1. More Cultures, More Conflicts

2. Preview Statement “I will fight for what is rightfully mine.”

3. Introduction 1At the time of the Civil War, the number of American Indians living in the United States was about 300,000, with over half living on the Great Plains. The Plains Indians usually accepted the white man as he crossed their lands on the way to the West Coast. However, before long homesteaders, ranchers, and miners began to claim the Indian land and its resources as their own. The white men built homes and towns, fenced in the land, and laid more railroad tracks. More threatening to the American Indian was the killing of the buffalo for their hides and for sport. The Plains Indians depended on buffalo meat for food and the skins for clothing and shelter. The same Indians who had once lived freely on the land of the Plains now faced the white man’s weapons and the diseases he brought with him. As a result, conflicts occurred between the Indians and settlers.

4. Introduction 1At the time of the Civil War, the number of American Indians living in the United States was about 300,000, with over half living on the Great Plains. The Plains Indians usually accepted the white man as he crossed their lands on the way to the West Coast. However, before long homesteaders, ranchers, and miners began to claim the Indian land and its resources as their own. The white men built homes and towns, fenced in the land, and laid more railroad tracks. More threatening to the American Indian was the killing of the buffalo for their hides and for sport. The Plains Indians depended on buffalo meat for food and the skins for clothing and shelter. The same Indians who had once lived freely on the land of the Plains now faced the white man’s weapons and the diseases he brought with him. As a result, conflicts occurred between the Indians and settlers.

5. Paragraph 1 Big Ideas Impact on American Indians Reduction of the buffalo herds White man brought warfare and disease

6. Reservations 2The two sides fought bitterly for many years. Finally the United States government and Indian leaders came to an agreement in 1868. Lands would be set aside by the government for the use of the Native Americans. These were called reservations. Many times the Indians were herded onto reservations far from their homelands. The reservation land was poor, and there was not enough to eat. They were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt but were forced to become farmers. Government policies attempted to turn the Native Americans into “citizens” by stripping them of their lands, culture, and language. The goal was to “kill the Indian but save the man.”

7. A Different Life for Native Americans

8. Reservations 2The two sides fought bitterly for many years. Finally the United States government and Indian leaders came to an agreement in 1868. Lands would be set aside by the government for the use of the Native Americans. These were called reservations. Many times the Indians were herded onto reservations far from their homelands. The reservation land was poor, and there was not enough to eat. They were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt but were forced to become farmers. Government policies attempted to turn the Native Americans into “citizens” by stripping them of their lands, culture, and language. The goal was to “kill the Indian but save the man.”

9. Paragraph 2 Big Ideas Impact on American Indians Forced relocation to reservations Attempt to change lifestyle (from hunters to farmers)

10. Little Bighorn 3In 1868 the Sioux Nation signed a treaty that created the Great Sioux Reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Some Sioux continued to roam the lands west of the reservation in search of buffalo. After gold was discovered in the Black Hills, the U.S government offered to buy the land, but the Sioux refused to sell. The government sent soldiers to take the land by force.

11. Little Bighorn 4On June 25, 1876, U.S. Army troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer fought against Sitting Bull and several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in the Battle of Little Big Horn. In less than an hour, Custer and his men were killed in the worst American military disaster ever. Outraged the government redrew the boundary lines, placing the Black Hills outside the reservation and open to white settlers. Within a year, the Sioux nation was defeated and broken. "Custer's Last Stand" was the Sioux’s last stand as well.

12. Little Bighorn

15. 4On June 25, 1876, U.S. Army troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George A Custer fought against Sitting Bull and several thousand Sioux and Cheyenne warriors in the Battle of Little Big Horn. In less than an hour, Custer and his men were killed in the worst American military disaster ever. Outraged the government redrew the boundary lines, placing the Black Hills outside the reservation and open to white settlers. Within a year, the Sioux nation was defeated and broken. "Custer's Last Stand" was the Sioux’s last stand as well.

16. Paragraph 4 Big Ideas Battle of Little Big Horn 1876 Custer v. Sitting Bull and Sioux Indians “win the battle but lose the war”— gov’t redraws boundary lines of reservation and opens Black Hills to settlers

17. Nez Perce’ 5The United States government continued to use force against other Indian tribes. In June 1877, the Nez Perce’ refused to leave their homes in Oregon and move to a small reservation in Idaho. They were attacked by the U.S. Army. In an attempt to escape to safety in Canada, Chief Joseph led about 800 of the Nez Perce’ through Montana. They were stopped before reaching the Canadian border and surrendered without a fight. Chief Joseph told his people, “I am tired of fighting. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

18. Nez Perce

21. Nez Perce’ 5The United States government continued to use force against other Indian tribes. In June 1877, the Nez Perce’ refused to leave their homes in Oregon and move to a small reservation in Idaho. They were attacked by the U.S. Army. In an attempt to escape to safety in Canada, Chief Joseph led about 800 of the Nez Perce’ through Montana. They were stopped before reaching the Canadian border and surrendered without a fight. Chief Joseph told his people, “I am tired of fighting. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

22. Paragraph 5 Big Ideas Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce 1877 gov’t tries to force Nez Perce onto a reservation Chief Joseph and Nez Perce surrender Chief Joseph - “I will fight no more forever.”

