Trans-Mississippi West Unit:

THE CONQUEST OF THE NATIVE

AMERICANS
OBJECTIVES
Factors that lead to the Indian Wars
Friends of the Indians
Impact of the buffalo
Summary of major conflicts 1864-1890
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI WEST
The Great American Desert
Key factors in the collision course
FRIENDS OF THE INDIAN
Continuation of Jefferson Policy
Tribes would live on reservations

Bureau of Indian Affairs- guidance

U.S. Military would provide protection

Civilize the savages

How successful was this policy?

DESTRUCTION OF THE BUFFALO
Encouraged by RR companies
Buffalo hunted nearly to extinction in 1880s
Ruins culture of the Plains Tribes- why?
TRIBES DEPENDENCE ON THE BUFFALO
SAND CREEK MASSACRE- 1864
Estimated 163 Cheyenne killed- mostly women and
children.
Bodies mutilated, draws retaliation from Cheyenne,
Arapaho and Sioux
BATTLE OF LITTLEBIGHORN-1876
Battle stems from U.S. violation of the Ft. Laramie Treaty after
gold is discovered in the Black Hills in Dakota Territory
Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho combine to eliminate Custers
Army- known as Custers Last Stand
REACTIONS TO CUSTERS LAST STAND
The Indian is undoubtedly a savage, and a savage greatly
spoiled by the kind of contact with civilization which he gets at
the West. There is generally no interest whatever in him or his
fate. But there should be some interest in our own good faith
and humanity, in the lives of our soldiers and frontier settlers,
and in the taxation to support our Indian policy. All this should
certainly be enough to arouse a public demand for a thorough
consideration of the subject, and the adoption of a system
which would tend to spare us the constant repetition of such
sorrowful events as the slaughter of Custer and his brave men.
The Custer Massacre, Harpers Weekly Magazine, August 5,
1876
RED RIVER WAR
Fought against Apaches- major battles fought in 1874-1875
Warrior tribe led by Geronimo
War ends in 1886 effectively ending the Indian Wars
THE NEZ PERCE
Previously good relations with white settlers
Gold discovered on their land
Some Nez Perce agreed to a treaty
Some white settlers killed (Youths or another tribe?)