The Plight of Native Americans on the Frontier Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Intro Lecture

The Effects of First Contact When Columbus landed in 1492, there were an estimated 110 million Native Americans. Because of European diseases like Smallpox, you can divide this number by two for every decade following…

The Trail of Tears…

Despite their declining numbers, Native Americans in the Mid to Late 19 th Century still were percieved as a threat by the of European Americans migrating west… Why was there conflict? –Cultural Differences What cultural differences can you see becoming a problem between European Americans and Native Americans? View of land Racism Developing Conflict

Solution #1: Reservations Problems with Making Treaties –Some signers unsure of “meaning” of treaties. –Some agents were dishonest. –Bureau of Indian Affairs didn’t hold up their end.

Solution #2: Fighting Native Americans Key Battles Native Americans were frequently no match for the large forces and technology of European American settlers. –“Battle” of Little Bighorn, 1876 Custer’s Last Stand 200 US soldiers slaughtered in South Dakota –Increased anti-Native American sentiment in the USA –“Battle” of Wounded Knee, 1890 Ghost Dance 200 Sioux killed while trying to surrender after the death of their chief, Sitting Bull.

Solution #3: Assimilation What is assimilation? –1879, United States Indian Training and Industrial School opened in Carlisle, PA. The Dawes Act (1887) –Divided Reservation lands into 160 acre plots for individual Native American families. Rejected by many NAs because of their views on land.