Westward Expansion Paradise Lost ? or The Indian Problem

If the US had not conquered the Indians would they still have their lands and ways of living ? What would not be here if the Indians still owned their lands? dOWvN38&feature=related dOWvN38&feature=related What if

Indian Tribes There are/ were several hundred Indian Tribes in North America In the beginning Indians and colonists did work together and live close together. Indians did not believe in land ownership – They were nomadic ( traveled from place to place) – Buying and selling land was not something they followed – There were tribal areas but all the tribe had rights to the land Many Indian tribes did fight each other – This made them easier to conquer – Sioux uprising Many Indian groups did come together but couldn’t decide how to stay together Sitting Bull Sioux Chief

– Great Plains As Settles moved in, many Indian tribes were weakened or destroyed – Nomads Spanish brought horses in 1500’s Followed buffalo herds Traded furs for supplies, guns and other provisions

Even while the War was going on people were encouraged to move west with the Homestead Act *160 Acres for a small fee *Had to farm land for 5 years to make a claim of ownership *Exoduster’s Black families wanting to escape racial violence and make a new life after slavery What was going on out West?

West Continued… Morrill Land Grant 1862 gave States land to sell for Colleges. Mostly sold to land speculators; however, there are many colleges such as the one Mrs Harris went to that are land grant colleges. Railroads – R R companies were given prime land as part of being encouraged to build and pay for RRs. – Lots of corruption and land grabbing

Settlers Who were the Settlers? – Looking for Gold – People looking for land to make a better life after the War both Black ( Exodusters) and White – Immigrants – Plantation owners before the War – Some of our Grandparents – Settlers believed that since they produced more food and wealth they had a greater right to the land

Indian Wars and Government Policies The US and Indian Nations made a lot of treaties. Most of them broken by the US. Reasons given for not honoring the agreements – Land value – Gold discovered – RR – Indian ways considered inferior – Concern of Indian wars – Corrupt Businessmen and politicians -Belief Indians should assimilate and become part of white culture.

History of Indian Wars French and Indian Cherokee – 1830’s Creek- 1830’s Plains Indian wars during the War between the States ( Civil War) After the War until 1890

Events leading to Indian unrest Bozeman Trail – went through Indian land connecting various forts. Indians did not approve of this. Discovery of Gold- Montana, South Dakota, Colorado Homestead Act Broken treaties Settlers ignoring Indian Land rights and the US troops believing they needed to protect the settlers Bozeman Trail

Adobe Walls 1863 Texas – Two battles – one during the Civil War and the other after. Sand Creek 1864 Colorado – Unprepared Indians mostly women and children killed – Cheyenne Surrender and agree to go to a Reservation Little Big Horn 1876 Montana – 250 men surrounded by 5000 Indians and killed. the largest Indian force ever assembled. Many differnent tribes came together this one time. – Treaty of 1868 not being honored by US Gave the Sioux modern day South Dakota Wounded Knee 1890 South Dakota – Sitting Bull killed – 200 massacred Key Battles

Sand Creek In one of the most sordid affairs between whites and American Indians, more than 200 Cheyennes, mainly women and children, lay dead following Col. John M. Chivington’s destruction of Black Kettle’s Southern Cheyenne village nestled along Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado, on November 29, The Chivington massacre included the mutilation of Indians, including severed genitals. Black Kettle’s village had camped near Fort Lyon with the understanding that they were friendly, an American flag flew from the village. The site is located on private land.

Little Big Horn 1876 Montana In the War Between the States, US General Custer was famous for being the youngest General (Yankee/ Northern). During the Civil War he earned his rank for bravery. He fought in many battles including Gettysburg and against many famous Confederate leaders such as Picket and Forrest. At the Little Big Horn things changed Custer led part of the US 7 th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was caught off guard and surprised by 5000 or more Indians For many of the Indian wars/ battles Indians tried to avoid trouble. Here they were ready. Indians had 4 to 5 Braves per Tee Pee, so when Custer and his men came close to the Indian camp they didn’t know how out numbered they were. Custer had split his group into 3 pieces which made him that much more vulnerable. He could have had close to 700 men instead he had 250 ( numbers vary with different reports) The Indians led by chiefs like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and others attacked Custer and kept the other 2 pieces of Custer's command tied down so they could not help. All of Custer’s men including his brother, brother in law were killed. The only survivor was a horse named Comanche.

Wounded Knee On December 15, 1890, the great Hunkpapa leader Sitting Bull, who had opposed Custer at the Little Bighorn and who had toured for a time with Buffalo Bill and the Wild West show, was killed on the Standing Rock reservation. In a dream he had foreseen his death at the hands of his own people. Just two weeks later, on the morning of December 29, 1890, on Wounded Knee Creek near the Pine Ridge agency, the Seventh Cavalry of the U.S. Army opened fire on an encampment of Big Foot's band of Minneconjou Sioux. When the shooting ended, Big Foot and most of his people were dead or dying. It has been estimated that nearly 300 of the original 350 men, women, and children in the camp were slain. Twenty-five soldiers were killed and thirty-nine wounded, Sitting Bull is reported to have said, "I am the last Indian." In some sense he was right. During his lifetime the world of the Plains Indians had changed forever. The old roving life of the buffalo hunters was over. A terrible disintegration and demoralization had set in. If the death of Sitting Bull marked the end of an age, Wounded Knee marked the end of a culture. I did not know then how much was ended. When I look back now from the high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch as plain as when I saw them with eyes still young. And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there. It was a beautiful dream.... -Black Elk-

Conclusion Change was taking place in all of the US. Indians tried to maintain their way of life but could not sustain against the power which was coming against them. While the Indians did get guns, horses and could fight. The industrialized North was too much for them as it was for the South during the War between the States Most Indians moved to Reservations where life was not good. Many became dependent on the US Government for food and supplies. This didn’t work then and it wont work today.