Transcript Conflict in the West

Conflict in the West
Pgs. 257-262
Conflict with the Indians
• With the migration of settlers to the West,
problems developed between those
settling the Great Plains and the Indians
who were living there.
• The United States government had
promised these lands to the Indians in a
treaty in 1830.
Problem #1
• Railroad workers began
killing the Plains’ Indians
most important resource –
the buffalo.
• In 1860 about 15 million
buffalo roamed the Plains.
• By 1880 fewer than 1,000
were left.
• Without buffalo to hunt, the
traditional way of life for the
Plains Indians came to an
end.
Problem #2
• Gold was discovered on
the Sioux Indian
reservation in the Dakota
Territory.
• A reservation is land set
aside by the government
as a home for Native
Americans.
• Thousands of miners
invaded the Sioux land
searching for gold.
• The U.S. government
tried to buy the land, but
the Sioux refused to sell.
Problem #2
• In 1876 U.S. soldiers let by Lieutenant
Colonel George Custer marched to the
Sioux lands.
• He attacked the Sioux who were led by
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
• Custer was quickly surrounded by 2,500
Indians.
• Custer and all of his soldiers were killed.
The battle was called the Battle of Little
Bighorn.
Crazy Horse
Sitting Bull
George Custer
Problem #3
• The U.S. government
used force to move the
Nez Perces Indians (NES
PER suhz) to a
reservation in Idaho.
• Chief Joseph refused.
The tribe of 800 tried to
escape to Canada.
• They were caught 40
miles from the border and
surrendered.
Problem #4
• By 1880 almost all
Indians in the United
States had been moved
to reservations – except
the Apaches.
• Led by Chief Geronimo,
they fought the longest
and hardest not to be
moved.
• They were moved to a
small reservation in
Arizona.
Problem #4
• The land was not good for growing food.
• The Apaches attacked and killed Arizona
settlers.
• They escaped capture for 5 years.
• Eventually Geronimo surrendered which
ended years of war between the Indians
and the U.S. government.
Changes for Indians
• Once on the reservation, the government tried to
change the Indians.
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Religion
Farmers (160 acres)
This effort to change did not work.
In 1924 Congress granted citizenship to all Indians.
In 1930 the government gave control of reservation
land to the Indians.
– Great damage had been done to these people and
their culture.