Battle of Little Bighorn
Diamond Burnett
"We preferred our own way of living. We were no expense to the government. All we wanted was peace and to be left alone....
They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same thing to us had we not defended ourselves and fought to the
last"- Crazy Horse
The Battle of Little Big Horn occurred on June 25- 26 1876. The battle was between the U.S. Army 7th cavalry led by Lieutenant Colonel General George Custer and Northern Indian Tribes. By means of an armed engagement between the Indians and the U.S. government for their refusal to stay off of tribal lands in Black Hills, South Dakota.
Westward expansion was a recipe for disaster for the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. In late 1875, after gold was discovered in Black Hills, South Dakota, the U.S. Army ignored previous treaty agreements and invaded the region. Sioux and Cheyenne Indians left their reservations, outraged over the continued intrusions of white settlers into their scared lands in the Black Hills. They gathered in Montana with the great warrior Sitting Bull to fight for their lands.
To force the large Indian army back to the reservations, the army dispatched into three columns to attack. One contained Lt. Colonel George Custer and the 7th cavalry. Ignoring orders to wait, he decided to attack. He didn't realize that Indians outnumbered him 3 to 1. Despite Custer’s desperate attempts to regroup his men while awaiting aid, another group of Indians, led by Crazy Horse trapped Custer and his men.
Custer and some 200 men in his battalion were attacked by 3,000 Native Americans. In less than an hour, arrows and bullets wiped out General Custer and all his soldiers. Outraged at the death of Custer, the U.S. government saw the Indians as uncivilized and bloodthirsty. The U.S. government decided to redraw boundaries of the Black Hills. The U.S crushed the spirit of American Indians. No longer independent they relied on the government for food and shelter. The Dawes Act was created to assimilate Indians by giving them acres of land to farm like white settlers. However the Indians were traditionally nomadic hunters and the farm land that was provided was unstable and most didn't know how to efficiently use the land. Those who did couldn't afford the tools necessary.
Web Citations
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-little-bighorn
http://www.nps.gov/libi/historyculture/battle-of-the-little-bighorn.htm
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/custer.htm
They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same thing to us had we not defended ourselves and fought to the
last"- Crazy Horse
The Battle of Little Big Horn occurred on June 25- 26 1876. The battle was between the U.S. Army 7th cavalry led by Lieutenant Colonel General George Custer and Northern Indian Tribes. By means of an armed engagement between the Indians and the U.S. government for their refusal to stay off of tribal lands in Black Hills, South Dakota.
Westward expansion was a recipe for disaster for the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. In late 1875, after gold was discovered in Black Hills, South Dakota, the U.S. Army ignored previous treaty agreements and invaded the region. Sioux and Cheyenne Indians left their reservations, outraged over the continued intrusions of white settlers into their scared lands in the Black Hills. They gathered in Montana with the great warrior Sitting Bull to fight for their lands.
To force the large Indian army back to the reservations, the army dispatched into three columns to attack. One contained Lt. Colonel George Custer and the 7th cavalry. Ignoring orders to wait, he decided to attack. He didn't realize that Indians outnumbered him 3 to 1. Despite Custer’s desperate attempts to regroup his men while awaiting aid, another group of Indians, led by Crazy Horse trapped Custer and his men.
Custer and some 200 men in his battalion were attacked by 3,000 Native Americans. In less than an hour, arrows and bullets wiped out General Custer and all his soldiers. Outraged at the death of Custer, the U.S. government saw the Indians as uncivilized and bloodthirsty. The U.S. government decided to redraw boundaries of the Black Hills. The U.S crushed the spirit of American Indians. No longer independent they relied on the government for food and shelter. The Dawes Act was created to assimilate Indians by giving them acres of land to farm like white settlers. However the Indians were traditionally nomadic hunters and the farm land that was provided was unstable and most didn't know how to efficiently use the land. Those who did couldn't afford the tools necessary.
Web Citations
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-little-bighorn
http://www.nps.gov/libi/historyculture/battle-of-the-little-bighorn.htm
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/custer.htm
Battle of Little Bighorn
Bohan Lou
“The more I study the moves here [on the Little Big Horn], the more I have admiration for Custer.” Lt. Gen. Nelson Miles 1877
The Battle of Little Bighorn, or Custer’s Last Stand, was a battle in the Great Sioux War of 1876.
