More Cultures, More Conflicts

Preview Statement“I will fight for what is rightfully mine.”

Introduction1 At the time of the Civil War, the number of

American Indians living in the United States was about 300,000, with over half living on the Great Plains. The Plains Indians usually accepted the white man as he crossed their lands on the way to the West Coast. However, before long homesteaders, ranchers, and miners began to claim the Indian land and its resources as their own. The white men built homes and towns, fenced in the land, and laid more railroad tracks. More threatening to the American Indian was the killing of the buffalo for their hides and for sport. The Plains Indians depended on buffalo meat for food and the skins for clothing and shelter. The same Indians who had once lived freely on the land of the Plains now faced the white man’s weapons and the diseases he brought with him. As a result, conflicts occurred between the Indians and settlers.

Introduction1 At the time of the Civil War, the number of

American Indians living in the United States was about 300,000, with over half living on the Great Plains. The Plains Indians usually accepted the white man as he crossed their lands on the way to the West Coast. However, before long homesteaders, ranchers, and miners began to claim the Indian land and its resources as their own. The white men built homes and towns, fenced in the land, and laid more railroad tracks. More threatening to the American Indian was the killing of the buffalo for their hides and for sport. The Plains Indians depended on buffalo meat for food and the skins for clothing and shelter. The same Indians who had once lived freely on the land of the Plains now faced the white man’s weapons and the diseases he brought with him. As a result, conflicts occurred between the Indians and settlers.

Paragraph 1Big Ideas• Impact on American Indians

• Reduction of the buffalo herds• White man brought warfare and

disease

Reservations2 The two sides fought bitterly for many years.

Finally the United States government and Indian leaders came to an agreement in 1868. Lands would be set aside by the government for the use of the Native Americans. These were called reservations. Many times the Indians were herded onto reservations far from their homelands. The reservation land was poor, and there was not enough to eat. They were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt but were forced to become farmers. Government policies attempted to turn the Native Americans into “citizens” by stripping them of their lands, culture, and language. The goal was to “kill the Indian but save the man.”

A Different Life for Native Americans

Reservations2 The two sides fought bitterly for many years.

Finally the United States government and Indian leaders came to an agreement in 1868. Lands would be set aside by the government for the use of the Native Americans. These were called reservations. Many times the Indians were herded onto reservations far from their homelands. The reservation land was poor, and there was not enough to eat. They were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt but were forced to become farmers. Government policies attempted to turn the Native Americans into “citizens” by stripping them of their lands, culture, and language. The goal was to “kill the Indian but save the man.”

Paragraph 2Big Ideas• Impact on American Indians

• Forced relocation to reservations• Attempt to change lifestyle (from

hunters to farmers)

Little Bighorn3 In 1868 the Sioux Nation signed a

treaty that created the Great Sioux Reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Some Sioux continued to roam the lands west of the reservation in search of buffalo. After gold was discovered in the Black Hills, the U.S government offered to buy the land, but the Sioux refused to sell. The government sent soldiers to take the land by force.

Little Bighorn4 On June 25, 1876, U.S. Army troops led by

Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer fought against Sitting Bull and several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in the Battle of Little Big Horn. In less than an hour, Custer and his men were killed in the worst American military disaster ever. Outraged the government redrew the boundary lines, placing the Black Hills outside the reservation and open to white settlers. Within a year, the Sioux nation was defeated and broken. "Custer's Last Stand" was the Sioux’s last stand as well.

Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn

Little Bighorn4 On June 25, 1876, U.S. Army troops led by

Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer fought against Sitting Bull and several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in the Battle of Little Big Horn. In less than an hour, Custer and his men were killed in the worst American military disaster ever. Outraged the government redrew the boundary lines, placing the Black Hills outside the reservation and open to white settlers. Within a year, the Sioux nation was defeated and broken. "Custer's Last Stand" was the Sioux’s last stand as well.

Paragraph 4Big Ideas• Battle of Little Big Horn

• 1876• Custer v. Sitting Bull and Sioux• Indians “win the battle but lose the

war”—gov’t redraws boundary lines of reservation and opens Black Hills to settlers

Nez Perce’5 The United States government continued

to use force against other Indian tribes. In June 1877, the Nez Perce’ refused to leave their homes in Oregon and move to a small reservation in Idaho. They were attacked by the U.S. Army. In an attempt to escape to safety in Canada, Chief Joseph led about 800 of the Nez Perce’ through Montana. They were stopped before reaching the Canadian border and surrendered without a fight. Chief Joseph told his people, “I am tired of fighting. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Nez Perce

Nez Perce

Nez Perce

Nez Perce’5 The United States government continued

to use force against other Indian tribes. In June 1877, the Nez Perce’ refused to leave their homes in Oregon and move to a small reservation in Idaho. They were attacked by the U.S. Army. In an attempt to escape to safety in Canada, Chief Joseph led about 800 of the Nez Perce’ through Montana. They were stopped before reaching the Canadian border and surrendered without a fight. Chief Joseph told his people, “I am tired of fighting. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

Paragraph 5Big Ideas• Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce

• 1877• gov’t tries to force Nez Perce onto

a reservation• Chief Joseph and Nez Perce

surrender• Chief Joseph - “I will fight no more

forever.”

