1. Native Americans and Westward Expansion
Assignment: Notes and Graphic Organizer
Warm-Up: Why did many people support the Dawes Act? (the dividing-up of Native American Reservations)

2. Essential Question
How did geography, economic development, and political ideals influence the creation of policies like the Dawes Act and Indian Schools?

3. Expansion west of the Mississippi
United States territory grew rapidly between 1846 and 1867 west of the Mississippi.
1869, the Transcontinental Railroad is completed
settlement/travel significantly more accessible.
Great Plains is fertile land for growing crops

4. United States Expansion West

5. Manifest Destiny Popular concept of American expansion
Anglo ‘civilization’ of the West
Morally principled
Bringers of civilization

6. American Progress 1872 by John Gast

7. The US Government and Native American tribes
Legally, the government regarded Native American tribes as autonomous nations residing within American boundaries.
1830 Indian Removal Act and the “Trail of Tears”: tribes living in southeastern US were forcibly removed to present-day Oklahoma.

8. Homestead Act
(1862) law that provided 160 acres of Western land to any citizen who was head of household.

9. What to do with the “Indian Problem?”
Three main approaches towards solving this so-called “Indian Problem”:
1) Removal:
like the Trail of Tears, to other areas
2) Reservations:
clearly-defined land zones where native tribes had to live.
3) Assimilation
absorbing Native Americans into “American” culture

10. Assimilation
“Kill the Indian, Save the man”

11. The Dawes Act 1886
Native American individuals “given” 160 acres of land.
Landholdings of Native Americans decline from 138 million to 52 million.

12. Assignment
Complete the graphic organizer by using pages in your textbook
Complete your summary to your Cornell Notes by answering the essential question.
Join Quizlet:
Search “Matt_Earhart”
Join: US History ___ Period