American West Booklet 1 Flashcards
why was it hard to reach the plains?
there was a river separating the west from the rest of the country.
Identify three famous American Indian Cheifs
Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse
What were the warrior brotherhoods?
they trained young men in fighting skills, and also taught them about the tribes beliefs and values.
what role did women play in indigenous society?
they were responsible for feeding and clothing their families, and for their families possesions.
what skills and attitudes had the Indians developed to help them survive on the Plains?
- EXCELLENT HORSE RIDING AND ARCHERY SKILLS (TO HUN T STAMPEDING BUFFALO)
- a NOMADIC LIFESTYLE WITH TIPIS AND TRAVOIS TO CARRY BELONGINGS
- a reverence for Buffalo and the other animals they depended on
Why were horses important to the indigenous peoples of the plains
- they needed them in order to hunt buffalo and travel across the plains
- Horses were also significant for welfare and status
- men measured their wealth in horses
- Raids on other tribes were often to steal horses
Why were buffalo important to the indigenous peoples of the plains?
- bones could be used as weapons so they could defend themselves and attack if necessary
- They used the tanned hide to make tipis to they had somewhere to live
- They used the muscles as food, so they could survive
- They used the raw hide to make shields to defend themselves, and to make medicine bags incase they got ill
What was “Counting Coup” and why was it used?
A special type of fighting in which warriors would attempt to hit/touch an enemy and get away without being injured or killed. It demanded huge levels of skill and bravery, and success gained the warrior a lot of success and honour from the rest of the tribe.
what did Indians believe about nature?
how is this different/ similar to modern eurpoean beliefs
why might it cause problems
- they believed everything in nature had a spirit. Humans were part of nature and should work with the spirits of nature
- different- europens would believe only humans/ animals have a spirit
- cause problems becuase the europens wouldnt treat the land the way the Inidans would want them to
What did Indians believe about property?
how is this different/ similar to modern eurpoean beliefs
why might it cause problems
- they believed that the land was not owned by one person or family as their property. It was not something they could be bought and sold.
- different- Europeans didn’t understand how anyone could use land, and nobody ownedit.
- cause problems because the Europeans could try to claim they owned the land.
What did the Indians believe about war?
how is this different/ similar to modern eurpoean beliefs
why might it cause problems
- they believed that because young men were very valuble to the tribe, the raid should only go ahead if it looked like it woud work, and raiders should escape as quickly as possible if there was too much opposition
- different- white soldiers had been trained that a soldier should never run away
- white soldiers might percieve the American Indian Warriors as weak, and offend them
how is this different/ similar to modern eurpoean beliefs
