A Century of Dishonor: Native Americans in the 19th Century
Directions: Use the primary and secondary documents included to access information about Native Americans in the 19th Century. Answer the questions that follow.
Native Americans in U.S. History
- List four factors that led to white encroachment on Indian lands in the time period 1840-1870. The California Gold Rush, having been under Spanish and Mexican rule, and the Indian Removal Act (1830) that led to the Trail of Tears.
- Read about the “Sand Creek Massacre.” Why did it have such an impact on American public opinion? Because the massacre of these Indians was against the peace agreement and most of the victims were women and children so many were upset with this action.
- Read about “The Battle of Little Big Horn.” Why was Custer there? What was the result of the battle? Custer was there trying to re-organize the reservation and trying to get on without the Native Americans permission. He lost terribly to the Native American army and many of his soldiers died.
- Read about “Chief Joseph and the Nez Percé.” Why is Chief Joseph’s story a particularly troubling one? Read “Chief Joseph’s I Will Fight No More Forever speech.” In what ways is this speech indicative of the Native American psyche in the late 1870s? He tried to become one of the Native American hero’s and marched his Nez Perce people through the Northwest region. They avoided many of the U.S armies and defeated most of the ones they fought, but ended up surrendering at the end since they were all tired. It represents how the Native Americans started to not be able to fight back because they felt that there was no point now because there were too many white settlers. They just wanted to make sure their families were safe.
- What happened at Wounded Knee? Why is this battle significant? U.S Army tried to arrest Sitting Bull and other Sioux leaders. During this, Sitting Bull was shot and many others killed. It’s significant because it’s said that the Army didn’t need to have used so much violence. It marked the last of the wars between the Americans and Indians and the Native American population was at its all time low.
- Overall, how did the Indian Wars affect U.S. policy toward Native Americans in this period? It caused them to start improving the reservations to prevent the decrease of the Indian population. They wanted to stop the corruption of the officers in charge of the reservations and spread the American culture to the Indians. A group of teachers were sent to educate the Native Americans. All this helped shape the Native American policy and the reforms continued on to be made better and they helped Indians be educated and live decently.