23. Geronimo 6On September 4, 1886, the Apache chief Geronimo surrendered to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty warrior had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886, the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaled the end of the Indians’ freedom to live as they wished. By this time, warfare, disease, and poverty had reduced the American Indian population to 200,000, most of whom were dependent on the federal government for their survival.

24. Geronimo 6On September 4, 1886, the Apache chief Geronimo surrendered to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty warrior had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886, the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaled the end of the Indians’ freedom to live as they wished. By this time, warfare, disease, and poverty had reduced the American Indian population to 200,000, most of whom were dependent on the federal government for their survival.

25. Paragraph 5 Big Ideas Geronimo 1886 Geronimo surrenders to U.S. troops marking end of Indian wars in the Southwest

26. Wounded Knee 7The Battle of Wounded Knee was the last important fight between American Indians and United States troops. It is often called a massacre because the band of Sioux involved in it was almost wiped out. After being forced onto reservations in the Dakotas, the Sioux had turned to a movement known as the Ghost Dance that would, they believed, cause the white man to disappear from Indian lands. The federal government, fearing an uprising, brought in troops. On December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull, the most famous Sioux chief, was killed in a fight following an attempt to arrest him. Some of Sitting Bull's followers fled with Chief Big Foot and his band. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry overtook them at Wounded Knee Creek, in what is now South Dakota. As the troopers attempted to disarm the Indians, a shot was fired. Which side fired the shot is uncertain, but the soldiers attacked. In the fighting that followed, nearly 300 Sioux, including women and children, were killed; 29 troopers died. The massacre at Wounded Knee ended the Indian Wars in the West.

28. Wounded Knee 7The Battle of Wounded Knee was the last important fight between American Indians and United States troops. It is often called a massacre because the band of Sioux involved in it was almost wiped out. After being forced onto reservations in the Dakotas, the Sioux had turned to a movement known as the Ghost Dance that would, they believed, cause the white man to disappear from Indian lands. The federal government, fearing an uprising, brought in troops. On December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull, the most famous Sioux chief, was killed in a fight following an attempt to arrest him. Some of Sitting Bull's followers fled with Chief Big Foot and his band. The U.S. Seventh Cavalry overtook them at Wounded Knee Creek, in what is now South Dakota. As the troopers attempted to disarm the Indians, a shot was fired. Which side fired the shot is uncertain, but the soldiers attacked. In the fighting that followed, nearly 300 Sioux, including women and children, were killed; 29 troopers died. The massacre at Wounded Knee ended the Indian Wars in the West.

29. Paragraph 5 Big Ideas Wounded Knee 1890 gov’t v. Sioux massacre—Indian population reduced through warfare End of Indian wars in West

30. Lifestyle Changes 8The U.S. government made attempts to assimilate the Indian people into the melting pot of America by placing them in institutions where traditional ways could be replaced by those approved by the government. Whereas many Americans regarded the Indians with fear or hatred, reformers believed that with the proper education and treatment Indians could become just like other citizens. After the end of the Indian Wars, the U.S. government outlawed the practice of traditional Native American religious ceremonies. It established boarding schools which Indian children were required to attend, forced to speak English, learn standard subjects, and leave tribal traditions behind.

31. Lifestyle Changes 8The U.S. government made attempts to assimilate the Indian people into the melting pot of America by placing them in institutions where traditional ways could be replaced by those approved by the government. Whereas many Americans regarded the Indians with fear or hatred, reformers believed that with the proper education and treatment Indians could become just like other citizens. After the end of the Indian Wars, the U.S. government outlawed the practice of traditional Native American religious ceremonies. It established boarding schools which Indian children were required to attend, forced to speak English, learn standard subjects, and leave tribal traditions behind.

32. Paragraph 8 Big Ideas Assimilation attempts assimilation – helping the Indian get used to white man’s ways “Kill the Indian but save the man.”

33. Summarizing Conflict Battle of Little Bighorn Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Surrender of Geronimo Battle of Wounded Knee Date of Conflict Who were the major players involved? What was the cause of the conflict? What was the result of the conflict?