Destruction of the Indians way of life - Conflict and conquest Flashcards
What was gone by 1883? why?
The northern herd of Buffalo as white hunters had killed many of them to use for leather for machine belts
How did the loss of Buffalo affect the Indians?
It shattered their way of life, many tried to become farmers but their crops failed year after year
What was the US gov very systematic about, example
.Systematically forced Plains Indians onto smaller reservations and took away their independence
.Six small Sioux reservations were created and the surplus land from the old reservation was sold
What happened with the Indians and their legal powers?
In 1883 special courts took away the chiefs power to judge and punish, these courts were then replaced again in 1885 in favor of the US federal court
What happened to plains Indians boys and girls?
Sent to schools away from the reservations and brought up as Christians
What did the US gov believe was causing the issue that Plains Indians were not using the land to create profit?
They lived in tribes rather than as individuals
What was the Dawes Act?
.Like the homestead act but for plains Indians
.Each Indian family was allotted a 160-acre share of reservation land, if they took up this land and left the reservations they could become American citizens
.The aim was to break up the power of the tribes and to assimilate the Indians
Why did life for Indians become worse after the Dawes Act?
Those who took it up found it impossible make a living as the conditions were too rough so most just gave up their land and sold it
What did the Indian frontier closing mean?
The whole of the USA was now populated with White Americans
