1. The American West on film Dances With Wolves Tombstone

2. Key Tensions Native Americans Buffalo Hunters Railroads U. S. Government CattlemenSheep Herders RanchersFarmers

3. Key Tensions Ethnic Minorities Nativists Environmentalists Big Business Interests [mining, timber] Local Govt. Officials Farmers Buffalo Hunters Lawlessness of the Frontier “Civilizing” Forces

4. Railroad Construction

5. Causes of the Indian Wars Clash of world views Corrupt Indian bureau Cattle take over the land Scandals/ bribes Massacres… Sand Creek / Wounded Knee Discovery of gold Land taken by miners, farmers, railroads Broken promises/treaties promises of resources Killing buffalo … Indians food source Reservation system a failure

6. Plains Indians Nomadic…Tribes followed the seasonal grazing and migration of bison –were the chief source for items which Plains Indians made from their flesh, hide and bones, such as food, cups, decorations, crafting tools, knives, and clothing Lived in tipis because they were easily assembled and allowed the nomadic life

7. Plains Indians: Edward Curtis Photos

10. Bison Skulls mid- 1870s Original range Range as of 1870 Range as of 1889 – dark numbers indicate number of bison as of January 1st 1889 in remaining areas.

11. Why exterminate the bison? The main reason they were hunted was for their skins, with the rest of the animal left behind to decay on the ground…Bones were collected and shipped east (fertilizer) Government promoted bison hunting for various reasons: –to allow ranchers to range their cattle w/o competition –weaken the Indian population and pressure them to remain on reservations –W/o bison, the Indians would be forced to leave or starve The railroad industry also wanted bison herds eliminated –Bison on tracks could damage locomotives when the trains failed to stop –Herds took shelter in the artificial cuts formed by the grade of the track winding though mountains in winter…thus delays

12. Indian Reservations Today

13. Crazy Horse Monument: Black Hills, SD Lakota Chief

14. Mt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SD

15. Bury my heart at wounded knee (hbo) December 29, 1890 near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Soth Dakota at least 150 men, women and children of the Lakota Sioux were killed and 51 wounded. Some estimates placed the number of dead at 300. 25 US troopers also died and 39 wounded. It's believed that many of these were the victims of friendly fire, as the shooting took place at close range in chaotic conditions. On that December morning the troops went into the camp to disarm the Lakota. One version of events claims a deaf tribesman named Black Coyote was reluctant to give up his rifle, claiming he paid a lot for it. A scuffle over Black Coyote's rifle escalated and a shot was fired which resulted in the 7th Cavalry's opening fire from all sides. Most of the men had already surrendered their weapons. The few warriors who still had weapons began shooting back, but were quickly suppressed. The surviving Lakota fled, but U.S. cavalrymen pursued and killed many...most were unarmed.

16. Bury my heart at wounded knee (hbo) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIqxBajeHeM

17. Dances with wolves (1990) Directed by and starring Kevin Costner Film adaptation of the 1988 book of the same name by Michael Blake and tells the story of a Union Army lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a military post, and his dealings with a group of Lakota Indians Won 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Much of the dialogue is spoken in Lakota with English subtitles. It was shot in South Dakota and Wyoming

18. Dances with wolves Historical Background The film is set against the backdrop of the post-Civil War frontier, construction of the transcontinental railroad, and westward expansion Lakota Sioux--Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Occupied lands in both North and South Dakota At war with US gov’t for much of the mid-1800s Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868—no mining or white settlement in Black Hills –4 years later gold discovered…then what? Battle of the Little Bighorn-1876 (Custer, etc.) Great Sioux War 1877--Lakota were confined to reservations, prevented from hunting buffalo and forced to accept government food distribution. ***There was a real John Dunbar who worked as a missionary for the Pawnee in the 1830s–40s, and sided with the Indians in a dispute with government farmers and a local Indian agent. It is unclear if the name "John Dunbar" was chosen as a corollary to the real historical figure.

19. The American West: PaRT II Wild West: Lawmen and Outlaws

20. Wild West Second half of the 19 th century Pioneers pushed their way westward in search of land, better lives, gold and silver, and to escape the law The Turner Thesis (1893): –the origin of the distinctive egalitarian, democratic, aggressive, and innovative features of the American character has been the American frontier experience Mining towns, railroad towns, cow towns and farming towns were the primary settlements Alcohol, gambling, prostitution, and a general lawlessness were central to life in these western towns

21. Outlaws and Lawmen After the Civil War, many of the men who had become accustomed to violence, and often having lost their lands or fortunes, turned quickly to the other side of the law Westward expansion proceeded well ahead of official peace officers and regular courts of law In the early days of the mining and cattle boom towns, there were no prisons in which to lock up outlaws –Little option but to chain their captives to trees or wagons. These factors encouraged vigilantes to form illegal posses to hunt down outlaws Later, sheriffs and peace officers formed legal posses by calling together a group of men to assist them. ***Doc Holladay, Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Billy “The Kid”, etc.

22. Characteristics of the “Western” Western films often depict conflicts with Native Americans –Early films portray the "Injuns" as dishonorable villains –Later films gave Native Americans a more sympathetic treatment Characters: –The rugged cowboy/sheriff with a strong sense of justice –The reformed outlaw –The main antagonist (hero often meets his “double” that he must kill) Setting: –Rugged mountains or gently sweeping landscapes, mostly - of course - far away from civilization. –Saloons, jails, and main streets in small frontier towns Conflicts: –good vs. bad, new arrivals vs. Indians, virtue vs. evil, human vs. nature

23. Tombstone (1993) The film is based on events relating to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, along with the Earp Vendetta which followed it soon after in Tombstone, Arizona during the 1880s. Depicts a number of western outlaws and lawmen, such as Wyatt Earp, William Brocius, Johnny Ringo, and Doc Holliday as it explores crime, political corruption and law enforcement in the old American West.

24. tombstone Historical Background Tombstone, Arizona was a notoriously violent mining town Silver was discovered in 1877, and by 1881 the town had a population of over 10,000 The Cowboys were a band of friends and who teamed up for crimes The Earp brothers assumed roles as lawmen which led to conflicts with the Cowboys The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral…most famous gunfight in the history of the American Old West