THE IMPACT OF WESTWARD MOVEMENT ON THE AMERICAN INDIANS

Impact on American Indians By the end of this lesson, students will be able to identify the impact westward expansion had on American Indians.

Impact on Native Americans Essential Question: –How did the lives of American Indians change with western expansion?

Impact on Native Americans American Indians opposed (were against) westward expansion. Many battles occurred between the American Indians and government soldiers.

Native American Background Lived on the Great Plains Depended on the buffalo for survival Let’s read how the Native Americans used the buffalo on page 594.

The Shrinking Frontier Developments –Settlements about every 10 miles –Town to city at rapid pace Problems –Lands already occupied by Native Americans –Battles erupted between the Native Americans & Settlers

Government Policy Treaties (Agreements between the US Government & Native Americans) –Bought Native American land for little money –Restricted Native Americans to reservations –Some treaty makers sought bribes or used violence until tribes signed –Signers did not know they were restricted to reservation lands Bureau of Indian Affairs –Manage delivery of critical supplies to reservations –Very corrupt

The Fate of Indian Territory In 1889 Congress opened 2 million acres to settlers At noon on April 22, hundreds of homesteaders rushed across the border

American Indian Lands Ceded

Treaties with the Government Took advantage of American Indians. The US Government broke the treaties and reduced the homelands of the Native Americans.

RESERVATIONS American Indians were forced to relocate from their homes to reservations Most tribes opposed going to reservations

What do you think is the meaning of this political cartoon?

Frustration Builds Causes –Settlers Stole land Killed buffalo Diverted water Attacked Indian camps –Feel they were tricked by the government –Government stopped making treaties and recognized no more chiefs

Gold Found in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory!

“Conflict with Native Americans”

Opposition by American Indians to westward expansion Battle of Little Bighorn Sitting Bull Battle of Wounded Knee Geronimo Chief Joseph & his Nez Perce

Battle of Little Bighorn 1876 Cause: –Sioux resistance to Bozeman trail running through their territory –Gold found in the Sioux Black Hills Events –Custer sent to round up Indians –Met 2,000 warriors

Opposition of American Indians to Westward Expansion Black Hills of Northern Great Plains Lakota (Sioux) Tribe vs. U.S. Army Battle at Little Big Horn George CusterSitting Bullvs.

The Battle of Little Big Horn 1876

Battle of Little Big Horn The Lakota (Sioux) Indians Win!!!

“Custer’s Last Stand” The Battle stunned Americans ! The US Government flooded the area with US soldiers and forced the Native Americans back onto reservations

Sitting Bull In the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Custer and more than 200 soldiers were killed. Sitting Bull escaped to Canada, but returned to the reservation five years later.

Book/Video Battle of Little Big Horn

Geronimo

Opposition of American Indians to Westward Expansion Fought many battles against the White Man Resisted the White Man’s ways Captured in 1886 Geronimo

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe located in the Northwest Youth attacked settlers to get Nez Perce horses Chief Joseph tried to escape with his people

Chief Joseph Nez Percé tribal retreat (1877)

The Nez Perce 40 miles from Canada, caught & forced onto Oklahoma reservation “I will fight no more, forever!” Let’s read the Chief Joseph handout.

Opposition of American Indians to Westward Expansion Last battle in the Indian Wars U.S. troops were preparing to escort a tribe of Lakota to reservation land in Nebraska. Some disorder broke out, soldiers heard a shot and began firing More than 200 men, women, & children were killed Battle at Wounded Knee Chief Sitting Bull

Scenes from Wounded Knee

Native Cultures Destroyed Buffalo killed off Native Americans are forbidden to practice their religion Their land is lost The amount of land owned by American Indians shrank by 65% by 1934

End Results Native American’s Conquered –Over 1,000 battles –950 American deaths –Countless Native American deaths –Millions of Native American’s on reservations

RESULTS OF BATTLES More White Men opposed the Native Americans Many American Indians died by battles (warfare) or disease American Indian homelands were reduced through broken treaties and they were forced to live on reservations Assimilation attempts and lifestyle changes

Assimilation Attempts and Lifestyle Change Reduced buffalo population forced American Indians to adapt the White Man’s ways. Assimilation (to adapt, fit in)

Assimilation Attempts Assimilation (to adapt, fit in)

Dawes Severalty Act (1887): Assimilation Policy Carlisle Indian School, PA

Assimilation Attempts Goal is to make American Indians “civilized” –Give up traditions, learn English, adopt Christianity, adopt white dress, and farm or learn a trade Assimilation –United States Indian Training and Industrial School Children taken from reservation to attend American Indians were not granted citizenship until 1924.

Indian Reservations Today