Chief Joseph
US History/Napp
Name: _________________
Biography:
At a Glance –
Chief Joseph was the leader of the Nez Percé nation of Native Americans. Forced from
his land, he led his people in an escape from their homeland in Oregon to within 40 miles of
the Canadian border, a distance of more than 1,000 miles. While fighting to save his
people, his nobility never wavered. When faced with certain defeat, he surrendered with
dignity and did all in his power to care for his followers.
~ Glencoe American Biographies
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“I am tired of fighting…Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From
where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” ~ Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph succeeded to leadership of the Nez Percé nation in 1873 during a crisis.
Some years before, gold had been discovered on Nez Percé land in Oregon’s Wallowa
Valley. Some Nez Percé had signed treaties giving up their land to white settlers but
others, including Joseph’s father, had refused. Instead, these Nez Percé pursued a
“nontreaty” policy: they did not provoke trouble with whites but refused to leave their
lands.
Joseph continued his father’s policy, but came up against the American government’s
determination to have Nez Percé lands. In 1877 General Oliver O. Howard ordered Joseph
and his people to peacefully leave their ancestral lands, or be forcibly removed.
Reluctantly, Joseph decided to leave in peace. Before he could do so, however, some Nez
Percé killed several whites as revenge for acts of terrorism by settlers. In retaliation,
General Howard sent troops to capture Joseph and his people.
Knowing that his small band stood no chance of defeating the United States army, Joseph
quickly decided to escape to Canada. With fewer than 200 warriors and nearly 600 women
and children, he began a trek northeastward, engaging the army only when he had no
other choice. Weaving through four states, crossing the Rockies in what is now
Yellowstone National Park, Joseph and the Nez Percé made it to the Bear Paw Mountains.
After traveling more than 1,000 miles, the exhausted band was only 40 miles from the
safety of the Canadian border.
Chief Joseph let his people stop to rest, which proved a costly error. On September 30,
1877, the Nez Percé were surprised by 500 soldiers. Although he had only 87 warriors left,
Joseph decided to fight rather than surrender or escape by abandoning the wounded,
women, children, and aged. Instead of attacking, the troops surrounded the Nez Percé and
conducted a five-day siege. Chief Joseph was finally forced to surrender, vowing, “I will
fight no more forever.”
Chief Joseph and his people were taken to a reservation in Indian Territory, now
Oklahoma. Later in 1885, Joseph was moved to the Colville Reservation. He devoted the
rest of his life to trying to better the lives of his people, writing “An Indian’s View of Indian
Affairs” in 1897, and traveling to Washington, D.C., in 1903 to urge better treatment of
Native Americans. His pleas to be allowed to return to his ancestral lands in Oregon were
ignored, and he died the following year.
Questions:
1- Who was Chief Joseph?
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2- What had been discovered on Nez Percé land?
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3- Why had some Nez Percé signed treaties with white settlers?
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4- Why had some Nez Percé refused to sign treaties with white settlers?
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5- What was the “nontreaty” policy?
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6- What happened in 1877?
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7- What was Chief Joseph’s response to General Oliver O. Howard?
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8- What had some Nez Percé done?
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9- Why had some Nez Percé done this?
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10- What was General Oliver O. Howard’s response to the actions of some Nez Percé?
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11- What did Chief Joseph decide to do in response to General Howard’s actions?
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12- Where did Chief Joseph and his followers travel?
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13- Why did Chief Joseph and his followers stop 40 miles from the Canadian border?
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14- What happened to the Nez Percé on September 30, 1877?
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15- What options were available to Chief Joseph on that tragic day?
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16- Why did Chief Joseph choose the course of action that he chose?
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17- What did Chief Joseph say when he surrendered?
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18- What happened to Chief Joseph and his people?
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19- What did Chief Joseph devote the rest of his life to?
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20- What did Chief Joseph write?
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21- What was his last plea?
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22- Was his last plea respected by the U.S. Government?
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Primary Source: Surrender Speech of Chief Joseph
Historical Context:
Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé (1840?-1904) was known to his people as “Thunder
Traveling to the Loftier Mountain Heights.” He led his people in an attempt to resist the
takeover of their lands in the Oregon Territory by white settlers. In 1877, the Nez Percé
were ordered to move to a reservation in Idaho. Chief Joseph agreed at first. But after
members of his tribe killed a group of settlers, he tried to flee to Canada with his followers,
traveling over 1500 miles through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Along the
way they fought several battles with the pursuing U.S. Army. Chief Joseph spoke these
words when they finally surrendered on October 5th, 1877.
The Speech:
Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I
am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is
dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the
young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to
death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food.
No one knows where they are – perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for
my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the
dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now
stands I will fight no more forever.
~ Chief Joseph - Thunder Traveling to the Loftier Mountain Heights – 1877
*historyplace.com
Questions:
1- What was Chief Joseph known as by his people?
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2- According to Chief Joseph, what is the difference between the old men and young
men?
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3- How does Chief Joseph describe the effects of the journey on his people?
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4- What does Chief Joseph want?
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5- How does Chief Joseph end his speech?
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6- Why does Chief Joseph end his speech this way?
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7- What ultimately happened to Chief Joseph and his people?
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In the period from 1860 to 1890, which
experience was shared by most Native
Americans living in western states?
1. They maintained control of their
traditional lands.
2. They benefited economically from
government policy.
3. They became farmers and small
business owners.
4. They were forced to live on
reservations.
The Indian Wars that occurred between
1860 and 1890 were mainly the result of
1. disputes over the spread of slavery
2. conflict with Mexico over Texas
and California
3. the search for gold in California
4. the movement of settlers onto the
Great Plains