Conflict with the Native Americans Angela Brown Chapter
Trail of Tears In the 1830s President Jackson removed the Native Americans from the East to Oklahoma. Settlers believed they had a greater right to the land because they improved it by producing more food and wealth than did the Native Americans
Native Americans saw Settlers as invaders Some tried to initiate friendly contact Many signed treaties and sold land and moved to reservations realizing they were outnumbered. The agreements often fell through. Reservations – federal lands set aside for Native Americans 3
Different Views of Land Ownership Native Americans often did not realize the settlers would not let them continue to use the land. They did not understand that anyone could own the land. Violence broke out… 4
Navajo and Apache Navajo and Apache wars began in 1861 They continued for 25 years until Geronimo surrendered in
Geronimo Geronimo was the leader of the last American Indian fighting force formally to capitulate to the United States. Because he fought against such daunting odds and held out the longest, he became the most famous Apache of all. 6
Cheyenne 1860s-1870s the were Cheyenne devastated 1864 Colonel Chivington’s massacre at Sand Creek, Colorado killed 450 men, women, and children The next year they moved to reservations. 7
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Sioux 1865 federal road through Sioux lands triggered ambush of 80 soldiers under Captain Fetterman near Fort Phil Kearny
Battle of Little Big Horn Battle of Little Big Horn 1876 (a river in Montana) Lt. Colonel Custer’s calvary sent to round Sioux back to reservations. Custer and 200 American Soldiers were killed. This was the last Native American victory. 10
painted by the Lakota warrior Kicking Bear,Kicking Bear 12
Wounded Knee Massacre at Wounded Knee 1890 Soldiers opened fire killing more than 200 unarmed Sioux. Soldiers shot down 70 year old Chief. 13
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Nez Perce – Chief Joseph 1871 Chief Joseph promise his father to never sell the land. After 5 years he is ordered by Gen. Howard to a reservation in Idaho. He is resigned to go. Nez Perce youth killed settlers accused of stealing horses. Now its war 15
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Speech of Chief Joseph I will fight no more forever. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.Looking GlassToohulhulsoteHe who led the young 17
Escape ?? The Council thought they could escape. Soldiers followed, killed men, women, and children. The survivors tried to escape to Canada. The were caught 40 miles from Canadian border
They were taken to reservation, heat and malaria killed most. All of Chief Josephs children died. In 1885 they were allowed to leave for a reservation in Washington State. 19
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Native Culture Destroyed 1870s great buffalo herds began to disappear Helen Hunt Jackson wrote A Century of Dishonor about the Indian Rights Movement arose. In 1884 the government passed a law to stop Native Americans from practicing their religion. Looking Glass 21
Dawes Act of 1887 Gave plots of land to each Native American family headed by a male. Most couldn’t farm land so sold to speculators. From land ownership shrunk by 65%. 22
Indian Territory 70 Indian nations forced into Indian territory. Squatters continued to move in 1889 Congress opened 2 million acres of Indian Territory to homesteaders 23
Boomers- The name for settlers and homesteaders Sooners – Snuck past government officials earlier to mark claims In the following years the remainder of Indian Territory was opened to settlers. 24