As more settlers moved west, they came into conflict with the Native Americans who relied on the plains for herding buffalo. To protect the interest and safety of White settlers, the U.S. government sent regiments including the 7th cavalry under Lt. Col. George Custer to patrol the Western plains.
In 1868, many Lakota leaders agreed to the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie that created a reservation in present day South Dakota. Many Indians refused to sign the treaty, including Lakota leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Tensions increased further in 1874, when Custer explored the Black Hills region in the Sioux Reservation. Gold was discovered and word spread quickly, causing an influx of miners and entrepreneurs onto the Sioux Reservation.
In March 1876, General Phillip Sheridan launched a campaign to locate and engage Lakota and Cheyenne who had left to try and force them back onto the Great Sioux Reservation.
In the spring of 1876, many Native Americans who refused to be forced onto reservations gathered near Little Bighorn Valley under the leadership of Sitting Bull.
Custer’s troops engaged the Indians on June 25, 1876. After one day of fighting, Custer’s own force of 5 companies was completely decimated and Custer himself killed.
Custer’s battle plans were based on inaccurate information that no more than 800 hostiles were in the area when in fact there were being around 2000. Custer’s force only numbered less than 700.
This victory for the Native Americans was only short-lived. After this battle, General Sheridan had the leverage to call for more troops and eventually sent a powerful U.S. expeditionary force to pacify the North Plains, causing most of the Native American resistance to surrender within a year.
The Battle of Little Bighorn, or Custer’s Last Stand, was a battle in the Great Sioux War of 1876.
As more settlers moved west, they came into conflict with the Native Americans who relied on the plains for herding buffalo. To protect the interest and safety of White settlers, the U.S. government sent regiments including the 7th cavalry under Lt. Col. George Custer to patrol the Western plains.
In 1868, many Lakota leaders agreed to the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie that created a reservation in present day South Dakota. Many Indians refused to sign the treaty, including Lakota leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Tensions increased further in 1874, when Custer explored the Black Hills region in the Sioux Reservation. Gold was discovered and word spread quickly, causing an influx of miners and entrepreneurs onto the Sioux Reservation.
In March 1876, General Phillip Sheridan launched a campaign to locate and engage Lakota and Cheyenne who had left to try and force them back onto the Great Sioux Reservation.
In the spring of 1876, many Native Americans who refused to be forced onto reservations gathered near Little Bighorn Valley under the leadership of Sitting Bull.
Custer’s troops engaged the Indians on June 25, 1876. After one day of fighting, Custer’s own force of 5 companies was completely decimated and Custer himself killed.
Custer’s battle plans were based on inaccurate information that no more than 800 hostiles were in the area when in fact there were being around 2000. Custer’s force only numbered less than 700.
This victory for the Native Americans was only short-lived. After this battle, General Sheridan had the leverage to call for more troops and eventually sent a powerful U.S. expeditionary force to pacify the North Plains, causing most of the Native American resistance to surrender within a year.
Dawes Act of 1887
by Michelle Lee
“Till this people will consent to give up their lands, and divide them among their citizen... they will not make much more progress..”
-Henry L Dawes
During the 18th century, the United States and the Indians made several treaties in sharing lands with each other. But as they entered the 19th century, these treaties were gone and instead new acts were made relating negotiations with the Indians. At that time of period, many thought the Indians needed to be more civilized because the way they lived was considered to be less civilized. some thought they had too much lands for themselves.
Due to this, the Congress passed the Dawes Act of 1887 or the General Allotment Act, made by US Senator Henry L Dawes of Massachusetts, in February 8, 1887. Their goal was to help the Native Americans give up their old ways and accept the Western Culture by becoming farmers. This act divided the Indian tribal land and gave the land (40~160acres) to each individual. It also granted the Indians United States citizenship and they were encouraged to farm these lands. The government held on to these lands for 25 years and see if the owners (Indians) were qualified to farm these lands. If they were not, the lands will be the government's property to sell it.
