Aim: Could the Americans and Native Americans co-exist?
Topic : American treatment towards the Indians
Document #1 – Introduction
As America healed from the Civil War, the West began filling up with settlers, new towns and cities and
new states. However, in the path of United States expansion were many Native American Indian tribes.
The solution, was to move these tribes out of the way of the American settlers for railroads, towns, cities
and resources. American government, businesses and settlers believed they were using the land
incorrectly – not using it to create property or wealth, and if the Indians were just going to waste valuable
land, they should be moved onto less valuable land. The Indians were put onto lands called reservations
which were worse than their original lands (and the lands their ancestors lived on). However, as
Americans and American businesses (especially railroad companies) needed more and more land, the
government kept changing their agreement with the Indians and moving them to new, but worse lands.
One of the most important acts was called the Dawes Act which stated:
“Specific lands are allotted [specifically given to] for the use of individual tribes.”
“Any Indian who lives on these tribes AND adopts the civilized life-style of the United States will be
considered a citizen of the United States.”
1) What conflicts existed between the United States and Indians?
2)
What solutions did the Dawes Act create for the United States?
Document #2 - Secretary of Interior Carl Schurz (July 1881)
What we can and should do is… fit the Indians, as much as possible, for the habits and
occupations of civilized life, by work and education; to individualize them in the possession and
appreciation of property…. When the Indians are individual owners of real property, and as individuals
enjoy the protection of the laws, their tribal ways will end, and gradually disappear. They will have
advanced an immense (great) step in the direction of the ‘white man’s way.’ I am convinced that this is
the only way for the Indians to survive, because if they remain as tribes living on reservations they will
die out.
1) What does Carl Schurz see as the solution to help the Indians and avoid conflict
between the two?
Document #3 – Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce Tribe
“I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and
all the broken promises. Too many misunderstandings have come up between the white men and the
Indians. If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no
trouble. Treat all men alike. Give them the same laws. Give them all a chance to live and grow…. If
you pen an Indian on a small spot of earth and compel (force) him to stay there, he will not be contented
nor will he grow and prosper. I have asked some of the Great White Chiefs where they get their authority
to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please.
They cannot tell me…. Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other, then we shall
have no more wars…”
1) Identity Chief Joseph’s complaints about treatment of his tribe by the American
Government
Document #4 – Indian Wars (mid-1800’s-1890)
As Indians grew angrier from being lied to and constantly moved to different reservations (and
suffering from the poor land there), as well as white settlers moving onto the sacred lands of their
ancestors, Indians began to organize and fight back. Chief Geronimo of the Apache Tribe fought
American soldiers in the Southwest. Chief Sitting Bull organized the many Sioux tribes of in the
Northwest. Chief Joseph led his men on a march from the South, all of the way to almost reaching
Canada to escape (but got stopped just short of the border). Other Indian tribes such as the Comanche and
Arapaho also fought back. Initially, the Indians had some success; Chief Sitting Bull killed nearly almost
the entire U.S. 7th Cavalry regiment under Civil War hero Colonel George Custer at The Battle of Little
Bighorn, July 21, 1876. However, the massacre at Little Bighorn worked against the Indians, angering
the American public and making the U.S. fight the wars against the Indians even harder and more
viciously. The United States and Indians had different strategies as well. The Indians used guerilla
warfare (“hit and run”) against both U.S. soldiers and settlers. The Indians fought and ran away and
because of their tribal differences were never able to unite as one Indian Nation. But the American
forces, despite many casualties, kept pressing and attacking. General Philip Sheridan said, “The only
good Indian is a dead Indian” and encouraged the slaughtering of all Indians by the U.S. Army. In
addition, the U.S. Army also killed buffalo – the main food source of Indians – by the hundreds so the
Indians would slowly starve to death. In a desperate attempt, in 1890, Indian tribes organized at
Wounded Knee for a ghost dance ceremony; a dance they believed would bring back all of their dead
ancestors and give them magic powers to help defeat the United States. However, the United States
found out about this, surrounded all of the Indians, and when the Indians fired first, the U.S. army
destroyed them with their advanced fire power – killing over 200. The Battle of Wounded Knee ended
the Indian Wars. With more men and better weapons, the United States had finally defeated the Indians
and forced them onto reservations
1) Why did Indians fight against the United States army?
2)
What was the Indian strategy?
3)
What was the American strategy?
4)
What was the Battle of Little Big Horn? Why was it important?
5)
What was the Battle of Wounded Knee? Why was it important?
Document #5 – Rutherford B. Hayes quote
“Many, if not most, of our Indian wars have had their origin in broken promises and acts of injustice upon
our part.” – Rutherford B. Hayes – President.
1) What does Rutherford B. Hayes say started the Indian Wars? Do you agree or disagree –
why?