U2L7 Hardship for Native Americans Flashcards
What I wrote for the discussion 👀
During this time, Indians were treated unfairly. The American government continuously reneged on their promises to the Native Americans, the government saw the Native Americans as a nuisance to their economical advancement. To meet their wants, the government sent Native Americans tribes jumping from one reservation to another. Of course, this upset the Native Americans; they were losing their culture and rights because of constant movement. The Nez Percè Nation showed their frustration when they decided to escape to Canada, where the Americans government wouldn’t have control over them. Many Native Americans also showed their frustration by fighting American soldiers and citizens, but in the end some felt the only way to survive was to follow what the government ordered them to do. Chief Joseph came to a similar conclusion when he said he would no longer fight, for the sight of seeing his people die was unbearable for him. From a 3rd person perspective this might seem like a cowardly thing to do, but I think most Native Americans Chiefs, who were experiencing this too, would agree with what Chief Joseph did. From an outside view, the logical thing to do would be to fight, but to the Native Americans, they have already fought their hardest to regain their land, so all they felt that all they could do to survive was to give in to the American Army’s demands. It’s different when you’re the one being discriminated against. So yes, I would agree with Chief Joseph if I were a Chief during this time.
What helped a woman establish her rank in society?
her ability to craft
What was an effect of the Pueblo revolt of 1680?
The Pueblo were left with thousands of horses that they previously had not been allowed to have. They started trading them with neighboring tribes and soon horses spread all over the Plains.
How was the buffalo used by the Plains Indians?
Buffalo meat was rich in protein and a staple of the Indians’ diet. Women tanned the hides for clothing and tepee covers.
What did the peace commission of 1867 urge Native Americans to do?
settle down and live like the white farmers
What events led to the Sand Creek Massacre?
Native Americans agreed to the Fort Laramie Treaty, but when gold was found at Pikes Peak they were forced to move again. Some Native Americans refused to move and attacked white settlers. In retaliation, the settlers struck back. When they attacked, Native Americans raised a white flag, but the settlers either didn’t see it or ignored it and destroyed the Native American village, slaughtering more than 150 men, women, and children.
Why do you think most Plains Indians eventually stopped resisting the United States?
Many did not have the weapons, soldiers, food, or shelter to continue. Many probably anticipated the decline of the buffalo herds. It seemed to be a losing battle, and they gave up hope that they would be able to continue with their way of life.
Why did police officers come to arrest Sitting Bull?
They claimed he was spreading the Ghost Dance among the Lakota.
How did the Dawes Act affect American Indians?
The act encouraged Native Americans to become farmers by dividing up reservations and giving the land to Native American families. However, it did have the desired effect because Native Americans viewed the land as open space for hunting and riding. And the land they were given wasn’t suitable for farming, so often Native Americans sold it.
Think about the ways various Native American peoples had been treated. Think about treaties and reservations. Using specific examples from the lesson, write a paragraph that tells what you think motivated the reformers of the late 1800s.
Reformers may have been motivated by the publications of writers such as Helen Hunt Jackson, who publicized the history of broken treaties and mistreatment of Native Americans. They may also have been motivated by an awareness of miserable conditions on the reservations. This knowledge and a feeling of responsibility for the plight of the Indians may have motivated them to attempt to improve conditions for them.
What factors caused Native Americans to lose lands in the 1800s?
White settlers moved west seeking land to settle and farm, as well as gold. Government policies did not protect Native American land and resources, and many treaties were broken.
How did the discovery of gold affect land treaties with Native Americans?
The discovery of gold in Colorado caused miners to flock to land belonging to the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Because settlers wanted gold, Native Americans were forced to give up land that had been promised to them.
What caused the Paiute people to perform the Ghost Dance? What were the effects of this celebration?
Causes—the loss of the Native American way of life caused the Paiute to develop a religious ceremony called the Ghost Dance, which promised a new world free from white settlers and the suffering they had caused. Effects—the dance was misinterpreted by white settlers, who thought it was a preparation for war. Police shot and killed Sitting Bull, claiming he was spreading the Ghost Dance to the Lakota. His death led to the massacre at Wounded Knee, which ended the Ghost Dance religion.
Using the Ghost Dance as an example, what evidence can you provide to support the idea that misunderstanding can lead to tragedy?
White people feared the Ghost Dance because they didn’t understand its purpose. Due to this misunderstanding and fear, police officers entered a Lakota reservation and accidentally killed Sitting Bull while trying to arrest him for encouraging the Ghost Dance. This led the Lakota Sioux to flee the reservation. The army troops who pursued them massacred nearly 300 men, women, and children at Wounded Knee Creek.
Explain how the broken promises made to Native Americans eventually led to the end of their way of life.
Each broken promise led to the Native Americans moving off the land that they had lived and hunted on for centuries. They had to learn to adapt to the new area they were assigned and were often asked to learn how to farm instead of hunt. But the farming techniques did not work on the land that was given to them. Eventually, Native Americans moved to reservations where the federal government took away their power and appointed government agents to make most decisions.