Geronimo6 On September 4, 1886, the Apache chief

Geronimo surrendered to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty warrior had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886, the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaled the end of the Indians’ freedom to live as they wished. By this time, warfare, disease, and poverty had reduced the American Indian population to 200,000, most of whom were dependent on the federal government for their survival.

Geronimo6 On September 4, 1886, the Apache chief

Geronimo surrendered to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty warrior had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886, the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaled the end of the Indians’ freedom to live as they wished. By this time, warfare, disease, and poverty had reduced the American Indian population to 200,000, most of whom were dependent on the federal government for their survival.

Paragraph 5Big Ideas• Geronimo

• 1886• Geronimo surrenders to U.S. troops

marking end of Indian wars in the Southwest

Wounded Knee7 The Battle of Wounded Knee was the last important

fight between American Indians and United States troops. It is often called a massacre because the band of Sioux involved in it was almost wiped out. After being forced onto reservations in the Dakotas, the Sioux had turned to a movement known as the Ghost Dance that would, they believed, cause the white man to disappear from Indian lands. The federal government, fearing an uprising, brought in troops. On December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull, the most famous Sioux chief, was killed in a fight following an attempt to arrest him. Some of Sitting Bull's followers fled with Chief Big Foot and his band. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry overtook them at Wounded Knee Creek, in what is now South Dakota. As the troopers attempted to disarm the Indians, a shot was fired. Which side fired the shot is uncertain, but the soldiers attacked. In the fighting that followed, nearly 300 Sioux, including women and children, were killed; 29 troopers died. The massacre at Wounded Knee ended the Indian Wars in the West.

Wounded Knee7 The Battle of Wounded Knee was the last important

fight between American Indians and United States troops. It is often called a massacre because the band of Sioux involved in it was almost wiped out. After being forced onto reservations in the Dakotas, the Sioux had turned to a movement known as the Ghost Dance that would, they believed, cause the white man to disappear from Indian lands. The federal government, fearing an uprising, brought in troops. On December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull, the most famous Sioux chief, was killed in a fight following an attempt to arrest him. Some of Sitting Bull's followers fled with Chief Big Foot and his band. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry overtook them at Wounded Knee Creek, in what is now South Dakota. As the troopers attempted to disarm the Indians, a shot was fired. Which side fired the shot is uncertain, but the soldiers attacked. In the fighting that followed, nearly 300 Sioux, including women and children, were killed; 29 troopers died. The massacre at Wounded Knee ended the Indian Wars in the West.

Paragraph 5Big Ideas• Wounded Knee

• 1890• gov’t v. Sioux• massacre—Indian population

reduced through warfare• End of Indian wars in West

Lifestyle Changes8 The U.S. government made attempts to

assimilate the Indian people into the melting pot of America by placing them in institutions where traditional ways could be replaced by those approved by the government. Whereas many Americans regarded the Indians with fear or hatred, reformers believed that with the proper education and treatment Indians could become just like other citizens. After the end of the Indian Wars, the U.S. government outlawed the practice of traditional Native American religious ceremonies. It established boarding schools which Indian children were required to attend, forced to speak English, learn standard subjects, and leave tribal traditions behind.

Lifestyle Changes8 The U.S. government made attempts to

assimilate the Indian people into the melting pot of America by placing them in institutions where traditional ways could be replaced by those approved by the government. Whereas many Americans regarded the Indians with fear or hatred, reformers believed that with the proper education and treatment Indians could become just like other citizens. After the end of the Indian Wars, the U.S. government outlawed the practice of traditional Native American religious ceremonies. It established boarding schools which Indian children were required to attend, forced to speak English, learn standard subjects, and leave tribal traditions behind.

Paragraph 8Big Ideas• Assimilation attempts

• assimilation – helping the Indian get used to white man’s ways

• “Kill the Indian but save the man.”

Summarizing Conflict

Battle of Little

Bighorn

Chief Joseph and the

Nez Perce

Surrender of

Geronimo

Battle of Wounded

Knee

Date of Conflict

Who were the major players

involved?

What was the cause of the

conflict?

What was the result of the

conflict?