1. The American West & Treatment of Native Americans

2. U.S. Government Policy Initially army moved Native Americans west
1850s reservation policy was put in place
Change the Native Americans’ way of life

3. The Indian Wars Map on page 1890
American settlers continued to break treaties
Native Americans began to fight back

4. Sand Creek Massacre
1864
Army troops killed 150 Cheyenne on their own reservation
Government did not punish

5. Battle of Little Bighorn
1876
George Custer led his men to attack a large camp of NA
Custer and all his men were killed
Last victory for NA

6. Wounded Knee Massacre
1890
Gov’t rounded up NA and ordered for them to hand in weapons
300 NA gunned down
Ended NA resistance

7. Reservation Life Government’s goal was to “Americanize” NA
Schools run by government, speak only English, can’t wear NA clothing, etc.
Gov’t kept good land and gave poor land to NA
Extreme poverty
No support from gov’t

8. What the West Became
Mining
Cattle
Farming

9. Mining Extremely dangerous Poor working conditions
Workers lived in makeshift towns with tents/shacks

10. Ranching & Cattle Texas Longhorn was huge resource Rise of Cowboys
Provided beef to the east coast

11. Farming on Great Plains
Homestead Act- provided 160 acres to settlers
Oklahoma Land Rush in 1889
Harsh climate, wood limited for housing, difficult farming