Presentation Transcript

1. Treaties, Tribal Sovereignty, and The Indian Wars

2. Learning Target and Standard Standard 4.2.2: I can understand and analyze how cultures and cultural groups contributed to Washington State history. Learning Target: I can analyze the impact that American treaties and conflict had on Native Americans.
3. Treaties A Treaty is a written agreement between two states or independent nations. U.S. Constitution established Native American tribes as independent nations. Due to increasing levels of violence, many people felt that whites and Native Americans couldn’t coexist peacefully.
4. The Stevens Treaties Isaac Stevens met with numerous Indian groups from 1854-56 signed 14 different treaties. Native Americans were to move to reservations Often small and on poor pieces of land U.S. government would provide schools for Indians Free medical care would be offered Treaties reflected the view that Indians had to be “taken care of” and changed to be more like white culture.
5. Broken Promises, False Assumptions Treaties often were not followed or only partially followed. Loopholes Treaty of Point No Point, Indians were to receive $60,000 over 20 years President retained the right of HOW to spend that money on them Whites often thought all Indians were the same Didn’t account for differences in lifestyle, alliances, enemies, etc.
6. Tribal Sovereignty Treaties allowed Native Americans to still be sovereign. Native Americans were allowed to govern themselves. There are limits to Tribal sovereignty Tribal law and customs apply on reservations, but Federal Law is considered supreme U.S. government can overrule tribal laws and decisions made by tribal courts
7. The Yakama War After the Yakama Nation had moved to a reservation, gold was discovered there. White miners trespassed on the reservation, sparking the conflict. Seattle was attacked by Native Americans U.S. Army sent 600 soldiers to retaliate; killed 700 horses and hanged 24 Native leaders. Yakama tribe was forced to sign a peace treaty, ending the war.
8. Nez Perce War Gold is again discovered on Nez Perce Reservation Government allowed white settlers to go mine it. White miners killed by Nez Perce Chief Joseph prepared his people to flee, knowing the army would retaliate Evaded the army for over a year, almost reached Canada “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever” –Chief Joseph
9. The Dawes Act Divided land into 160 acre plots to encourage Indians to become farmers. Much was unsuitable for farming. Indians could become citizens of the U.S. Had to break all tribal ties and weakened Indian culture/Tribal authority Indian Boarding Schools “white-washing” The Dawes Act was repealed in 1934
10. Native Culture, Before and After Your assignment is to do the following: Write a minimum 1 page, 5 paragraph essay analyzing how the actions of the U.S. Government affected the culture of Native Americans in Washington. Use at least 3 pieces of evidence in your essay Things to remember: difficulties with treaties, language barriers, Dawes Act, Boarding Schools, Yakama and Nez Perce Wars