Why were the Indian and White lifestyles
always leading to conflict?
The Indians were Nomadic
and followed the buffalo.
The Indians did not
believe in landownership.
The Indians were very religious
and believed that the earth was
sacred, having been put there
by the Great Spirit.
The Indians conserved the
land and its resources out of
respect for the Great Spirit and to
keep up the stocks of the buffalo.
The Indians had a
strong sense of
community- everyone
depended on everyone
else.
The Indians mutilated their
enemies to handicap them in the
next life.
The Indians had no standing
armies. Their warriors were also
head of families and providers of
food for the women and children.
The Whites had professional
soldiers who fought their battles
for them
The land was seen merely
as a resource to be used
The Whites did not conserve
the resources of the earth
(like gold, timber etc) but
exploited them.
The Whites stayed in one place
and fenced off the land.
The Whites regarded
mutilated of the dead as
barbaric.
White society tended to put
the needs of the individual
before those of the community
The Whites believed in the
idea of manifest destiny. The
idea was that it was their
destiny to occupy the plains.
Why many white Americans thought the
Great Plains were a desert
• In the 1830s they could only see the problems. On some
old maps it was marked as ‘The Great American Desert.’
• Harsh weather- it was extremely warm in summer with
temperatures reaching 100 degrees. It was freezing in
winter with blizzards common.
• Lack of trees- this made it difficult to build any kind of
homes
• Absence of water- Nearly impossible to grow any crops.
Why were the Plains suited to the
Indian way of life?
• The tipi- easy to move, the tipi could be taken
down in less than 10 minutes, ideal for people
who were frequently on the move. It was cool in
the heat and warm in the winter.
• The conical shape- made strong winds pass
around the tipi.
• The Indians owned horse that allowed them to
travel freely across the Plains.
What was more the horse or the
buffalo to the Indians?
• I think that the horse was important to the Indian
because it was a sign of wealth in Indian society. They
were also very important in the hunt of the buffalo and
they could be given as a gift to the father of a potential
bride.
• The buffalo were also important because the Indians
basically used every part of the buffalo. It was used for
food, shelter and hunting. The Indian way of life was
based around the buffalo and their journeys.
• All in all I think that the buffalo was more important to the
Indian way of life because their entire existence was
based around the buffalo.
NAME:
Joseph
Smith
ORGANIZATION
Organised the
building of the
holy city in
Kirtland. Set up a
bank. Later
failed. Organised
trip to Illinois
and Missouri
LEADERSHIP
Did have good
skills as a leader
and got many to
join the Mormon
religion. Was the
founder and wrote
the book of
Mormon.
DECISION MAKING
At times struggled
with decisions. On
three occasions
the Mormons had
to escape
persecution. Bank
collapsed.
DETERMINATION
Showed great
determination in
setting up the
religion and
keeping it going
despite several
new homes. Was
shot dead while
still leader
NAME:
ORGANIZATION
Brigham Great organiser,
Young
was able to for
see the move to
the Great Salt
Lake. This
included planting
crops for future
emigrants.
LEADERSHIP
Set up key
instructions that
the Mormons had
to follow. Such as
tithes to the
Church. He was
successful as the
Mormons are still
there today. Set up
depots and made
sure the railway
stopped at Salt
Lake. Made the
Mormons money.
DECISION MAKING
Decided to take the
Mormons to the
Great Salt Lake. A
wise decision as
the Mormons are
still there to this
day. Made
decisions such as
paying tithes and
property belonging
to everyone, still
remain today
DETERMINATION
Very determined
applied for Utah to
become a state
after the US had
taken it away from
Mexico. Was
determined to
make the Mormons
efficient and self
reliant. Was
determined not to
move again.