Transcript From Treaties to Statehood

From Treaties to Statehood
Essential Question
Why were treaties made with Native
Americans, and what was the impact of
this treaty-making period?
Relations between Indians and Settlers
• The first contacts were peaceful and profitable.
• However, the growing numbers of settlers caused
difficulties for the Indians.
• The huge numbers of miners further increased these
difficulties.
• Diseases carried by whites wiped out many of the
Native Americans.
Cultural Conflict
• Settlers and Indians had different ways of
getting food.
• They viewed ownership of land differently.
• They spoke different languages.
• They had different ideas about leadership.
• The whites believed their ways were superior.
Stevens Treaties
• Indians relinquished their tribal lands.
• Indians moved to reservations.
• The United States agreed to pay for the land it acquired.
• The United States built agricultural and industrial schools on
the reservations.
• The United States provided free health care on the
reservations.
Problems and Broken Promises
• Payment wasn’t always delivered.
• Language barriers created misunderstandings.
• The United States did not account for tribal
differences.
• Fishing rights were disputed.
The Yakama War
• The Yakama Nation was created by the governor.
• White miners trespassed on Yakama Territory and armed
conflict began.
• Following the slaughtering of 700 Indian horses and the
execution of 24 leaders, peace treaties were signed.
The Nez Perce War
• The Nez Perce had helped Lewis and Clark and lived
in peace with whites.
• Treaties put the Nez Perce on a reservation.
• Discovery of gold on the reservation sparked conflict.
• Chief Joseph and his people were forced to flee.
• The Nez Perce fought hard.
• Chief Joseph surrendered with a famous speech.
“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. “
Aftermath of Wars
• Disease and warfare greatly reduced the Indian population.
• Survivors were placed on reservations.
• The government was unable to stop miners and others from
settling on reservations.
• The Indian Homestead Act tried to turn the Indians into
farmers, and it opened the reservations to white settlement.
• Many Indians sold or were cheated out of their reservation
land.
The Dawes Act
• The Dawes Act tried to reverse the damage of the
reservations by breaking them up.
• Each Indian family was given a piece of reservation land.
• The remainder of the land was open to white settlement.
• Land-owning Indians could become U.S. citizens, but they had
to break tribal ties.
• Tribal culture was weakened by the Dawes Act.
Boarding Schools
• Boarding schools took Indian children out of their homes and
away from their culture.
• Children were taught how to speak, dress, act, and work like
whites.
• The experience was a culture shock.
• Children were punished if they spoke their native language.
The Road to Statehood
• To become a state a territory needed:
- a population of at least 60,000 people
- a state constitution
- public schools
- basic civil rights for citizens
Creating the State Constitution
• Two constitutional conventions were held before Washington
became a state.
• Delegates debated many issues including:
- voting rights for women
- an end to Indian reservations
- segregated schools for black children
- prohibition of alcohol
• Voters rejected these issues.
• The U.S. Congress rejected Washington’s first constitution.
• A second constitution was approved and
Washington was granted statehood in 1889.
Washington’s Constitution
• The governor has the power to veto bills or sections of bills.
• Compared to the U.S. Constitution, rights are more specific
and clear, such as:
- the right to privacy
- the right of a citizen to bear arms
• The state is responsible for educating all children.
Indian Rights
• Washington’s constitution upholds tribal sovereignty on
Indian reservations.
• However, the federal law is still supreme.