Chapter 3, Lesson 4
War in the West
Mr. Julian’s 5th grade class
Essential Question
What changes threatened the traditional
way of life for the Native Americans?
Place of Importance
Black Hills
People of Importance
Sitting Bull
George Custer
Crazy Horse
Chief Joseph
Geronimo
Vocabulary
Reservation
Battle of Little Bighorn
Conflict on the Plains
As more pioneers moved west this led
to conflict with the Native American
people already living there.
They felt that their traditional way of life
was being threatened.
Conflict on the Plains
The U.S. government was determined
to support the new settlers.
At first the government offered the
Native Americans money and goods.
The Native Americans did not value
those things.
Conflict on the Plains
The next step the government tried was
to send the Native Americans to
reservations, an area of land set aside
for Native Americans.
The government used military force to
make sure the Native Americans in fact
moved.
Conflict on the Plains
Most Native American tribes realized
that they were not powerful enough to
defeat the U.S. Army so they left their
land for the reservations.
In 1868, the Lotoka signed a treaty that
gave them the land in the Black Hills
region of South Dakota and Wyoming.
Conflict on the Plains
In 1874, gold was found in the Black
Hills.
The government asked the Lokota to
move again.
Sitting Bull refused to sell his land.
The Battle of Little Bighorn
The U.S. sent the 7th Cavalry, led by
Col. George Custer, to defeat the
Lakota.
Sitting Bull and the Lakota were
camped along the river Little Bighorn.
Crazy Horse, one of the most
successful warriors, was also in the
camp.
The Battle of Little Bighorn
Custer found the Lakota on June 25.
Custer was badly outnumbered but he
decided to attack anyway.
Crazy Horse led the Lakota’s to a
victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
The Battle of Little Bighorn
This battle is known as “Custer’s Last
Stand” as he was killed along with his
entire unit of 200 soldiers.
Little Bighorn will be remembered for
two reasons:
1. It was the biggest victory Native
Americas won over the U.S.
The Battle of Little Bighorn
The second reason was it led to the
end of all Native American’s freedom
The loss led the government to take
stronger measures to defeat the Native
Americans
By the end of 1877, Crazy Horse and
the Lakota were forced into
reservations.
Sitting Bull escaped to Canada
Chief Joseph
The tribe of the Nez Perce lived in
Oregon.
The government decided the Nez Perce
should of move to a reservation in
Idaho.
The Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph,
decided to flee to Canada.
Chief Joseph
The U.S. Army chased the Nez Perce
during the entire 1,600 mile journey.
Running low on food and supplies the
U.S. Army surrounded the Nez Perce,
just 40 miles from Canada.
Chief Joseph surrendered, telling the
army that he was tired of fighting…
After the Wars
The last tribe to fight for their freedom
was the Apache, led by Geronimo.
Geronimo led a group of warriors into
the mountains in Mexico.
Geronimo was finally captured in 1886
saying “Once I moved like the wind.
Now I surrender to you and that is all.”
After the Wars
The last major conflict between the U.S.
and the Native Americans took place in
1890.
A group of Lakota decided to leave the
reservation and were captured at
Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
After the Wars
While most families were turning over
their weapons, a shot was fired.
The U.S. Army began to return fire,
killing about 300 Lakota.
This marked the end of the wars
between the U.S. and the Native
Americans.
After the Wars
Today, Native Americans have won court
cases giving them control of their
reservations.
Both on and off the reservations, Native
Americans have kept their traditions alive.
Young people are learning their native
language.
Today, film makers continue to tell stories
about Native American’s way of life.
Review Questions
What changes threatened the way of
life for Native Americans?
Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn
important?