The Closing of the The Closing of the Western Frontier- An Western Frontier- An

OverviewOverview

MISS EVANSMISS EVANS

The End of the Great WestThe End of the Great West

1865: Great West wild expanse, about 1,000 1865: Great West wild expanse, about 1,000 miles on each side—habitat of Native miles on each side—habitat of Native Americans, buffalo, prairie dog, coyoteAmericans, buffalo, prairie dog, coyote

1890: Entire domain carved into states and the 1890: Entire domain carved into states and the four territories of Utah, New Mexico, and four territories of Utah, New Mexico, and “Indian Territory (Oklahoma)“Indian Territory (Oklahoma)

How did this happen?How did this happen?

The Clash of Cultures on the PlainsThe Clash of Cultures on the Plains

Native tribes themselves Native tribes themselves already warring, adapting, already warring, adapting, changing their way of lifechanging their way of life

White soldiers and settlers White soldiers and settlers entering the plains before entering the plains before the Civil War accelerated the Civil War accelerated this processthis process Brought diseaseBrought disease Hunting and grazing of own Hunting and grazing of own

livestock decimated bison livestock decimated bison populationpopulation

Shrinking buffalo population Shrinking buffalo population contributed to more native contributed to more native warfarewarfare

The Beginnings of the Reservation The Beginnings of the Reservation SystemSystem

1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie: 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie: Established boundaries for the Established boundaries for the territory of each tribe, attempted to territory of each tribe, attempted to separate Indians into two great separate Indians into two great “colonies”“colonies”

By 1860s, whites accelerated this By 1860s, whites accelerated this process, moved Natives into smaller process, moved Natives into smaller confinesconfines

False promises to Indians: When False promises to Indians: When signed treaties, US promised would signed treaties, US promised would leave Natives alone and provide food, leave Natives alone and provide food, clothing and other supplies. Usually clothing and other supplies. Usually not the case.not the case.

In the decade after the Civil War, In the decade after the Civil War, army troops warred with Plains army troops warred with Plains Indians to herd them onto Indians to herd them onto reservations. Plains Indians had reservations. Plains Indians had advantage with superb horsemanship.advantage with superb horsemanship.

Brutality of Indian WarsBrutality of Indian Wars Aggressive whites often shot Aggressive whites often shot

peaceful Indians peaceful Indians Sand Creek MassacreSand Creek Massacre, 1864—, 1864—

Chivington’s militia massacred Chivington’s militia massacred 400 Indians who thought were 400 Indians who thought were immune from attackimmune from attack

Indians too responsible for Indians too responsible for brutality—ex: brutality—ex: Fetterman Fetterman massacremassacre

Trail of Broken TreatiesTrail of Broken Treaties: : Government promises to stay out Government promises to stay out of Indian territory, constantly of Indian territory, constantly breaks that promise when its to breaks that promise when its to their advantagetheir advantage

Indians Resist White EncroachmentIndians Resist White Encroachment

Sioux wiped out Custer and Sioux wiped out Custer and his troops at Battle of Little his troops at Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)Bighorn (1876)

Chief Joseph and Nez Perce Chief Joseph and Nez Perce attempted to escape US attempted to escape US authorities trying to herd authorities trying to herd them onto reservationthem onto reservation

Apaches under Geronimo Apaches under Geronimo put up fierce resistance, flee put up fierce resistance, flee into Mexico to avoid into Mexico to avoid reservationsreservations

The “taming” of the IndiansThe “taming” of the Indians

US did succeed in herding Indians onto reservationsUS did succeed in herding Indians onto reservations US claimed reservations would help Indians keep US claimed reservations would help Indians keep

their cultural autonomy, really it made them isolated their cultural autonomy, really it made them isolated wards of the governmentwards of the government

Why did whites succeed?Why did whites succeed? Railroads—helped break up land, supply white settlers and Railroads—helped break up land, supply white settlers and

troopstroops DiseaseDisease Use of forceUse of force Decimation of buffaloDecimation of buffalo

Black Elk SpeaksBlack Elk Speaks ““Once we were happy in our Once we were happy in our

own country and we were own country and we were seldom hungry, for then the seldom hungry, for then the two-leggeds and the four-two-leggeds and the four-leggeds lived together like leggeds lived together like relatives, and there was relatives, and there was plenty for them and for us. plenty for them and for us. But then the But then the Wasichus Wasichus (white people) came, and (white people) came, and they made little islands for they made little islands for us…and always these us…and always these islands are becoming islands are becoming smaller, for around them smaller, for around them surges the gnawing flood of surges the gnawing flood of Wasichus.”Wasichus.”

The Decimation of the BuffaloThe Decimation of the Buffalo In beginning, tens of millions of buffaloIn beginning, tens of millions of buffalo Key to Native American life: food, fuel, clothing, Key to Native American life: food, fuel, clothing,

weapons, toolsweapons, tools With the building of the railroads, whites began With the building of the railroads, whites began

killing off buffalokilling off buffalo Used for foodUsed for food For hidesFor hides Often, killed for sheer amusementOften, killed for sheer amusement Targeted buffalo as a way of killing off the Plains IndiansTargeted buffalo as a way of killing off the Plains Indians 1865: 15 million buffalo1865: 15 million buffalo 1885: less than a thousand!1885: less than a thousand!

