Warm-ups (Ch.7 – 09/13) In 1849, miners discovered a precious substance in California: gold. Within a year, prospectors flocked to California determined to strike it rich. –QUESTION: Write a paragraph explaining that you have “gold fever” and are headed to California to make your fortune.

Conflict with Native Americans Chapter 7, Section 2

Life of the Plains Indians Buffalo – used every part Farmers, hunters and gatherers Horses – trading and raids –Nomads – people who travel from place to place (followed food source) –Warrior societies

Indian Wars Causes of Clashes –Native American traditions: land was sacred –Settlers felt justified in taking land b/c they could make it productive

Government Policy Making Treaties –Produced misunderstandings & fraud basically took land w/o asking Most “Chiefs” didn’t know what they were signing Widespread corruption –Placed Indians on reservations –Indian react with frustration and anger

Battlefield Challenges Soldier’s Life on the Frontier –$13 a month –Leftover Civil War uniform –Rotten food –Duties: build forts, escort the mail, protect miners, stop gunfights, prevent liquor smuggling and stagecoach robbery and occasionally….fight Indians

The Sand Creek Massacre, 1864 Players: Southern Cheyenne, Arapaho, Black Kettle, Colonel John Chivington Place: Central Plains Cheyenne massacres prompt Chivington to kill up to 500 surrendered Cheyenne and Arapaho led by Black Kettle

The Sand Creek Massacre, 1864

Battle of Little Bighorn, 1876 Players: Sioux, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Lt. Colonel George A. Custer Place: Northern Plains, Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana territories U.S. tries to buy gold-rich Black Hills from Sioux; talks fail; Custer’s cavalry is sent to round up Sioux, but meets huge enemy force; Custer and some 200 men perish in “Custer’s Last Stand”

The Battle of Wounded Knee, 1890 Players: Sioux, Sitting Bull, U.S. 7 th Cavalry Place: Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota Ghost Dance raises fears of Sioux uprising; Sitting Bull killed in attempted arrest; His followers surrender and camp at Wounded Knee; Shots are fired; some 200 Sioux die

The Battle of Wounded Knee, 1890

New Policies Attempts to change their culture –Assimilation: the process by which one society by adopting its culture –Dawes Act: divided reservation land into individual plots ( In hopes, to make families self- supportive, create pride and ownership.) –PROBLEM: Most reservation land was unsuitable for farming! Most Indians had no interest or experience in farming

Indians “Civilized”

Buffalo Exterminated

Opening Indian Territory April 22, 1889 –Oklahoma Land Rush: Settlers rushed at the sound of a bugle to find a piece of land –Boomers: settlers who staked claims –Sooners: people who sneaked by the government officials to stake their claim

Native Americans See: - Pioneers see: -