Native Americans and Westward Expansion Trail of Tears: 1839 really began the constant push and displacement of the Native American people to the west. About 90 tribes were moved to the West and the Cherokee were among the last to go. Many went by steamboat but more went by foot where thousands died. Moved to the Indian territory, mainly in Oklahoma.

Post Civil War  The Homestead Act, railroad, gold and silver prospects, cattle industry and adventure brought people out west.  Many conflicts and cultural misunderstandings took place with Native Americans.  There were various raids on homesteaders and attacks which did create hysteria and paranoia concerning Native Americans  Military forts were set up to protect settlers in the west. This lead to more violent encounters.  After the Civil War many soldiers came out West to get involved in the cattle industry, etc.

Post Civil War

Post Civil War continued  Conflict continued with Native Americans and a focus on killing the Buffalo population became a focus which was not only a food source but a provider of tools, clothes, shelter and spiritual significance.  65,000,000 million Buffalo in 1800  1,000 Buffalo in 1870  Many treaties came about and Native Americans agreed to live on reservations but constantly had to deal with settler and prospectors encroachment on their land.

Death of the Buffalo

Native Americans: Assimilation  The U.S. government felt the Native Americans were savages and needed to be Assimilated: Give up their beliefs and way of life and adapt the white culture.  The government took kids away from families, sent them to boarding schools, made them speak English, cut their hair and made them where U.S. clothing.  Dawes Act: 1887 Congress passed this to “Americanize” the Native Americans. The Act broke up the reservations to create individual land ownership.

Native Americans: Assimilation  Dawes Act: Native Americans where given 160 acres each for those who headed a household. 80 acres for those who were unmarried.  U.S. government then sold the remaining land to settlers and the profits went to provide Native Americans farm supplies.  2/3 of the land was sold to settlers and Native Americans lost more overtime because of they didn’t comprehend land ownership and were at times not on good farmland – barren land.  U.S. government really didn’t provide profits back to the Native Americans in the end.

Native Americans during Westward Expansion Three major battles: 1. Sand Creek Massacre 2. Battle of Little Bighorn 3. Battle at Wounded Knee

The Sand Creek Massacre  November 29, 1864, was an unforgettable day for the Cheyenne and Arapaho. On the banks of Sand Creek, 8 miles north and 1 miles east of here, stood a camp of about 100 Cheyenne and some 10 Arapaho lodges established, by what may have been taken as the order of the U.S. Army Commander at nearby Fort Lyon. According to Indian tradition, early that morning Cheyenne hunters reported that soldiers were approaching. Black Kettle, a leader and spokesman for the camp, hoisted an American Flag to convey that the camp was peaceful. Ignoring the signal, volunteer militia, led by Colonel John M. Chivington, attacked killing all in their path. With many of the men away, organized resistance was impossible. When the tragic day was over, more than 137 Indian people, mostly women and children, lay dead, their bodies mutilated. The brutal attack was denounced in congressional hearings, but none of the participants was punished.

(Continued…)  Date : 1864  Major Players : Cheyenne, Black Kettle, John Chivington and his militia  Where : Colorado  What initiated the massacre: The Cheyenne were raiding nearby trails and settlements for food and supplies. AND Chivington’s revenge!

(Continued…)  Intentions of Cheyenne : Peace!  Intentions of militia: Stop the raiding  “I want no peace till the Indians suffer more.” – General Curtis, orders to Chivington  Outcome: The murder of about 200 Cheyenne. –No soldiers were brought to justice

Battle of Little Big Horn  When: 1876  Major Players: Sitting Bull, Sioux, Cheyenne, Gen. Custer and his militia  Where: Rosebud Creek in south central Montana (near Little Bighorn River)

(Continued…)  What instigated the battle: LATE IN 1875 an order went out from President Ulysses S. Grant in Washington to the various hostile Indian tribes that they were to report to reservations and Indian agencies no later than 31 January The Cheyenne and Sioux tribes disregarded the order  Custer’s expectations: To wipe out the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Sitting Bull easily  Custer’s three flaws… –Ignored warnings from Indians scouts and underestimated #s –His men and his horses were exhausted –Split up his regiment and attacked with only 200 men.

(Continued…)  What happened: 2,000-3,000 Native Americans awaited Custer’s attack. Led by Crazy Horse, the warriors killed Custer and his men.  Outcome: Nation demanded revenge

Battle of Wounded Knee  When: 1890  Major Players: Sitting Bull, Sioux, the 7 th Calvary (Custer’s old regime)  Where: South Dakota  What initiated the massacre…

The Ghost Dance  The ghost dance was a NEW dance to bring hope to Native Americans in their struggle to survive against the “white man.”

Ghost Dance  The Ghost Dance was spreading across the reservation and alarmed military leaders…decided to arrest Sitting Bull.  Sitting Bull was shot  Military comes back (Sitting Bull’s life, not enough)  Some Sioux refused to give up weapons

(Continued…)  Intentions of the Sioux: Celebrate a vision of Native American survival and restoration through the Ghost Dance.  Intentions of the militia: Go after Sitting Bull and rid N.A.s of their weapons  What happened: –Army rounds up 350 Sioux and takes them to a camp at Wounded Knee Creek, SD –Soldiers fire and kill 300 unarmed Native Americans –Left their bodies to freeze

(Continued…)

Native Americans Today  Native Americans live both on and off the reservation today.  There are over 300 reservations in the U.S. and about 1/5 of Native Americans live on the reservation.  Large populations of poverty: 1/3 of all Native Americans live in poverty today.  Drop out rates are large and many don’t graduate high school.