One case was when it affected the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Before this act, this tribe had 65,428acres of land and the population was growing inside. Due to this, each person was given 96acres of land which was a small amount. Many sold their land during this time because the land was too small to support them financially. The Oneidas sometimes had to borrow money and put their land in mortgage in return and when they could not pay back, the land was taken away.
This act was not helpful to the Indians because it took away their traditional values and their land in all sorts.
Works Cited
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleveland-signs-devastating-dawes-act-into-law
https://www.iltf.org/resources/land-tenure-history/allotment
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Dawes_Act.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-dawes-act.htm
https://lumen.instructure.com/courses/204135/pages/Section5-4
http://politicalquotes.org/node/30914
http://www.oneidanation.org/culture/page.aspx?id=2486
-Henry L Dawes
During the 18th century, the United States and the Indians made several treaties in sharing lands with each other. But as they entered the 19th century, these treaties were gone and instead new acts were made relating negotiations with the Indians. At that time of period, many thought the Indians needed to be more civilized because the way they lived was considered to be less civilized. some thought they had too much lands for themselves.
Due to this, the Congress passed the Dawes Act of 1887 or the General Allotment Act, made by US Senator Henry L Dawes of Massachusetts, in February 8, 1887. Their goal was to help the Native Americans give up their old ways and accept the Western Culture by becoming farmers. This act divided the Indian tribal land and gave the land (40~160acres) to each individual. It also granted the Indians United States citizenship and they were encouraged to farm these lands. The government held on to these lands for 25 years and see if the owners (Indians) were qualified to farm these lands. If they were not, the lands will be the government's property to sell it.
One case was when it affected the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Before this act, this tribe had 65,428acres of land and the population was growing inside. Due to this, each person was given 96acres of land which was a small amount. Many sold their land during this time because the land was too small to support them financially. The Oneidas sometimes had to borrow money and put their land in mortgage in return and when they could not pay back, the land was taken away.
This act was not helpful to the Indians because it took away their traditional values and their land in all sorts.
Works Cited
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleveland-signs-devastating-dawes-act-into-law
https://www.iltf.org/resources/land-tenure-history/allotment
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Dawes_Act.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-dawes-act.htm
https://lumen.instructure.com/courses/204135/pages/Section5-4
http://politicalquotes.org/node/30914
http://www.oneidanation.org/culture/page.aspx?id=2486
Boomers and Sooners
by Derrie Kwan Michelle Chen
"...the rifles snapped and the line broke with a huge, crackling roar." –Seth Humphrey, participant of the Oklahoma Land Rush
In 1879 after the opening of the first Transcontinental Railroad, many white settlers began moving into the “Unassigned Lands” previously owned by the Creek and Seminole tribes in present-day Oklahoma, covering about 3000 square miles. These people were the Boomers. They settled in to the territory before they were authorized to do so. Finally, the government decided to fairly distribute the land in 1889 with the Oklahoma Land Rush, in which people claimed land on a first come, first serve basis.
The Land Rush attracted many who wanted to possess and cultivate their own land. About 50,000 to 60,000 Boomers participated in the Oklahoma Land Rush on April 22nd, 1889. People lined up on horses and wagons and waited for the cannon to sound at noon. They all wanted the 160 acres of free land that they would get if they were the first to claim that parcel of land. Only 42,000 parcels of land were available, so the competition was tough. Boomers who played by the rules lined up and started running at exactly noon after the cannon sounded. Others were the sooners, who cheated by getting a head start. They would hide in bushes and suddenly appear before the boomers arrived, then claim that the piece of land was rightfully theirs. Conflicts between the boomers and sooners led to many cases in court.
After the whites settled in, many towns developed in the west. With the increase of white settlers, the Native Americans gradually lost their land, especially after the Dawes Act was passed in 1887. Although this act promised 160 acres of land to each Native American family, a large portion of Indian owned territory was given to white settlers. Eventually, the Native Americans lost two thirds of the 100 million acres of land that they owned before the act was passed.
The Transcontinental Railroad
By Gordon Hua
“We must act with vindictive earnestness against the Sioux, even to their extermination, men, women, children."
