Native American Removal Native American Removal & Displacement& Displacement

In the WestIn the West

Conflicts Between Whites and Conflicts Between Whites and NativesNatives

• A. Plans for building a transcontinental RR system and discovery of gold led to Indian reservations decreasing in size

• B. Great Plains reservations for Indian Tribes– 1. White settlers moved onto reservation land– 2. U.S. Government signed treaties that required

Natives to move west and sign over their land– 3. U.S. Government promised protection of land– 4. U.S. government allowed companies to build

railroads on Indian territory; Buffalo were split up by RR lines

• C. Treaties Harm Native Americans:– 1. Most natives never agreed to treaties; led

to many conflicts and wars– 2. U.S. Government officials (Indian Bureau)

tricked natives through treaties– 3. Native Americans felt betrayed and ended

historic cooperation with the white government

Native American ResistanceNative American Resistance

• A. Between 1860s and 1890s, there were more than 100 serious conflicts between the U.S. Government and Natives

• B. Sioux Uprising (1862): resistance lasted several years

• C. Chivington Massacre (1864)– Cheyenne Indians were forced onto barren land and

were starving– Indians began raids on white settlements– Chivington (head of Colorado militia) killed 450

natives in an ambush– Led to most Plaines Indians removal to reservations

• D. Although many tribes continued to fight back, they could not match weapons and legal authority of U.S. Government.

III. Slaughter of the BuffaloIII. Slaughter of the Buffalo

• A) Introduction of horses allowed whites and Natives to hunt buffalo more efficiently

• B) Railroad construction divided buffalo and killed many in accidents

• C) White settlers killed buffalos to trade with Natives

• D) Between 1865 and 1886, buffalo were nearly wiped off the plains

IV. Battle of Little Big Horn: IV. Battle of Little Big Horn: Custer’s Last StandCuster’s Last Stand

• A. Territorial dispute between Sioux and white settlers looking for gold

• B. Crazy Horse defeated Custer (killed him and all of his men)

• C. Led to media depictions of natives as “savages”

• D. Federal troops were sent in and Crazy Horse surrendered

V. Wounded KneeV. Wounded Knee

• A. Sioux began ceremonial dancing led to…

• B. Reservation agents sent in to raid the Reservation

• C. Battle ensued; 200 Indians were killed• D. Wounded Knee demonstrated U.S.

government’s lack of understanding of Native culture

VI. AmericanizationVI. Americanization

• A. Idea was to make Indians more “American”

• B. Called for giving up tribal system and becoming farmers

• C. Dawes Act (1887) enforced Americanization

• D. Policy failed due to lack of services and equipment provided (farming tools, schools, health, etc.)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJFi7SRH7Q