READING COMPREHENSION GUIDE
“BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE”
Chapter One:
 What was the Native American experience when forming treaties with the
American government and white settlers?
 What was manifest destiny?
Chapter Two:
 Why did the creation of New Mexico cause tension between the Navaho people
and the American government?
 What lesson did the Navaho learn from watching the Apache try to make peace
with the military?
 Why were the Navaho allowed to go back to their lands? What land were they
given?
Chapter Three:
 Why did the Sioux tribe replace Little Crow as their leader?
 What events caused tension between the Sioux and the military? What was the
end result for the Sioux?
Chapter Four:
 What event led the military into Cheyenne territory?
 What was the Sand Creek Massacre?
 How was the Cheyenne tribe split after the Sand Creek Massacre? Who did the
Cheyenne who went to the North join? What did Black Kettle and the Cheyenne
who went to the South attempt to do?
Chapter Five:
 What area of the United States had become home to the Sioux and Cheyenne
tribes?
 What was the significance of the Black Hills?
 Even with the victories of Red Cloud and Sitting Bull against the American
military, what conclusion did Native Americans come to?
Chapter Six:
 Why were treaty negotiators sent to the Dakotas to form agreements with the
Native Americans? (What was their purpose?)
 What role did Crazy Horse play in the tension that developed between Native
Americans and the American government?
 What did the American government offer the Sioux in exchange for the Dakotas?
Chapter Seven:
 General Hancock’s attempts at establishing peace with the Cheyenne people
reminded Native Americans of what event?
 How did General Sherman respond to Native American resistance in the South?
 What was the real plan the military had for Native Americans on the Southern
Plains?
Chapter Eight:
 Why does hope develop in the Native American world with the election of
President Grant?
 What agreement was reached by the Sioux and the American government? Was
this agreement kept?
Chapter Nine:
 What event causes war between the Apache and the American government?
 What had Cochise learned from watching other Native American groups attempt
peace with the white man?
 Where were reservations set-up for the Apache?
Chapter Ten:
 What event brought American settlers to California, the home of the Modoc tribe?
 What caused misunderstanding between the 2 groups?
 How did this conflict end?
Chapter Eleven:
 What has caused large #’s of buffalo to move onto the Southern plains?
 What was life on the reservation dependant on? What actions by white settlers
created conflict between the Kiowa/Comanche alliance and the American
military?
 How did the defeat of the Kiowa/Comanche signal the end of the Great Plains?
Chapter Twelve:
 What caused settlers to push into the Black Hills?
 Why have the Native Americans lost faith in Red Cloud and who do they turn to
for assistance against the military?
 What was the significance of Little Bighorn?
 How did the end of Crazy Horse’s life create the title of this novel?
Chapter Thirteen:
 How had relations between the Nez Perces and white settlers developed over
time?
 How were promises made by the American government broken?
 What did physicians determine was the cause of Chief Joseph’s death?
Chapter Fourteen:
 How were the Northern Cheyenne tricked?
 Where do the Northern Cheyenne try to flee?
Chapter Fifteen:
 What event led to the end of agreement and peace between the American military
and the Poncas tribe?
 What ruling was made in the legal case that was brought forth in representation of
the Poncas tribe?
Chapter Sixteen:
 What caused Americans to flock to the Rocky Mountains?
 How did Governor Pitkin manipulate the relationship between Meeker (military
station chief) and the Utes?
 Where would the Utes be forced to after their defeat by the American military?
Chapter Seventeen:
 How were the Apache split when faced with removal to the San Carlos
reservation?
 Who was the last Apache Chief?
 Why did Geronimo keep fleeing the San Carlos reservation and where did he go?
Chapter Eighteen:
 Why was Sitting Bull forced to move his tribe from Canada to the Sioux
reservation in Dakota?
 What symbol was Sitting Bull to the Sioux?
 What was the meaning of the Ghost Dance?
 How did Sitting Bull’s life come to an end?
Chapter Nineteen:
 What caused the battle of Wounded Knee?