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Summary Native Americans
Revision notes on the treatment of Native Americans during the Civil Rights movement
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Native AmericansPosition in 1865 and the Plain Wars-
Background-
1865 to 1992 saw significant change in position of Native Americans
For most of the period there was little progress in position or quality of life
Only in the latter decades did they gain some progress towards self-determination, which
has always been their aim
The Plains Indians-
The area between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains was known as the Great Plains,
where most Native Americans lived
Most tribes were nomadic and followed the buffalo herds on which they depended for
survival
Initially, when white setteleers 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-
They worshipped nature
They were nomads
They had their own tribal law and government
They had their own languages
They had their own culture and ceremonies
The Native Americans wanted 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 Native Americans
The government wanted to assimilate them into white settler society and therefore destroy
their culture and customs
The passing of the 1830 Removal Act, moving tribes from Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Tennessee, and Virginia into the plains of 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 resit the advance of white settlers, the Native Americans started
to hand over land
The Plains Wars 1862 to 68-
The position of 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 Native Americans that resulted in them handing over land
Fort Laramie treaty 1851
For wise treaty 1861
Medicine lodge treaty 1867
Fort Laramie treaty 1868
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 brough another 20,000 settlers onto the plains
As a result, the Native Americans were already under pressure at the start of the period
because:
1. They had given away land
2. Buffalo nearly became extinct due to hunting and slaughter by white settelers
3. There was not always support from the government
4. Government policy had weakened their position
The progress and development of Native American Rights-
1865 to 1914-
During this period, the aim of the federal government was to assimilate the Native
Americans
This was to be achieved in a number of ways
The Reservation policy
Education
Conversion to Christianity
The Dawes Act (turning the Native Americans into farmers)
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