Foreign Affairs: The Great Plains Wars Flashcards
How long did the Great Plains Wars last?
From the 1860s to the 1890s
What was the general aim of the US government with the Great Plains wars? Why?
To move Native Americans to Reservation lands so they could not be exploited for their resources anymore
How had the Civil War prepared the USA for the Great Plains conflicts in terms of for the Generals of the Civil War?
Generals such as William Sherman had gained experience in the Civil War
What was a reason for the Native American tribes opposing each other more by the late 1800s?
They had been put in to smaller land areas meaning that they clashed more often
What is significant about Native American Tribe divisions for the Union Army?
It would make the Native Americans much easier to defeat
What year was the Battle of Little Bighorn? How many Union army soldiers were killed?
1876, 200 soldiers were killed
What was the impact of the Union army’s loss at Little Bighorn?
Native Americans were seen as a larger threat
What happened at the Wounded Knee Massacre? What year did this occur?
In 1890, Union soldiers were sent to negotiate with some Native Americans but ended up instead killing them as they were fearful of what the Native Americans might have done
How were railroads significant in the Great Plains Wars? Give an example of a railroad. What does this mean for the Union army?
The Transcontinental railroad could get you from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast within a week, meaning soldiers could travel very quickly
What was the main food source for Native Americans?
Buffalos
What was the main clothing source for Native Americans?
Buffalos
What was developed with helped hunters to kill Bison more efficiently?
Rifles
How many Bison could hunters kill a day?
100,000 a day
What was significant about the Bison Genocide to the Native Americans during the Great Plains wars?
It meant that they no longer had a source of food or clothing so would be weak opponents
How many buffalo were in North America by 1884?
Several hundred
What type of war occurred with the Native Americans?
A Total War.
What is a Total War?
Where the entire population of the enemy is targeted in specific ways.
