Plains Indians life on Reservations Flashcards

1
Q

What were reservations?

A

cut down Indian lands into scraps of territory

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2
Q

What were the living conditions like on the reservations? (5)

A

-nomadic hunting lifestyle was no longer permitted: Plains Indians no longer had the ability to feed clothe and shelter themselves
-rations were poor and crops often failed.
-Medical care was very poor so diseases such as measles and “flu” were very common which meant that many reservation Indians died from them
-reservations were created on land that was least wanted by white Americas: not fertile, didn’t contain minerals, therefore, making survival difficult
-farming was not part of traditional American life for most Plains tribe

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3
Q

What is an example of a native American tribe that could farm?

A

Pawnee

they were hunters and farmers

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4
Q

How did government agents create good behaviour amongst Plains Indian councils?`

A

they used bribes of increased food rations or medical supplies in return for good behaviour

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5
Q

What is the deal with the Indian Agency Police?

A

some Indians joined this force - they were responsible for keeping order amongst their former tribespeople

in return, they were fed, clothed and sheltered and were generally able to maintain a reasonable standard of living than others on the reservation

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6
Q

What is the deal with Indian agents?

A

the government appointed Indian agents to look after the reservations, but they were often corrupt.

money intended for the Indians often disappeared

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7
Q

When were chiefs no longer able to sign treaties?

A

1871

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8
Q

What took over the chiefs’ powers in the 1880s?

A

the government had set up special councils among the tribes which took over the chiefs powers’ that enabled them to look after people on the reservations

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9
Q

In 1883, how else were tribal chiefs powers diminished?

A

special courts took over the chiefs powers to judge and punish Plains Indians

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10
Q

In 1885 what happened to the special courts and what did this mean?

A

they were abolished in favour of the US federal law courts

this meant that Plains Indians had lost all ability to govern themselves

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11
Q

How were Indian children taught white American values?

A

-sent to schools that were off-reservations
-if parents resisted or refused, their food rations were withdrawn until they agree
-Indian children punished for using their own language and respecting their culture

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12
Q

how many Indian children were in boarding school in 1887?

A

2,020 pupils and 117 boarding schools

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13
Q

Indians were not allowed to hunt. How did this affect them?

A

affected their whole social structure and removed men’s traditional role

affected their clothing and lifestyle

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14
Q

How were Indians deskilled?

A

-they were excellent horsemen, hunter and warrior but they had no horses on reservations so they could not hunt buffalo or fight
-some refused to learn “white” skills like ploughing, sowing and reaping

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