Native Americans Struggle to Survive
How has America treated Native Americans? It’s an essential question to ponder as we look at the reshaping
of the West in the late 1800s. As Americans moved to settle and govern the West, the clash of cultures
between Indians and Americans was inevitable. Using the online materials, you will be examining the life of
Native Americans in the West, the problems of land ownership and treaty breaking between the two groups,
resistance of Native Americans, attempts at assimilating Native Americans, and the eventual destruction of
Native American tribes through the Dawes Act.
Follow the instructions below very carefully, and use the example notes as models for your bulleted points. As
you complete this, develop any questions that you would like answered. In addition, look for some spots to
add to your Legacy of the West Road Trip!
q Read “One American’s Story” at the beginning of the section.
Native American Life on the Plains – Take bulleted notes from this section to answer the
question “ What was Native American life like on the Plains ?”
(Make sure you use and underline the terms horses, buffalo, nomadic)
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Before Europeans most Plains Indians lived along streams – farmed,
hunted deer and elk, buffalo
Spanish brought horses, changing the way of life on the Plains
By 1700s, most Plains tribes were dependent on horse
Used buffalo for everything – meat for diet, skins for shelter and clothing,
shoes, blankets, buffalo chips for fuel, bones for tools
Many Plains tribes became nomadic, moving to follow the buffalo
As Americans and the government moved into the Plains, the buffalo
faced near elimination as they were hunted for sport, for their hides, and
simply to hurt the ability of the Plains Indians to survive
A Clash of Cultures and Battle of Little Bighorn – Take bulleted notes to answer the
question “How did the federal government take away Native American
lands, and how did Native Americans respond?”
(Make sure you completely describe and underline the terms Fort Laramie Treaty, Sand Creek
Massacre, Fetterman Massacre, Black Hills, gold, Crazy Horse, Little Big Horn, impact of Little
Bighorn)
You should have a multiple locations for this material on your “Legacy of the West” road trip. Resistance in the Northwest and Southwest – Take bulleted notes to answer the
question “How did some Native Americans resist the federal government,
and what was the result of their resistance? (Make sure you completely describe
and underline the terms Nez Perce and Chief Joseph, Navajo, Long Walk, Apache, Geronimo)
Chief Joseph
Keep looking for road trip sites! A Way of Life Ends – Take bulleted notes to answer the question “What events led to
an end to the Native American way of life in the Plains?” (Make sure you
completely describe and underline the terms reservations, Sitting Bull, Wovoka, Ghost Dance,
Wounded Knee)
Wounded Knee is a must see on any road trip … The Dawes Act Fails – Take bulleted notes to answer the question “How did
Americans try to get Native Americans to assimilate, and what was the
result?” (Make sure you use and underline the terms Helen Hunt Jackson, assimilation, Dawes
Act, farmers, boarding schools, white culture)
NOW THAT YOU ARE DONE …Think about that essential question – How has
America treated Native Americans? What other questions do you have?
You can also add some Indian Y
history museums!