Critique of Indian Policy and the Critique of Indian Policy and the Push for AssimilationPush for Assimilation

Helen Hunt Jackson’s books, esp. Helen Hunt Jackson’s books, esp. A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor

Many humanitarians misguided in Many humanitarians misguided in critique: wanted Indians to critique: wanted Indians to assimilate so as to avoid attacks assimilate so as to avoid attacks of whitesof whites

Withheld food from Natives to Withheld food from Natives to force them to give up own force them to give up own religion and customsreligion and customs

1884, persuaded US government 1884, persuaded US government to outlaw sacred Sun Danceto outlaw sacred Sun Dance

Led to 1890 Led to 1890 Massacre at Massacre at Wounded Knee—2000 killed Wounded Knee—2000 killed just for practicing Ghost Dancejust for practicing Ghost Dance

Dawes Act (1887)Dawes Act (1887) All part of push towards All part of push towards

assimilationassimilation Dissolved tribes, wiped out Dissolved tribes, wiped out

tribal ownership of land, set tribal ownership of land, set up individual Indian up individual Indian homesteads of 160 acres.homesteads of 160 acres.

If Indians behaved like If Indians behaved like “good white settlers” would “good white settlers” would get ownership of land and get ownership of land and citizenshipcitizenship

Extra land sold to railroads Extra land sold to railroads and white settlers, proceeds and white settlers, proceeds used to civilize and educate used to civilize and educate native peoples.native peoples.

Forced AssimilationForced Assimilation Established Indian schools to separate Established Indian schools to separate

children from tribes, teach them children from tribes, teach them English, as well as white values and English, as well as white values and customs.customs.

““Kill the Indian and save the man”Kill the Indian and save the man” Dawes Act tried to kill collective Dawes Act tried to kill collective

ways of life of Indians, make them ways of life of Indians, make them into individualistsinto individualists

Tribes lost land—by 1900, 50% of Tribes lost land—by 1900, 50% of what they had held 20 years earlierwhat they had held 20 years earlier

Forced assimilation remained policy Forced assimilation remained policy until “Indian New Deal” of 1934until “Indian New Deal” of 1934

Still, with end of warfare, Indian Still, with end of warfare, Indian population on reservations began to population on reservations began to increase.increase.

Growth of Mining FrontierGrowth of Mining Frontier Catalysts: Conquest of Indians and coming of railroadCatalysts: Conquest of Indians and coming of railroad Fortune seekers continued to pour in, especially after Fortune seekers continued to pour in, especially after

discovery of gold at Pikes Peak, Colorado and discovery of gold at Pikes Peak, Colorado and Comstock Lode in Nevada (59ers)Comstock Lode in Nevada (59ers)

Rise and fall of boomtownsRise and fall of boomtowns Corporations becoming more involved in miningCorporations becoming more involved in mining Women played key role on frontier—earned vote in Women played key role on frontier—earned vote in

Western states first (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Western states first (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Montana)Montana)

Effects: Facilitated building of railroads, intensified Effects: Facilitated building of railroads, intensified conflict with Indians, refueled silver debate.conflict with Indians, refueled silver debate.

The Rise of RanchingThe Rise of Ranching With railroads, cattle could now With railroads, cattle could now

be shipped across country, to be shipped across country, to industrial meatpacking industryindustrial meatpacking industry

Began “Long Drive” in West—Began “Long Drive” in West—cowboys drove herds over plains cowboys drove herds over plains until reached railroads.until reached railroads.

This practice threatened by This practice threatened by incoming settlers and sheep incoming settlers and sheep herders, built fencesherders, built fences conflicts. conflicts.

Overtime, cattle-raising became Overtime, cattle-raising became more of a business, learned to more of a business, learned to avoid perils of overproduction avoid perils of overproduction and overgrazing. and overgrazing.

Multiple Choice PracticeMultiple Choice Practice

The Plains Indians were finally forced to surrenderThe Plains Indians were finally forced to surrender A. Because they were decimated by their constant A. Because they were decimated by their constant

intertribal warfareintertribal warfare B. When they realized that agriculture was more profitable B. When they realized that agriculture was more profitable

than huntingthan hunting C. After such famous leaders as Geronimo and Sitting Bull C. After such famous leaders as Geronimo and Sitting Bull

were killedwere killed D. When the army began using artillery against themD. When the army began using artillery against them E. By the coming of the railroads and the virtual E. By the coming of the railroads and the virtual

extermination of the buffaloextermination of the buffalo

Multiple Choice Practice ctnd.Multiple Choice Practice ctnd.

The nineteenth century humanitarians who The nineteenth century humanitarians who advocated “kind” treatment of the Indiansadvocated “kind” treatment of the Indians A. Had no more respect for traditional Indian A. Had no more respect for traditional Indian

culture that those who sought to exterminate themculture that those who sought to exterminate them B. Advocated allowing the Ghost Dance to B. Advocated allowing the Ghost Dance to

continuecontinue C. Opposed passage of the Dawes ActC. Opposed passage of the Dawes Act D. Understood the value of the Indians’ religious D. Understood the value of the Indians’ religious

and cultural practicesand cultural practices E. Advocated improving the reservation systemE. Advocated improving the reservation system

Multiple Choice Practice ctnd.Multiple Choice Practice ctnd.

The bitter conflict between whites and Indians The bitter conflict between whites and Indians intensifiedintensified A. During the Civil WarA. During the Civil War B. As a result of vigilante justiceB. As a result of vigilante justice C. When big business took over the mining C. When big business took over the mining

industryindustry D. As the mining frontier expandedD. As the mining frontier expanded E. After the Battle of Wounded KneeE. After the Battle of Wounded Knee