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Group 6B
DBQ: Native Americans
Prompt: How were the lives of the Plain Indians affected by technological developments and
government actions in the latter half of the 19th Century?
Life in the latter part of the 19th century for a Plains Indian was extremely rough. The
fresh new idea of Manifest Destiny slowly began creeping up in contemporary American life.
Due to the effect of governmental programs, such as the Trail of Tears, the lifestyle of the Plains
Indian slowly morphed with the American life. The Plains Indians began to civilize themselves,
based on American culture, due to the increased involvement of the government and the
advancement of industry.
Plains Indians slowly came under US control when they started to compromise issues of
land battle. The newly enacted Dawes Act, began treating Native Americans as individuals rather
than tribes, giving land to those who applied. In Document B, it states that “to allot lands in said
reservation in severalty to an Indian located thereon in quantities”. This shows how by allotting
land to Native Americans, they were starting to get more integrated into American society.
Adding to this, the Treaty of Fort Laramie made Indians to allow settlers to move westward. As
settlers were able to move west, Indian tribes were paid fifty thousand for the next fifty years.
The US government attempted to subsection certain tribal lands shown in Document C.
Reservations caused Native Americans to be a subsection of America by placing Indians in set
locations that were often unfertile. This forced the people living on these lands to try relying on
the US government, making them more vulnerable to civilize with the US. As the amount of land
in each reservation decreased, the need for food and arable land increased as well. This again
forced the Indians to try and civilize with their neighbors.
As time wore on, the inventions of the white man, were slowly overpowering the
traditional ideas of the Indians. Plains Indians were not only pushed out by technology, they also
found themselves having to adapt to it in order to survive. In Document A, it shows the
advancement of railroads, and how it made it easier for people to head west into Indian Territory.
Not only did it send American settlers, but it also pushed back Indian settlements. As the amount
of railroads increased, they food that was available for the Indians diminished. The amount of
cattle slaughtered from shipping, deeply affected the lives of Plains Indians, especially buffalos.
The need for modern medicine made it easier for Plains Indians to integrate with
American society. In Document G, it shows how Native Americans need more doctors, which
were only available in American society. This shows why the Indians needed to be involved in
American society. Another technological advancement, portrayed in Document J, shows the
growth in American states due to the advancements in agriculture made out west. This can also
be credited to increase in railroads out west.
Many people argue that the Plains Indians were able to resist the assimilation into
American culture by clinging on to their culture and dying due to mass extermination. In
Document E, it shows the passion of the Indians wanting to remain free to practice their own
way of society. They wanted to be treated under the same law. In Document D, it shows how
Indians were able to survive while keeping their culture alive. It means that they do not need the
help of the white man in order to grow their society.
The intrusive Native American policies and the growth of innovation caused the death of
the Plains Indian’s culture, but Americans have grown more tolerant of what they do not know or
understand. They have embraced traits of including and celebrating customs rather than ignoring
and destroying.
DBQ Chart
Document
Description
Category
A
Government is taking Indian land in order to
build railroads.
Technological
B
The Government is enacting Native
American policy that focuses on the
individuals rather than the tribes.
Political
C
The area of land, tillable land, cultivated
land, amount of grains, and cattle all
decreased entering into the 20th century in
the San Carlos Apache Reservation, while
the amount of vegetables increased.
Social
D
A report made of the Native Americans
saying that they have become more civilized
with achievements made in education and
industry.
Technological
E
A plea made by Chief Joseph of the Nez
Perce tribe for freedom to be equal to the
“white man” and to practice his own way of
life.
Social
F
Representation of Native American myth,
where the people pray to the Buffalo
Woman and an abundance of buffalo
appear.
Social
G
A report of the government system in place
at a reservation, saying that is the most
civilized tribe that gives support to its eldest
members, though it is in need of a proper
physician.
Technological
H
Shows a white man destroying the “savage”
Indian tribe saying that he will stop when
they civilize themselves.
Political
I
The Sioux Indians admired qualities of
strength and ability rather than ones of
politeness and sociality.
Social
J
The Indians had to adjust to the arrival of
new states entering the Union.
Technological
K
Advises the total annihilation of the Native
Americans in fear of their vengeance after
years of wronging them.
