1. INDIANS!
Topic 2.1

2. Nomads

3. Great Plains

4. Great Plains

5. The Indian Problem Why do we have difficulties?
Different concept of land ownership. We want to “honor” the land the way we know how.
Treaties were difficult. Indian reps didn’t represent well. Didn’t always understand the treaty.

6. Treaties
Many treaties were attempted, which put the Indians on smaller and smaller reservations.
But gold miners (etc…) refused to stay off the land. More fighting ensues….

7. Sand Creek Massacre, 1864
500 Men. Women, and Children slaughtered while trying to surrender
Colonel Chivington wants a military victory
Black Kettle tries to surrender.

8. Little Bighorn
Many tribes were in rebellion. Civil War hero George Custer was to finish them off.
He invades sacred Sioux grounds, and rushes ahead of other army regiments to Little Bighorn.
2,000 Sioux warriors cut him off. 200 soldiers dead in 1 hour
(June 25–26, 1876)

9. This was Custer’s Last Stand

10. 1877- NEZ PERCE INDIANS CHIEF JOSEPH: A CONVERTED CHRISTIAN
PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE with THE WHITE MAN.
CHIEF JOSEPH

11. CONFLICT: THE GOVT. BROKE THE TREATY FROM 1866
U.S. TOOK BACK 6 MILLION ACRES.
REFUSING TO MOVE TO A SMALLER RESERVATION, CHIEF JOSEPH CHOSE TO FIGHT THE MOVE
PLAN WAS TO LEAD HIS TRIBE TO CANADA.

12. IN 1877 CHIEF JOSEPH WALKED1600 MILES WITH 700 WARRIORS; FIGHTING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE U.S.
ARMY FINALLY CAUGHT THEM 30 MILES FROM CANADA.
THEY WERE THEN SENT TO RESERVATIONS IN OKLAHOMA

13. "Tell General Howard I know his heart
"Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on 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 of them 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."
Chief Joseph

14. Wounded Knee
Messianic prophecies spread. The Ghost Dance religion forms.
Big circle of Indians, chanting / dancing.
Submission until Messiah delivers.
This scares settlers. Their leader, Sitting Bull, is arrested.
Sitting Bull hesitates. The soldiers shoot him.

16. Wounded Knee
Sitting Bull’s followers follow the soldiers to surrender (submission).
During disarmament, shots are fired – MASSACRE! 200 of 350 Indians are killed. (and about 25 American soldiers)
This was the last armed battle of the Indian Wars.

17. WHAT ENDED THE INDIANS WAY OF LIFE?
1. THE RAILROAD- BROUGHT THE SOLDIERS, SETTLERS, MINERS, AND BUFFALO HUNTERS.
2. DAWES ACT FORCE THE INDIAN INTO ACCEPTING THE LIFESTYLE / VALUES OF THE WHITE MAN (Farmers).

18. Assimilation What’s next? Assimilation into American society
We want to AMERICANIZE the Indian

19. Assimilation
General assimilation (Americanization) Bring them to civilization give up their traditions learn English Christianity white dress & customs learn a trade

23. Opening of the Indian Territory
April 22,– the Land Run of 1889
When all western lands were taken, the government opened the only land left, the Oklahoma Indian Territory
Boomer Sooner!

24. Conclusion
Not successful Indians did not join the American mainstream.
By the end of the century, disease and poverty had reduced the Indian population to just 200,000.