Native Americans- part three Flashcards
How did manifest destiny contribute to native destruction?
Saw natives as savages standing in the way of the white Anglo Saxon race dominating the USA from coast to coast as god willed. They needed to be gotten rid of and their pagan culture destroyed.
How did the lifestyles contradict?
Natives- communal living, respected nature, evolving traditions and practices. Whites- domination and progress, exploitation of lands. Followed a brand of white Christianity and believed in their own superiority.
What was the Native American problem?
After 1840 natives were seen as a problem as they occupied lands wanted by miners, railway companies and settlers.
How did mining lead to native destruction?
Brought large numbers of whites west in a very short period of time, mineral discoveries gave the government more reason to break treaties.
What were the consequences of the Colorado gold rush?
1858- whites arrived on native lands, conflict ensued and the natives lost their lands.
How did native divisions lead to their destruction?
No a homogenous groups, tribes had conflict amongst themselves. Cases were natives joined the army against other natives as with the Pawnee against the Sioux.
Does the Native American divisions argument hold?
No, you can’t blame them for the destruction of their own culture. Their groups were rich and varied, they had dominated the continent for 1000s of years and it would have made no sense for them to put aside all of that conflict to unite to fight the whites.
Give five ways the army contributed to destruction
- Waged winter campaigns when the natives were at their weakest. 2. Built forts across the plains to give them secure bases. 3. Superior numbers, tactics and weapons. 4. Waged total war, destroying crops, homes and possessions. 5. Determined to avenge Custer, ready to kill innocents.
Give four reasons why the natives couldn’t match the army
- Had to move around for food. 2. Disorganized tactics. 3. Too small in number. 4. Guerrilla tactics were disruptive, but would never drive the army out.
Why were buffalo so important?
Used for every part of native life, food clothes, shelter, rituals. Natives spent their lives following them across the plains.
What happened in 1871?
It was discovered that good quality leather could be made from buffalo hide. By 1875, the entire southern herd had been destroyed.
What happened to the northern herd?
Destruction of it began in 1880 after the defeat of the Sioux. By 1883 it had been wiped out.
What else contributed to the destruction of the buffalo?
Growth of the ranching industry, ranchers took buffalos’ land and killed them to make way for cattle.
How did the transcontinental railroad effect buffalo?
Completed in 1869, split the herd in half, brought more settlers and led to the construction of more homes, leading to the destruction of buffalo habitats.
What happened to buffalo numbers?
1800- 60 million. 1900- 500. Both an unintended consequence of westward expansion and deliberate killing.
