INDIANINDIANS!S!

chapter 7, section 2chapter 7, section 2

INDIANINDIANS!S!

Actually, this is India.Actually, this is India.(Don’t get confused.)(Don’t get confused.)

IntroductionIntroduction•Americans are moving westAmericans are moving west•Why? LAND!Why? LAND!

– Pacific Railway ActPacific Railway Act– Homestead ActHomestead Act– Morrill Land-Grant ActMorrill Land-Grant Act

•All this land, and it’s all ours!All this land, and it’s all ours!

Oh, yeah - IndiansOh, yeah - Indians•Who were they?Who were they?

– Initially farmers, until Spanish Initially farmers, until Spanish horseshorses

– Became nomadicBecame nomadic– 1830s – Andrew Jackson moves 1830s – Andrew Jackson moves all Indians west of Mississippi all Indians west of Mississippi RiverRiver(supposed to be permanent)(supposed to be permanent)

– 2/3 of Indians already lived in 2/3 of Indians already lived in GPGP..Now there’s a lot more.Now there’s a lot more.

NomadsNomads

Great PlainsGreat Plains

Great PlainsGreat Plains

The Indian The Indian ProblemProblem

•What do you do about the What do you do about the Indians?Indians?

•Why do we have difficulties?Why do we have difficulties?– Different Different concept of landconcept of land..

We want to “honor” the land the We want to “honor” the land the way we know how.way we know how.

– TreatiesTreaties were difficult. were difficult.Indian reps didn’t represent well.Indian reps didn’t represent well.Didn’t always understand the Didn’t always understand the treaty.treaty.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars•We thought it would be We thought it would be

quick.quick.It would last several decades.It would last several decades.

•Why did it take so long?Why did it take so long?Disease took its toll on the Disease took its toll on the Indians.Indians.The decimation of the buffalo, The decimation of the buffalo, too.too.

•But there were several But there were several significant battles....significant battles....

Early BattlesEarly Battles•18641864

Colorado militia massacred an Colorado militia massacred an encampment of Cheyenne women, encampment of Cheyenne women, children, and men at children, and men at Sand CreekSand Creek, , Colorado.Colorado.

•18661866During the Sioux War, an army During the Sioux War, an army column under Captain William column under Captain William Fetterman was wiped out by Sioux Fetterman was wiped out by Sioux warriors.warriors.

TreatiesTreaties•More treaties were More treaties were

attempted, which put the attempted, which put the Indians on even smaller Indians on even smaller reservations.reservations.

•But gold miners refused to But gold miners refused to stay off the land.stay off the land.More fighting ensues….More fighting ensues….

Little BighornLittle Bighorn•Many tribes were in rebellion.Many tribes were in rebellion.

Civil War hero George Custer was to Civil War hero George Custer was to finish them off.finish them off.

•He invades sacred Sioux He invades sacred Sioux grounds, and rushes ahead of grounds, and rushes ahead of other army regiments to other army regiments to Little Little BighornBighorn..

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

This wasThis wasCuster’s Last StandCuster’s Last Stand

Wounded KneeWounded Knee•Messianic prophecies spread.Messianic prophecies spread.

The The Ghost DanceGhost Dance religion forms. religion forms.– Big circle of Indians, shaking / Big circle of Indians, shaking /

dancing.dancing.– Submission until Messiah delivers.Submission until Messiah delivers.

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

•Sitting Bull hesitates.Sitting Bull hesitates.The soldiers shoot him.The soldiers shoot him.

Wounded KneeWounded Knee•Sitting Bull’s followers follow Sitting Bull’s followers follow

the soldiers to surrender the soldiers to surrender (submission)(submission)..

•During disarmament, shots During disarmament, shots are fired – are fired – MASSACREMASSACRE!!200 of 350 Indians are killed.200 of 350 Indians are killed.(and about 25 American soldiers)(and about 25 American soldiers)

•This was the last armed This was the last armed battle of the Indian Wars.battle of the Indian Wars.

AssimilationAssimilation•What’s next?What’s next?

AssimilationAssimilation into American society into American society

•Helen Hunt Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson chronicles Indian tragedies in chronicles Indian tragedies in her book,her book,A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor

AssimilationAssimilation•General assimilationGeneral assimilation

Bring them to civilizationBring them to civilizationgive up their traditionsgive up their traditions

learn Englishlearn EnglishChristianityChristianity

white dress & white dress & customscustoms

learn a tradelearn a trade• Dawes Act of 1887Dawes Act of 1887

AssimilationAssimilation• General assimilationGeneral assimilation

•Dawes ActDawes Act of 1887 of 1887– Breaks up tribal organizationsBreaks up tribal organizations– Offers 160 acres to individual Offers 160 acres to individual

familiesfamilies– After 25 years on the land, they After 25 years on the land, they

become US citizens.become US citizens.(if they have adopted the habits of (if they have adopted the habits of civilized life)civilized life)

ConclusionConclusion•Not successfulNot successful

Indians did Indians did notnot join the American join the American mainstream.mainstream.

•By the end of the century,By the end of the century,disease and poverty had reduced the disease and poverty had reduced the Indian population to just 200,000.Indian population to just 200,000.