-William Tecumseh Sherman
-William Tecumseh Sherman
In 1862, the Union Pacific Company and the Central Pacific Company were chartered to construct a railroad that will link the East and the West. With the railroad, the nation can be better united and more developed. However, the construction of the railroad had to pass through territories inhabited by the Native Americans.
During the construction, the workers killed bison not only for its meat, but also to protect the locomotives. Other times, the workers also hunt them as a sport. With the white settlers and hunters killing bison for their hides and the workers killing bison to prevent potential damages, the population of bison dropped significantly during the 1870’s from at least 15 million to less than a thousand. With its major food source close to extinction, the Indians were forced to move.
After the construction, the railroad served as a means of transportation. Other than carrying white settlers into the West, it can also be used for military purposes. In 1877, fighting broke out in Idaho between Nez Perce Indians and the US troops. US soon send troops to Idaho from Georgia, and they were able to arrive in only sixteen days. The railroad allowed American troops to reach the battlefield sooner, allowing the Americans to eliminate Indians more effectively.
Other than those disasters, the worst situation for the Indians was the white settlers. As white settlers came in huge numbers through the railroad, new towns and farms spread across Indians’ homeland, forcing them to leave. “The Shawnees, for instance, having been removed from their native Ohio to eastern Kansas, now surrendered 1.4 million acres of land for less than sixty cents per acre” (West).
The white enjoyed the prosperity that the railroad brought. Once a dangerous journey that cost up to 1000 dollars, it now only requires 150 dollars to head West. However, with more white settlers, the natives’ lives were disturbed, their homelands were taken away, and their sovereignty violated.
Works Cited:
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/development-west/essays/american-indians-and-transcontinental-railroad
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/interview/tcrr-interview/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-tribes/
During the construction, the workers killed bison not only for its meat, but also to protect the locomotives. Other times, the workers also hunt them as a sport. With the white settlers and hunters killing bison for their hides and the workers killing bison to prevent potential damages, the population of bison dropped significantly during the 1870’s from at least 15 million to less than a thousand. With its major food source close to extinction, the Indians were forced to move.
After the construction, the railroad served as a means of transportation. Other than carrying white settlers into the West, it can also be used for military purposes. In 1877, fighting broke out in Idaho between Nez Perce Indians and the US troops. US soon send troops to Idaho from Georgia, and they were able to arrive in only sixteen days. The railroad allowed American troops to reach the battlefield sooner, allowing the Americans to eliminate Indians more effectively.
Other than those disasters, the worst situation for the Indians was the white settlers. As white settlers came in huge numbers through the railroad, new towns and farms spread across Indians’ homeland, forcing them to leave. “The Shawnees, for instance, having been removed from their native Ohio to eastern Kansas, now surrendered 1.4 million acres of land for less than sixty cents per acre” (West).
The white enjoyed the prosperity that the railroad brought. Once a dangerous journey that cost up to 1000 dollars, it now only requires 150 dollars to head West. However, with more white settlers, the natives’ lives were disturbed, their homelands were taken away, and their sovereignty violated.
Works Cited:
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/development-west/essays/american-indians-and-transcontinental-railroad
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/interview/tcrr-interview/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-tribes/
The Transcontinental Railroad
Anthony Yu & Henry Han
The Transcontinental Railroad was a long railroad track spanning across Sacramento, California and Omaha, Nebraska. Construction began on July 1, 1862 and was completed on May 10, 1869. Two railroad companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad Companies, worked together to build this railroad to finally meet at Promontory, Utah.
Theodore Judah was the first to suggest the Transcontinental Railroad for construction. Since 1860, Judah began walking the lands and discovered the Donner Pass to cross the Sierra Nevada. However, it wasn’t until July 1, 1862, when President Lincoln passed the Pacific Railroad Act that enabled Judah to begin construction. After this act, Judah was ready and stated: “We have drawn the elephant, now let us see if we can harness him up.”
Unfortunately, Judah wasn’t able to lead his project to completion. In October 1863, Judah received the yellow fever, and he died in November 2. His investors and the heads of the railroad companies (The “Big Four:” Crocker, Stanford, Huntington, and Hopkins from the Central Pacific; Durant from the Union Pacific) continued the project.
