Revision session 4: American West – Conflict on the Plains

1. Revision session 4: American West – Conflict on the Plains • The American West: inhabitants and early settlers • - The Plains Indians: their beliefs and way of life. • - Early migration and settlement: trappers and miners in the far West; the reasons for • increasing migration; the Oregon Trail; The Mormons at Salt Lake City. • - Cattlemen and cowboys: ranching on the Great Plains; the life and work of the cowboy; • reality and myth. • The settlement of the Great Plains • - The reasons for the growth of Western settlement: the role of governments; motives and • aspirations of migrants; the role of railroads and railroad companies. • - Survival on the Plains: life and work of the homesteaders; the role of women. • - Farming: problems and solutions. • Conflict on the Plains • - Conflicts between settlers and the Native American peoples: the clash of cultures; the • reasons for the Plains Wars and their outcomes; the Battle of the Little Big Horn and its • impact; Custer and Sitting Bull. • - Changing government attitudes and policy towards the Plains Indians. • - The impact of the settlement of the West on native peoples to 1895.

2. Conflict on the Plains Conflicts between settlers and the Native American peoples: the clash of cultures; the reasons for the Plains Wars and their outcomes; the Battle of the Little Big Horn and its impact; Custer and Sitting Bull. • Changing government attitudes and policy towards the Plains Indians. • The impact of the settlement of the West on native peoples to 1895.

3. In simple language:- • Whites v Indians – why? What was it like? What were the results? • What the government wanted to happen – this changed • What happened to the Indians? (reservations etc)

4. Whites v. Indians – massive topic • Little Crow’s War – 1862 – Santee Sioux starving, rebelled, got put somewhere worse • Red Cloud’s War – 1865-8 – Bozeman Trail ran through Sioux land (broke FL), Indians attacked whites. Led to second FL Treaty – Sioux to go to reservation in Dakota (didn’t all go) • Great Sioux War – 1876-7 – gold in Black Hills, US govt offered to buy them, told all Indians to go to res – they couldn’t/didn’t – Battle of Little Bighorn

5. (2) Government policy Before 1850s – 1 big reservation After 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty – concentration – Indians would give up freedom to go where they liked, but the land they did have would be protected By 1870s – gradual policy of smaller reservations 1876 – destroy the Indians’ way of life

6. (3) Destruction of Indian way of life • Why? (b) How?

7. (3) Destruction of Indian way of life • How? (in general) The army - 1 weapon per soldier, winter campaigns, total war The railroads – crossed hunting grounds, brought homesteaders, encouraged cowboys etc… The government – supported army, used+reduced reservations, Dawes Act 1887 etc The loss of the buffalo – (railroads, industry)

8. (b) How? (on the reservations) • Reduce chiefs’ power • Put their children in boarding schools • Ban their religion • Employ corrupt government agents

9. 2. How important was the Battle of Little Bighorn in the destruction of the way of life of the Plains Indians? Explain your answer. • - 1868 The area of the Great Sioux Reservation was agreed • - 1876 Custer was defeated at Little Bighorn • - 1887 The Dawes Act was passed