1. 14.2: Westward Expansion and the American Indians
Foundation Work (COLLECTED): What are your thoughts about this image?

2. Thomas M. Burnham Indians in the Sunset River
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Indian Views on Land
Indians viewed land as sacred
There is a spiritual connection with the land
Indians identified themselves to the land that they resided in
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White Views on Land
Land that provided opportunities for growth
Theirs for the taking
Theirs for the taking, rightfully theirs.
Thomas M. Burnham Indians in the Sunset River

3. The Tragedy of the Plains
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The Oklahoma Land Rush
&
The Tragedy of the Plains
Refer to Page 498: Land Rush
A free for all for settlers rushing towards “Unassigned Lands”.
The Result: Resulted in conflicts such as the Massacre of Sand Creek.
Indian joined-effort to repel white settlement.
Credit: University of Oklahoma
Question:
If the land originally belonged to the Indians, why did the New York Tribune on Feb. 5, 1867 call the land “Uncle Sam’s generous domain?” (pg. 498)

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The Red River War
A series of major conflicts that resulted in the fall of the Southern Plains Indians (the Kiowas and the Comanches)
With the Kiowas and the Comanches gone, settlers can rush for new lands.
The end of the Southern Buffalo Herd and the start of white settlement.
1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty:
The treaty: Relocation of Indians to reservations, away from “American territory”.
Importance:
The outcome of white settlers trespassing on Indian grounds introduced “white lawlessness”, or lawless activity motivated by self-interests.

5. Battle of Little Big Horn
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Battle of Little Big Horn
Indian effort in pushing out whites who came for the Black Hills Gold Rush (1875).
“Rumors of gold, proof of gold, and money says the rest”
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull’s driving gold hunters out.
The Result: The US Army sends troops against the Native Americans but the Indians were victorious.
The victors (the Indians) were tracked down.
Indians surrendered because of weather and starvation.
Importance:
The Indian’s victory over the US Army resulted in strong hate towards the Indians were often, tracked down.

6. Wounded Knee (THE GHOST DANCE WAR)
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Wounded Knee
(THE GHOST DANCE WAR)
Indians were clearly losing this battle.
Physical resistance seems impossible…
… they relied on the spirits.
“The Ghost Dance”
Defined: a ritual that would banish white settlers and restore the buffalo.
The Arrest of Sitting Bull:
Resistance led to 100+ Indian causalities.
Americans and their military perks.
Importance:
Wounded Knee suggest the idea of American Imperialism/Social Darwinism. The victories over the Indians suggest that America (and the whites) were the most “fit” compared to the Indians because of their advancements in military.

7. POST-FOUNDATION WORK: How could this picture be seen differently?