Conflict with Native Americans

Cultures Under Pressure  Though there were many tribes present on the Plains, they all shared a common idea– that they were a part of nature and nature was sacred.  Starting with the Trail of Tears, Native Americans were forced to move to accommodate settlers.  The first example of this was the Fort Laramie Treaty (1851).  With this treaty, Native Americans agreed to stay within a limited area in exchange for money, animals and tools.

Cultures Under Pressure  With the increased discovery of gold, new treaties were written to restrict native settlement.  They were forced to live on separate reservations (in Oklahoma and South Dakota)– specific land set aside by the government for the Native Americans’ use.  The Native Americans were also hurt by the introduction of diseases and the destruction of the buffalo herds.  The Plains Indians relied on the buffalo for all aspects of their lives.

Cultures Under Pressure  Some examples of uses of the buffalo included:  In an attempt to force the Native Americans to become more Anglicized (i.e. white), the government sponsored slaughter of the buffalo.  The buffalo population was reduced from ~13 million in 1860 to ~400 in 1900.

Clashes with Native Americans  Tensions existed between settlers and the Native Americans because of the settlers’ desire for land. When Native Americans did not want to move, and treaties were broken by the government, tension arose.  The first major instance of conflict occurred in November of  John Chivington and his men opened fire on unarmed Cheyenne at Sand Creek. His men then went on to mutilate the bodies.  105 women and children; 28 men died.  The Sand Creek Massacre sparked anger from the Plains Indians towards the settlers.

Major Conflicts  Red River War  Series of battles between powerful southern Plains tribes (Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Arapaho) and U.S. Army.  Tried to force tribes into Indian Territory.  End of free roaming Native Americans in the southern Plains.

Major Conflicts  Battle of Little Big Horn  Conflict over gold in the northern Plains (South Dakota)  Sioux, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, attempted to drive out settlers  George Custer arrived ahead of reinforcements and both he and his men were easily defeated.

Major Conflicts  Battle of Wounded Knee  Religious revival of the Ghost Dance, hoping to bring back the buffalo.  As the movement grew, the government became anxious and ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull  In the confrontation, more than 100 men were killed as the Native Americans fled to Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

Growing Unease  In 1881, reformer Helen Hunt Jackson published A Century of Dishonor– a novel that highlighted the plight of Native Americans.  It generated sympathy for the Native Americans, and intensified the debate over how to handle the tribal populations.  Some wanted to contain and punish the natives, whereas others wanted to force the natives to assimilate.

Assimilation  The U.S. government had a strong desire for Native Americans to assimilate, or adopt the culture and civilization of whites.  Special schools were established for Native Americans to be educated in how to live as whites.  This included their language, customs and dress.

Dawes Act  In an effort to downgrade the power of the tribes, the U.S. government began recognizing Native Americans as individuals.  The reservation system was replaced by an allotment system.  Each Native American family was granted 160 acres of land, not to be touched for 25 years under the Dawes General Allotment Act.  This was to encourage young Native Americans to take up farming, while reducing the power of the tribe.