INDIANS!

chapter 7, section 2

Nomads

Great Plains

Great Plains

The Indian Problem

•Why do we have difficulties?

–Different concept of land ownership. We want to “honor” the land the

way we know how.

– Treaties were difficult. Indian reps didn’t represent well.

Didn’t always understand the treaty.

Treaties •Many treaties were attempted,

which put the Indians on smaller

and smaller reservations.

•But gold miners refused to stay off

the land. More fighting ensues….

Sand Creek Massacre, 1864

Colonel Chivington

wants a military victory

500 Men. Women, and Children

slaughtered while trying to surrender

Black Kettle tries to

surrender.

Little Bighorn •Many tribes were in rebellion.

Civil War hero George Custer was to

finish them off.

•He invades sacred Sioux grounds,

and rushes ahead of other army

regiments to Little Bighorn.

•2,000 Sioux warriors cut him off. 200 soldiers dead in 1 hour.

This was

Custer’s Last Stand

1877- NEZ PERCE INDIANS

CHIEF JOSEPH

CHIEF JOSEPH:

A CONVERTED CHRISTIAN

PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE with THE WHITE MAN.

CONFLICT:

THE GOVT. BROKE THE TREATY FROM 1866

U.S. TOOK BACK 6 MILLION ACRES.

REFUSING TO MOVE TO A SMALLER RESERVATION, CHIEF JOSEPH CHOSE TO FIGHT THE MOVE

PLAN WAS TO LEAD HIS TRIBE TO

CANADA.

CHIEF JOSEPH WALKED1600 MILES WITH 700 WARRIORS; FIGHTING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE U.S.

ARMY FINALLY CAUGHT THEM 30 MILES FROM CANADA.

THEY WERE THEN SENT TO RESERVATIONS IN OKLAHOMA

Chief Joseph • "Tell General Howard I know his

heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are—perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Wounded Knee •Messianic prophecies spread.

The Ghost Dance religion forms.

– Big circle of Indians, chanting / dancing.

– Submission until Messiah delivers.

•This scares settlers. Their leader, Sitting Bull, is arrested.

•Sitting Bull hesitates. The soldiers shoot him.

Wounded Knee •Sitting Bull’s followers follow the

soldiers to surrender (submission).

•During disarmament, shots are

fired – MASSACRE! 200 of 350 Indians are killed.

(and about 25 American soldiers)

•This was the last armed battle of

the Indian Wars.

WHAT ENDED THE INDIANS WAY OF LIFE?

1. THE RAILROAD- BROUGHT THE SOLDIERS, SETTLERS, MINERS, AND BUFFALO HUNTERS.

2. DAWES ACT 1887- FORCE THE INDIAN INTO ACCEPTING THE LIFESTYLE / VALUES OF THE WHITE MAN (Farmers).

Assimilation •What’s next?

Assimilation into American society

• We want to AMERICANIZE the Indian

Assimilation •General assimilation (Americanization)

Bring them to civilization

give up their traditions

learn English

Christianity

white dress & customs

learn a trade

Opening of the Indian Territory

• When all western lands were taken, the government

opened the only land left, the Oklahoma Indian Territory

• Boomer Sooner!

Conclusion •Not successful

Indians did not join the American

mainstream.

•By the end of the century, disease and poverty had reduced the

Indian population to just 200,000.