Political
L
Advises the total annihilation of the Sioux
because they are almost all gone anyway
and it would be kinder to kill the remaining
instead of having them finish a miserable
life.
Political
Group 6 DBQ Outline
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Thesis: The Plain Indians began to civilize themselves, based on American culture, due
to the increased involvement of the government and the advancement of industry.
Government Action: Plain Indians became under the US control when they started to
compromise of issues of land and battle.
o The Dawes Act began to treat the Native Americans as individuals rather than
tribes, giving land to those who applied. Doc B
o In fear, the government banned the ghost dances. Doc F
o Homestead Act gave people money to head west into Indian land
o The Treaty at Fort Laramie (1851) made Indians allow the settlers to move west.
o Reservations caused Native Americans to be a subsection of America by placing
Indians in set locations that were often unfertile. Doc C
o The Great Sioux Uprising of 1862 was led by Chief Little Crow and challenged
the encroachment, but was defeated.
o The Sand Creek Massacre had Colonel Chivington kill 270 Indians after they had
surrendered (1864).
o Medicine Lodge Treaty 1867 had Plain Indians agree to move to a reservation in
exchange for protection.
o Massacre at Wounded Knee 1890 had US forces open fire on over 200 Indians.
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Technology: Plain Indians were not only pushed out by technology, but found themselves
having to adapt to it in order to survive.
o The Advancement of railroads made it easier for people to head west into Indian
land. Doc A
o Doc G shows Native Americans in need of doctors, which exist in the American
society.
o Doc J shows the growth In American states due to the advancements in
agriculture made out west.
o Telephones made it easier to communicate out west.
o Interchangeable parts made guns more accessible.
Counter Argument: The Plain Indians were able to resist the assimilation into American
culture by clinging on to their culture and dying due to mass extermination.
o Doc E shows the passion of the Indians wanting to remain free to practice their
own way of society.
o Doc D Shows how Indians were able to survive while keeping their culture alive.
o The Battle at little Bighorn of 1876 had the Indians successfully protect
themselves from General Custer.
o The Plain Indians were given the ability to practice their culture without US
intervention with the reservations.
o Many tribes did not have the resources to live without government support.
o Doc K and Doc L both suggest the Plain Indians die out of fear and mercy
respectively.
Conclusion: The intrusive Native American policies and the growth of innovation caused
the death of the Plain Indian culture, but Americans have grown more tolerant of what
they do not know or understand have embraced traits of including and celebrating
different customs rather than ignoring and destroying.
Group SFI for DBQ.
Train: technology that allowed movement from one are of the country to the other
quickly
Federal land grants: gave land to RR companies to help expand the nation across the
plains.
Dawes act: gave land to reservation indians
Andrew Jackson: president who ordered the Indian removal act
Trail of tears: Indian march to their new land.
Reservations: plots of land given to Indian tribes.
Fur traders: killed of animals for sale of their fur. These animals were hunted by Indians
seeking food.
Mid west states: plain states that took up Indian land.
Wounded knee massacre: Indians killed of American soldiers in a battle for land.
Bureau of Indian affairs: section of the war department that dealt with Indians
Supreme Court ruling: Indian land that was discovered could be taken by purchase or
conquest
1887 general allotment act: attempt at assimilation of Indians into American culture.
Telephone: allowed further communication through America.
Interchangeable parts: made guns readily available to Americans.
Cars: allowed for quick and easy transportation
Big business: more companies were expanding their reach on America and creating
new technology
Monopolies: were running American politics by the 1800's.
Indian removal act: executive order to remove Indians from their land. Signed by
Andrew Jackson
Battle of little big horn: general Custer went to wipe out the Indians and was decimated
by natives
Nez Pearce: native tribe that was upset with political interference
Ghost dance: Indian ritual dance that was outlawed by government.
A century of dishonor: Helen hunt Jackson's book about the mistreatment of the native
Americans
Board of Indian commissioners: federal gov't committee advising policy and ensuring
fulfillment of obligations.
Phoenix Indian school: schools created to civilize Native Americans
President Hayes speech 1877: acknowledged Native American wrongs.
Homestead act: gave money for people to head west.
Morris land grant act: gave gov't money to agricultural sciences
Assimilation: having native Americans live in America if they would become more
civilized and drop their own culture.