movement that promised an end of their suffering under the white man. This hope is all but obliterated after the killing of Sitting Bull and….

Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890) Following the death of Sitting Bull, U.S. cavalry tried to arrest his followers While surrendering and handing over weapons, a shot rang out=soldiers opened fire Killed more than 200 unarmed Sioux, including around 70 women & children

Results of the Dawes Act 1928 Meriam Report: 1. Allotment was a dismal failure. 2. Huge loss of NA land holdings. (98 million acres in 40 years) 3. Created huge Indian bureaucracy. 4. Furthered issues of poverty

Dawes Act Split up into groups of 3 or 4. Your group will be assigned to read and answer questions from one of the following: Dawes Act of 1887 Reporter Helen Hunt Jackson’s A Century of Dishonor in 1881. President Chester Arthur’s Viewpoint from 1897. We will come together as a group and answer the questions Finally, we will answer the “Discussion Questions” on the back page.