The Fight for the West

1. The Fight for the West Native Americans and their role in western expansion

2. Stage Set for Conflict • Plains Indians thrived due to abundance of buffalo – used for food, clothing, shelter • They led a nomadic lifestyle (they followed the food) • They did not believe land should be bought or sold • US govt. and most white settlers disagreed – land should be divided and claimed, often backed out of deals with Natives

3. Buffalo • Used in over 52 ways by Plains Indians • Examples – food, shelter, weapons, clothing, bowls, shoes, dolls, rattles, glue • Destroying buffalo = destroying a way of life

4. Destruction of Buffalo • 60 million buffalo in 1800, less than 1,000 remained by 1894 • Settlers and railroads reduced grazing land and cut off migration routes • Livestock brought disease to buffalo • Purposely destroyed to force Indians onto reservations • Also hunted for sport and profit • Forced Natives onto reservations

5. The Ghost Dance • Natives turned to religion to cope with struggle • Ghost Danceperformed for 5 nights • Belief that it would lead to the departure of the White man and the return of the buffalo • caused more harm than good • it scared whites, government took action

7. Sand Creek Massacre – 1864 • Indian raids caused much ill-will between the settlers and tribes in Colorado territory • Black Kettle (Cheyenne leader) and his tribe offered amnesty • Indians believed they were protected, came into a camp, flew a white flag of peace • Col. John Chivington and troops killed and mutilated about 200 of the Indians, 2/3 were women and children.

8. Battle of the Little Bighorn - 1876 • raids continued against settlers who moved onto Sioux land in Montana territory • Sioux refused to return to reservations • Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, had a vision of a win over US soldiers. • This insulted Lt. Colonel George Custer. • Custer led his troops into poorly planned attack • his troops were severely outnumbered and quickly killed by the Sioux

9. short lived victory for the Natives • government determined to end Native American resistance

10. The Wounded Knee Massacre • Sitting Bull was killed by Indian Agency police due to his support of the Ghost Dance (1890) • Sioux tribe surrendered and were taken to Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota • A gun went off (conflicting stories) • U.S soldiers massacred Sioux men, women and children • ended a long and bloody conflict between the army and the Plains Indians

11. Sitting Bull

12. Resistance in the Northwest • Nez Perce moved onto a shrinking reservation • Chief Joseph tried to lead his tribe into Canada • stopped before he could get there and moved back Resistance in the Southwest • Geronimo and others fled a reservation in AZ to lead raids on settlements • He was eventually caught and sent to an internment camp in FL • marked the end of armed resistance in the Southwest

13. Geronimo

15. Government Policy • 1850s- 1870s – put Natives onto reservations and keep them separated • policy changed in the 1870s • Natives were forced to get rid of all traditional cultures and adopt the culture of white America. • “kill the Indian and save the man” • Americanization (this is an important term) • Bureau of Indian Affairs established

16. These boys have been Americanized – they look like, talk like, and dress like a real American

17. Dawes Act • Dawes Act of 1887 • split up reservations among individuals in the Native American tribes • promised them citizenship • gave them the less productive land and sold off the best • little support given to the Natives in regards to tools and supplies

18. In the End • Tribes across America are decimated • The young are taken from their parents • After resisting for decades, Natives give up and settle on reservations • The West becomes a part of the U.S and it remains so today • Today, tribes struggle with poverty, addiction, etc.