The Fight for the West

The Fight for the WestThe Fight for the West

Native Americans and their role in Native Americans and their role in western expansionwestern expansion

Stage Set for ConflictStage Set for Conflict• Plains Indians thrived due to abundance of

buffalo – used for food, clothing, shelter

• They led a nomadic lifestyle (they followed the food)

• They did not believe land should be bought or sold

• US govt. and most white settlers disagreed – land should be divided and claimed, often backed out of deals with Natives

BuffaloBuffalo

• Used in over 52 ways by Plains Indians

• Examples – food, shelter, weapons, clothing, bowls, shoes, dolls, rattles, glue

• Destroying buffalo = destroying a way of life

Destruction of BuffaloDestruction of Buffalo• 60 million buffalo in 1800, less than 1,000

remained by 1894

• Settlers and railroads reduced grazing land and cut off migration routes

• Livestock brought disease to buffalo

• Purposely destroyed to force Indians onto reservations

• Also hunted for sport and profit

• Forced Natives onto reservations

The Ghost DanceThe Ghost Dance• Natives turned to religion to cope with

struggle

• Ghost Dance performed for 5 nights

• Belief that it would lead to the departure of the White man and the return of the buffalo

• caused more harm than good

• it scared whites, government took action

Sand Creek Massacre – Sand Creek Massacre – 18641864

• Indian raids caused much ill-will between the settlers and tribes in Colorado territory

• Black Kettle (Cheyenne leader) and his tribe offered amnesty

• Indians believed they were protected, came into a camp, flew a white flag of peace

• Col. John Chivington and troops killed and mutilated about 200 of the Indians, 2/3 were women and children.

Battle of the Little Bighorn - Battle of the Little Bighorn - 18761876• raids continued against settlers who moved onto

Sioux land in Montana territory• Sioux refused to return to reservations• Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, had a vision of a win

over US soldiers. • This insulted Lt. Colonel George Custer. • Custer led his troops into poorly planned attack • his troops were severely outnumbered and

quickly killed by the Sioux

• short lived victory for the Natives • government determined to end Native

American resistance

The Wounded Knee MassacreThe Wounded Knee Massacre • Sitting Bull was killed by Indian Agency police

due to his support of the Ghost Dance (1890)

• Sioux tribe surrendered and were taken to Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota

• A gun went off (conflicting stories)

• U.S soldiers massacred Sioux men, women and children

• ended a long and bloody conflict between the army and the Plains Indians

Sitting BullSitting Bull

Resistance in the NorthwestResistance in the Northwest• Nez Perce moved onto a shrinking reservation• Chief Joseph tried to lead his tribe into Canada • stopped before he could get there and moved back

Resistance in the Southwest• Geronimo and others fled a reservation in AZ to lead

raids on settlements• He was eventually caught and sent to an internment

camp in FL• marked the end of armed resistance in the Southwest

Geronimo

Government PolicyGovernment Policy• 1850s- 1870s – put Natives onto reservations

and keep them separated

• policy changed in the 1870s

• Natives were forced to get rid of all traditional cultures and adopt the culture of white America.

• “kill the Indian and save the man”

• Americanization (this is an important term)

• Bureau of Indian Affairs established

These boys have been Americanized – they look like, talk like, and dress like a real American

Dawes ActDawes Act• Dawes Act of 1887

• split up reservations among individuals in the Native American tribes

• promised them citizenship

• gave them the less productive land and sold off the best

• little support given to the Natives in regards to tools and supplies

In the EndIn the End

• Tribes across America are decimated

• The young are taken from their parents

• After resisting for decades, Natives give up and settle on reservations

• The West becomes a part of the U.S and it remains so today

• Today, tribes struggle with poverty, addiction, etc.