1 - Plains Indians Flashcards
Where did the original Plains Indians come from?
Northern Asia
What did Indian nations adapt their lifestyle to?
The environment in which they lived.
True or False? - The first Indians in North America settled on the Plains?
False - The Indians did not originally settle on the Plains, and instead lived in the river valleys to the east.
Where did the Indians originally settle?
In the river valleys in the east.
By what year were the Indians living on the Plains?
1840
Where were the Indians living in 1840?
On the Plains.
How many reasons are there as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
4
What are the 4 reasons as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
- Horses
- Diseases
- Trade goods (guns, etc.)
- Government
What is the 1st reason as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
Horses
True or False? - Horses are not native to North America
True - horses are not native to North America.
How did horses arrive in North America?
They were brought over by Spanish invaders in the 1500s.
When were horses brought over to North America by Spanish invaders?
The 1500s
What did the Spanish invaders bring to North America in the 1500s which were a reason as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
Horses
True or False? - The Spanish invaders gave horses to the Indians.
False - The Indians had to steal horses from Spanish invaders.
How did the Indians acquire horses?
In 1640 the Pueblo Indians of Mexico rebelled against the Spanish invaders and captured many of their horses. From that point they were bred and traded between Indian nations.
What did the Pueblo Indians do in 1640?
Rebelled against the Spanish invaders and captured many of their horses, which they then introduced into Indian society.
Which group of Indians rebelled against the Spanish invaders in 1640 and captured many of their horses, which they introduced into Indian society?
The Pueblo Indians of Mexico
Where were the Pueblo Indians from?
Mexico
In what year did the Pueblo Indians rebel against the Spanish invaders and capture their horses, which they introduced into Indian society?
1640
Who did the Pueblo Indians rebel against in 1640 and capture their horses, which they introduced into Indian society?
The Spanish invaders
What did the Pueblo Indians do after they rebelled against the Spanish invaders in 1640?
Capture their horses.
How did horses effect the Indians moving onto the Plains by 1840?
Horses made transport easier, and allowed them to migrate onto the Plains following the buffalo.
What aspect of their lifestyle were the Indians able to abandon due to the introduction of horses into their society?
Agriculture in the river valleys of the east.
What new aspect of their lifestyle were the Indians able to gain due to the introduction of horses into their society?
Hunting the buffalo on the Plains.
What were horses a method of in Indian society?
Counting wealth.
Fill in the gap - The more horses an Indian had had, the ______ they were.
Wealthier
The more horses an Indian had had, the wealthier they were.
What is the 2nd reason as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
Diseases
Give 2 examples of diseases which Europeans brought to North America.
- Smallpox
2. Cholera
Why were diseases brought over by Europeans disastrous for the Indians?
They had no immunity towards them.
How did diseases effect the Indians moving onto the Plains by 1840?
The Indians moved west onto the Plains to escape the diseases.
What is the 3rd reason as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
Trade goods (guns, etc.)
How did trade goods, such as guns, effect Indian society?
They changed the balance of power in Indian warfare.
How did trade goods, such as guns, effect the Indians moving onto the Plains by 1840?
Guns ended up in the hands of rival Indian tribes, allowing them to drive their enemies west onto the Plains.
What is the 4th reason as to why the Indians were living on the Plains by 1840?
Government
How did government effect the Indians moving onto the Plains by 1840?
In 1830 they passed the Indian Removal Act which forced the Indians to move onto the Plains.
What piece of legislation did the US government pass in 1830 which forced the Indians onto the Plains?
The Indian Removal Act 1830
In what year did the US government pass the Indian Removal Act?
1830
Why did the US government pass the Indian Removal Act 1830?
They wanted the Plains for themselves.
What was the name given to the homes in which the Indians lived?
A tipi
Who lived in a tipi?
An individual Indian family
What was the structure of a tipi?
Covered in buffalo skins sown together and supported by a frame of wooden poles arranged in a circular shape.
Who was responsible for the tipi?
The Indian woman
Who owned the tipi?
The Indian woman
What was the role of women in Indian society in relation to the tipi?
To move about, assemble and own the tipi.
How were tipis ideal for the Indian nomadic lifestyle?
They could be easily taken down and transported.
How many features of the tipi made it well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
4
What were the 4 features which made the tipi well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
- Conical shape
- Flaps at the top
- Bottom which could be rolled up
- Bottom which could be banked with earth
How did the conical shape of the tipi make it well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
It made it strong enough to resist strong winds on the Plains
How did the flaps at the top of the tipi make it well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
They could be moved to direct the wind so that smoke from the fire could escape from the inside.
How did the bottom of the tipi which could be rolled up make it well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
It allowed air inside during the warm summer months.
How did the bottom of the tipi which could be banked with earth make it well adapted to the conditions on the Plains?
In the winter it could be banked with earth to keep it warm inside.
What was the tipi decorated in?
Images showing the bravery of the men in hunt or in battle.
Who decorated the outside of the tipi?
The Indian man
What was the floor of a tipi covered in?
Fur
What 2 things did the fire inside the tipi provide?
- Warmth
2. Heat for cooking
True of False? - The Indians were nomadic.
True - The Indians were nomadic.
How many Indian families made up a band?
Between 10 and 15.
How many aspects of Indian life were men responsible for?
3
What were the 3 aspects of life that Indian men were responsible for?
- Hunting
- Tending to the horses
- Protecting the band
How many aspects of Indian life were women responsible for?
4
What were the 4 aspects of life that Indian men were responsible for?
- The tipi
- Preparing food
- Fetching water
- Making clothing and other items
What were Indian men judged on?
Their skills as hunters, warriors and horsemen.
What were Indian women judged on?
Their skills as homemakers and their skills at crafts.
Why were women valued in Indian society?
They were the bearers of children.
True or False? - Most marriages in Indian society were arranged marriages.
False - Most marriages in Indian society were out of love.
True or False? - There were no arranged marriages in Indian society.
False - There were a few arranged marriages in Indian society.
How would an Indian man win over an Indian woman as his wife?
By impressing her with his bravery and giving a dowry to her parents.
Give an example of a dowry which an Indian man would give to his prospective wife’s parents.
Horses or buffalo skins.
What did the dowry and Indian man gave to his prospective wife’s parents prove?
His ability to support his wife.
Where would the Indian man go to live once he had been married?
With his wife and her family in their tipi.
How many wives did the majority of Indian men have?
1
True or False? - Some Indians practiced polygamy.
True - a minority of Indians practiced polygamy.
In what situations did polygamy in Indian society make sense?
When the number of women outranked the number of men as it ensured that all women had a man to care for them and the band had as many children as possible.
True or False? - An Indian woman was not allowed to marry again if her husband was killed in warfare or hunting.
False - An Indian woman was allowed to marry again if her husband was killed in warfare or hunting.
True or False? - The Indians practiced divorce.
True - The Indians practiced divorce.
True or False? - Only the woman could declare a marriage over in Indian society.
False - Either partner could declare a marriage over in Indian society.
Who would keep the tipi after a divorce in Indian society?
The wife
