1. United States History Mr. Bach
The American West
United States History
Mr. Bach

2. A Clash of Cultures Native American Ways
One with nature (no hierarchy)
Animals are respected and only killed when necessary
No private ownership of land
No wars of mass killing
All Indians created by Great Spirit

3. A Clash of Cultures European Ways
Man is above the natural world (hierarchy)
Animals killed for sport
Private ownership of land
Wars can be won be attrition
Created by God

4. Conflicts
Land
Animals
Religion
Survival

5. Broken Treaties - Shattered Promises
U.S. made treaties with the Indians who didn’t represent the entire tribe
U.S. sought to create Reservations set aside for Indians only
U.S. had a history of constantly breaking the treaties

6. Waging a War
General Phillip Sheridan - “Only good Indian is a dead Indian.”
Mass killing of buffalo to eliminate Indians’ food source
Sickness and disease - Indians had no immunity to European diseases
Alcoholism

7. Destroying the Buffalo
1800 Population = 60 million
1886 Population = 541
2001 Population = 250 thousand

8. Path to the Little Big Horn
Because of broken treaties, Sioux Chief Red Cloud wages a war against the U.S.
U.S. ends war by agreeing to give the Sioux the Dakotas

9. Path to the Little Big Horn
Gold is discovered in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Black Hills is sacred land to the Sioux
White miners invade the Black Hills
U.S. sends Gen. George Custer to defend the miners

10. Battle of the Little Big Horn
U.S. sends Custer to force the Indians back onto the Reservation
Custer discovers a huge band of Indians under Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Gall
Custer foolishly divides his troops not knowing his enemy’s size
Custer’s whole regiment is wiped out

11. Little Big Horn Aftermath
American people are outraged by Custer’s death
Crazy Horse is hunted down until he surrenders because of starvation
Sitting Bull is chased to Canada

12. The Ghost Dance Facing destruction, Indians hope for a miracle
Paiute leader Wovoka describes a vision whereby Indians will be saved from the whites
Urges Indians to dance the “Ghost Dance”

13. Massacre at Wounded Knee
The Ghost Dance makes the U.S. nervous - could lead to new Indian resistance
U.S. tries to break up the Ghost Dance
Sitting Bull killed by U.S. soldiers
Indians leave the Pine Ridge Reservation

14. Massacre at Wounded Knee
U.S. army rounds up fugitive Indians at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota
When army goes to confiscate Indian guns, a shot is fired
Army kills Indian men, women, and children with machine guns
Indian wars end

15. “Americanizing” the Indians
Dawes Act - seeks to convert the Indians to white ways
Fails because of Indian resistance, white skepticism, and white discrimination

16. Native Americans Today
Poorest ethnic group in the U.S. today
1/3 Indians living in poverty
Per capita income on reservations = $4,500
1/5 Indian homes lack a toilet and telephone
80% unemployment rate
Rampant alcoholism