1. The Last Native American Wars Chapter 11 Section 3

2. The Last Native American Wars 1870s—Many Native Americans left reservations in disgust Preferred hunting buffalo on open plains Buffalo rapidly disappearing Settlers killed off Professional buffalo hunters Hunters for sport (leaving carcasses to rot) Railroad companies hired sharpshooters Army encouraged buffalo hunting

3. Battle of Little Bighorn 1876—prospectors overran Lakota Sioux reservation to mine gold in Black Hills Lakota saw no reason to abide by a treaty that the settlers were violating Government sent Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and the 17 th Cavalry Custer underestimated the fighting capabilities of Lakota and Cheyenne

4. Battle of Little Bighorn June 25, 1876—ignoring orders, and acting on his own, Custer launched 3-pronged attack in broad daylight on one of the largest groups of Native American warriors ever assembled on the Great Plains Indians killed all but one of the 210 soldiers “The soldiers were piled one on top of another, dead, with here and there, an Indian among the soldiers. Horses lay on top of men, and men on top of horses,” recalled a Lakota warrior

5. Battle of Little Bighorn Newspapers portrayed Custer as a victim of a massacre and produced a public outcry in the East. Army stepped up its campaign against Native Americans on the Plains Sitting Bull fled with his followers to Canada Other Lakotas forced to return to reservation

6. Flight of Nez Perce Nez Perce led by Chief Joseph refused to be moved to a smaller reservation in Idaho in 1877 Army came to relocate, and the Indians fled their homes, embarking on a journey of more than 1,300 miles 1877—Joseph surrendered and he and followers exiled to Oklahoma

7. Tragedy at Wounded Knee 1890—end of Native American resistance Lakota continued to perform their Ghost Dance Celebrated a hoped-for day of reckoning when settlers would disappear, the buffalo would return, and Native Americans reunite with their dead ancestors Banned by government, which feared it would lead to violence

8. Tragedy at Wounded Knee Authorities tried to arrest Sitting Bull Sitting Bull supporters tried to stop arrest Gunfire Sitting Bull Killed Ghost Dancers fled reservation Army chased after Dec 29, 1890—troops tried to disarm them at Wounded Knee Creek Gunfire broke out 25 soldiers killed 200 Lakota men, women, and children killed

9. The Dawes Act Some Americans opposed the treatment of Indians Some thought Native Americans should assimilate 1887 Dawes Act—allotted each head of household 160 acres of reservation land for farming, single adults 80 acres, 40 for children, and extra land sold to settlers

10. The Dawes Act The plan failed Some Indians succeeded as farmers or ranchers, but many had little training or enthusiasm for either Allotments too small to be profitable Granted citizenship for Indians who stayed on their allotments for 25 years. Few qualified

11. Discrimination continues It wasn’t until 1924 when Native Americans were granted citizenship Some states didn’t allow them to vote until after WWII Assimilation policies didn’t end until 1934