Manifest Destiny & Native American Displacement: Impact of Homestead & Dawes Acts

1. Imperialism United States History Unit #6

2. “America’s Progress”George Crogutt, 1873

3. MANIFEST DESTINY “[It is] our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." -- John L. O'Sullivan, United States Magazine and Democratic Review, 1845

4. “500 Nations” Native American Video (1860-1890) Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Native Americans

5. The Homestead Act • United States Federal law that gave away free titles to 160 acres 640 acres of undeveloped land outside of the original 13 colonies. • Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. Government, including freed slaves, could file an application and improvements to a local land office. • The Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. • Eventually 1.6 million homesteads were granted and 270,000,000 acres were privatized, a total of 10% of all lands in the United States.

6. The Dawes Act • Dawes Act or General Allotment Act,1887, passed by the U.S. Congress to provide for the granting of “allotments” (usually 160 acres/65 hectares) to individual Native Americans, replacing communal tribal holdings. • Sponsored by U.S. Senator H. L. Dawes from M.A., the aim of the act was to absorb tribe members into the larger national society. Allotments could be sold after a statutory period (25 years), and “surplus” land not allotted was opened to settlers. • Within decades following the passage of the act, the vast majority of what had been tribal land in the West was in white hands.

7. The Dawes Act & Homestead Act • The Homestead Act (1862): • United States Federal law (signed in by Lincoln) giving away 160 acres undeveloped land • Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. Government, including freed slaves qualified. • Eventually 1.6 million homesteads were granted and 270,000,000 acres were privatized, a total of 10% of all lands in the United States. • The Dawes Act (1887): • Land to individuals (160 acres per family) not nations (communities) • Left-over land went to white settlers

8. Western Expansion Timeline of Important Events 1845 “Manifest Destiny”: first usage of the term (Mexican-American War) 1860s-1880s Cattle ranching in the Great Plains hugely profitable 1862 Homestead Act passed 1865 Civil War ends, 13th Amendment passed (prohibits slavery) 1868 14th Amendment Passed, President Johnson impeached, but not ousted Freedman’s Bureau active 1869 Transcontinental Railroad finished in Promontory, Utah 1870 15th Amendment 1871 U.S. government orders all Western Indian nations to settle in either western South Dakota reservation or Oklahoma (Indian Territory- not treated as separate nation) 1874 Sioux Territory- Gold found and Sioux refuse government offer to buy land for $6 million. 1875-1876 American miners stream into Black Hills; Sioux and Cheyenne join together to resist settlers

9. Western Expansion Timeline of Important Events • 1876 U.S. orders all Sioux back to the reservations; many refuse • Spring 1876 U.S. Military plans three prong attack on Indians • June 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn- Custer decides to fight Sioux without other companies (many died) • Fall 1876 Sioux suffer two major defeats in battle • 1877 U.S. troops withdrawn from South, Reconstruction ENDS. • Most Sioux and Cheyenne fighters surrender, including leader Crazy Horse • Another Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, settles in Canada rather than surrender • Nez Perce fight military, Chief Joseph • Late 1870s Years of Apache resistance to miners and settlers of New Mexico Territory • Late 1880s Apache resistance continues after death of Cochise • 1886 Geronimo’s final surrender to U.S. troops • 1887 Dawes Act passed • 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush

10. Native Americans & the U.S. Government • Goal of “Indian Policy”: • Lead the Native Americans upwards into “Christian civilization” BUT do not “crush out” all traits of N.A. culture. • What does he mean by “our task is to hasten the slow work of race evolution”? • Native Americans are the “less favored race” and without government intervention to quicken the process, they will lose out. • What elements of Indian culture does the official admire? • Physical courage, “heroic stoicism in enduring physical pain”, & respect for one’s self. • What elements of white culture does the official insist the Indians should adopt? • Home-making, industry, cleanliness, social purity and family integrity.

11. Imperialism Definition: • What is YOUR definition???? • The practice of one country extending its control over the territory, political system, or economic life of another country. (www2.truman.edu/~marc/resources/terms.html ) • The policy of extending a nation’s authority over other countries by economic, political, or military means. (teachers.sduhsd.net/shayes/documents/CCA-US-Imp-VocabList.doc)

12. Imperialism Map of the World

13. Imperialism Map: Annexations & Territories Alaska (1867) Midway Islands (1867) Puerto Rico (1898) Philippines (1898) Hawaii (1898) Guam (1899) American Samoa (1878)

14. Imperialism Map: Protectorates & Interventions Cuba (1898) Haiti-D.R. (1915/1916) Nicaragua (1911) Panama (1903)

15. Imperialism Map: Trading Partners Korea (1880) Japan (1854) China (1844)

16. Imperialism Map: Neighbors & Rivals Great Britain Canada Germany France Spain Mexico