the position of native americans in 1865 and the plains wars

the position of native americans in 1865

• - the period from 1865 to 1992 saw a significant change in the position of native americans. for much of the period they made little progress in improving their position or quality of life and it was only in the latter decades that they achieved some progress towards self-determination, which had always been their aim.

the plains indians

• - the area between the appalachian and rocky mountains, known as the great plains, was where most native americans lived. most of the tribes were nomadic and followed the buffalo herds on which they depended for survival. initially, when white settlers made contact with the native americans they had considered the area unsuitable for expansion, with the result that the native americans had been left alone.

the native american lifestyle

• - the native americans :
• worshipped nature
• were nomads
• had their own tribal laws and government
• had their own languages
• had their own culture and ceremonies
• - the native americans waned to preserve their customs and laws and wanted the right to self-determination. their lifestyle contrasted completely with the white settlers.

threats to the native americans

• - settlers were encouraged by the government to move westwards to open up the rest of the continent, partly because of their belief in manifest destiny . this was a direct threat to the native americans. the government wanted to assimilate them into white settler society and therefore destroy their customs and culture. native americans suffered from the following :
• the passing of the 1830 removal act, moving tribes from alabama, florida, georgia, tennessee and virginia onto the plains in oklahoma
• the movement of white men across the plains because of the discovery of gold
• the hunting of buffalo, which caused native americans to eventually become dependent upon the government providing food
• the building of railroads across the plains, adding to the destruction of the buffalo herds.
• - as a result, and unable to resist the advance of white settlers, the native americans began to hand over land.

the plains wars, 1862-1868

• - the position of the native americans deteriorated with the outbreak of the american civil war in 1861, as the government withdrew troops who had been stationed on the plains. many new, volunteer troops were brought in, but they had little interest in the native americans . as a result, and driven by hunger as the government was no longer providing food because of the demands of war, violence broke out. tribes rose up against the government in the plains wars. during the conflicts many native americans, including women and children, were killed.

native americans and the loss of land

• - as the federal government was determined to control the land, it created a series of federal territories. treaties were made with he native americans that resulted in them handing over land, including the :
• fort laramie treaty, 1851
• fort wise treaty, 1861
• medicine lodge treaty, 1867
• fort laramie treaty, 1868

native americans and the loss of land

• - the government encouraged more settlers to move west by passing the homestead act in 1862, which gave farmers a 160-acre plot if they farmed it for five years. this brought another 20,000 settlers onto the plains.
• - as a result, the native americans were already under pressure at the start of the period because:
• they had given away land
• buffalo nearly became extinct due to the hunting and slaughter by white settlers
• there was not always support from the government
• government policy had weakened their position