The Plains Indians Flashcards
Why was the tipi well suited to life on the Plains?
Made of readily available materials - Buffalo skin with little wood.
Could be assembled and packed away in 10mins to suit the Indians nomadic lifestyle.
Suited the harsh climate of the Plains - warm in the winter, cool in the summer and resistant to the strong winds.
Why was the Plains Indians’ family life suited to life on the Plains?
Men and women had defined roles, men hunted and protected the band whilst women looked after the Tipi. Polygamy meant that all women were cared for and the band had plenty of children.
Children were educated with life skills e.g. horsemanship.
Old people looked after the children, taught them traditions and were left behind when they became a burden.
Why did the Indian tribes move onto the Great Plains?
Disease - European settlers brought diseases such as measles that the Indians had no immunity to, they were forced to get away from the white settlers.
Guns - Settlers traded guns with some tribes which forced other tribes to move onto the Plains as warfare was now more dangerous.
Horses - Indians stole and bred horses from the Spanish, this enabled them to move around the Plains and hunt the buffalo more effectively.
Government - The US government wanted the land in the East so they gave the Indians the Great Plains and forced them onto the (The Indian Removal Act 1830)
Why was the Plains Indians’ social structure suited to life on the Plains?
Chiefs - They were chosen for their leadership qualities and had to prove themselves.
Warrior Society - These men protected the band and ensured that the buffalo hunt was carried out safely and successfully.
Why were horses important to the Plains Indians’ way of life?
Hunting - Horses allowed the Indians to hunt the buffalo more effectively, previously they had to use buffalo jumps.
Economic - Horses were used as a form of currency and were used to measure an individual’s wealth.
Travel - Horses were essential to the Indians’ nomadic lifestyle, travelling huge distances with all the band’s belongings.
Warfare - Indians went to war to steal horses and they were also a key part of warfare; individuals gained honour and prestige for their horsemanship.
Why did the Plains Indians go to war?
Individuals - War allowed chiefs to prove their leadership qualities and warriors to gain honour for their bravery.
Horses - To steal horses from other bands to gain wealth.
Land - To protect their hunting grounds from other bands or white settlers.
Traditional enemies - Indian tribes had traditional enemies that they would fight with; they scalped enemies to ensure they would not meet them in the afterlife.
What aspects of the Plains Indians’ lifestyle was criticised by outsiders?
Polygamy - Outsiders thought having several wives was morally wrong.
Religion/Land - The settlers saw the Indians beliefs such as dancing as pagan and could not understand that land was spiritually important.
Education - Settlers felt Indian children were unruly and received no formal education.
Tipi - Settlers saw the tipi and other uses of the buffalo as primitive.
Warfare - Settlers saw scalping as savage and barbaric.
Why was the buffalo important to the Plains Indians?
They provided the necessities for life on the Plains:
- meat for food
- skins for wool, clothing, shoes, tipis
- sinews for thread, ropes, bowstrings
- bones for weapons and tools
- dung for fuel
