The Indian Problem Continues… (1850-1890) They Just Won’t Leave!

The Indian Problem Continues… (1850-1890)

They Just Won’t Leave!

The Plains Indians Problem Things Aren’t Improving

U. S. Indian Policies1. Move or Die! (1776 - 1850)

2. Get on a Reservation! (1850 - 1900)

3. Assimilate! (Be White!) (1900 - 1920)

4. You are on your own…Sort of! (1920s to Present)

The Catch:

None of these really work smoothly

Problems with Indian/US Relations

• Westward Expansion of US• Culture Clash• Racism• Stereotyping• Reservations• Violence• Broken Promises (treaties)

• Reservations

• Sand Creek Massacre (11/1864)

• Areas set aside for Native Americans to live.

• Made hunting buffalo almost impossible

• Caused many conflicts

• Cheyenne refused to live on reservations

• US troops kill 200 men, women, and children in Colorado

Cheyenne Tepee

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are needed to see this picture.

Sand Creek Massacre - US vs. Cheyenne in Colorado - 11/1864



“The only good Indian is a dead Indian.”

-Philip Sheridan

QuickTime™ and a decompressor


Genocide - The intentional killing of a particular racial, cultural, or political group

The phrase, “The only good Indian is a dead Indian,” came from U.S. General Philip Sheridan when a Comanche named Tosawi came to him to sign a treaty after a U.S. victory over his tribe. “Toswai, Good Indian,” said the Native American leader. Sheridan replied, ”The only good Indians I ever saw were dead.” The phrase has changed slightly over time.

• Battle of Little Big Horn

• Sioux Indians forced to live on a reservation in the Black Hills of the Dakota Terr.

• US Troops under George Custer find gold there

• US tells Sioux to sell their reservation

• Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, refuses• Custer refuses back up, and

attacks• All 264 US troops, including

Custer, were killed• Last major Native American victory

out west





Custer’s Men after Little big Horn (they have looked better)



Little Big Horn Today



Sitting Bull



George Custer



George Custer After Little Big Horn

• Massacre at Wounded Knee

• Sioux are again refusing to live on reservations after Sitting Bull was killed by reservation police

• US Army finds Sioux camp at Wounded Knee in South Dakota

• 150 Indians killed• Last major battle on the

plains

The Dawes Actor

“With friends like this, who needs enemies?”

• Dawes Act (1887)• Many people were looking for

better ways to deal with NA’s• Seeks to get NA’s to adopt

white ways• Reservation lands to be split

up for private ownership (160 acres/family for farming, 40 for normal purposes)

• Ended up taking 2/3’s of reservation lands

• 90,000 NA’s are landless• Dawes Act was a failure -

NA’s did not want a “white” culture - humiliated



The Dawes Act leads to Indian Land being sold - Remember that this is supposed to be helping the Indians

• Indian Schools• Another bright idea - “Hey - lets

make Indians be like white people”• Forced assimilation (teaching NA

children only white culture)• Most famous was Carlisle Indian

School in Pennsylvania• Kids were taken from their parents,

had their hair cut, taught English, learned history from “white” perspective, and learned “white customs and traditions

• Punished for speaking native languages

Indian Schools



“History is the propaganda of the victors.”

Tell the story of one event from today’s class from the Native American point of view.

Possible topics:

Reservations

Little Big Horn/Custer’s Last Stand

Sand Creek Massacre

Dawes Act

Indian Schools

Documents

The Indian Problem Continues… (1850-1890) They Just Won’t Leave!