A useful railroad like this came with a cost. Labor was harsh. However, Americans were not the main labor forces of the railroad; the Chinese were. Chinese laborers constituted at least two-thirds of the labor force and performed the most dangerous tasks for construction. They were also unfairly treated, earning a salary of less than one dollar as compared to the white men’s salary of one to three dollars.
The triumph finally began in May 10, 1869, when the two labor forces met in Utah to complete the railroad. This was known as the Golden Spike. Transportation became much easier – a six-month travel from coast to coast was reduced to one week.
Land on the western coast was finally much more accessible. Resources could be transported quickly, and communicating with the west was much easier. The Transcontinental Railroad united the nation of America.
Citations:
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/tcrr-judah/
http://tcrr.com/
Theodore Judah was the first to suggest the Transcontinental Railroad for construction. Since 1860, Judah began walking the lands and discovered the Donner Pass to cross the Sierra Nevada. However, it wasn’t until July 1, 1862, when President Lincoln passed the Pacific Railroad Act that enabled Judah to begin construction. After this act, Judah was ready and stated: “We have drawn the elephant, now let us see if we can harness him up.”
Unfortunately, Judah wasn’t able to lead his project to completion. In October 1863, Judah received the yellow fever, and he died in November 2. His investors and the heads of the railroad companies (The “Big Four:” Crocker, Stanford, Huntington, and Hopkins from the Central Pacific; Durant from the Union Pacific) continued the project.
A useful railroad like this came with a cost. Labor was harsh. However, Americans were not the main labor forces of the railroad; the Chinese were. Chinese laborers constituted at least two-thirds of the labor force and performed the most dangerous tasks for construction. They were also unfairly treated, earning a salary of less than one dollar as compared to the white men’s salary of one to three dollars.
The triumph finally began in May 10, 1869, when the two labor forces met in Utah to complete the railroad. This was known as the Golden Spike. Transportation became much easier – a six-month travel from coast to coast was reduced to one week.
Land on the western coast was finally much more accessible. Resources could be transported quickly, and communicating with the west was much easier. The Transcontinental Railroad united the nation of America.
Citations:
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/tcrr-judah/
http://tcrr.com/
Ghost Dance
Angel & Irene
"Do no harm to anyone, do right always...do not tell lies...you must not fight."
–Wovoka
–Wovoka
The Ghost Dance is a religious belief among the Indians that started in Nevada during the 1800s. They held a belief that if they were to dance everyday, they would be able to bring back the tribes and invulnerable of the Whites.
The Ghost Dance movement in 1888 was led by Wovoka. He believed that the only way to bring back the tribes is to live righteously and perform a traditional circle dance.
By 1890 the ritual was spread to Lakota. In the 1800s, the U.S broke the Great Sioux Reservation of Dakota into five reservations, and were mostly occupied by white homesteaders from the east. They intended to make Indians live like white men as farmers, so they formed the Bureau of Indian Affairs agents to help the Sioux farm.
The spread of Ghost Dance frightened the whites. The BIA sent policemen to arrest Sitting Bull, who was thought to be the leader of the movement. On December 15, 1890, he was executed for failing to keep his people from the practice. In 1890, the BIA sent the Seventh Cavalry to take control of Lakota.
The Lakota Sioux leader Chief Spotted Elk led his followers to the Pine Ridge Reservation seeking for protection. In December 29 of 1890, they were surrounded by U.S. troops while they camped on the banks of Wounded Knee. The soldiers open fired at the Sioux for performing ghost dance and killed more than 300 Indians. Two weeks after the massacre, the survivors surrendered to the U.S. and led to the end of the Dawes Act.
The Dawes Act was not generous, even though it gave lands to the Indians, but in the end, the Indians lost their land and culture. The Indians recieved 160 acres of the land, but in 1890, they ended up with 140 acres of land.
Works Cited:
http://assiniboinetipis.com/d0.html
http://www.american-historama.org/1881-1913-maturation-era/ghost-dance.htm
http://www.nativeamericanresearch.org/ghost-dance.html
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ghostdance.html
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/G/GH001.html
http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/wounded-knee
The Ghost Dance movement in 1888 was led by Wovoka. He believed that the only way to bring back the tribes is to live righteously and perform a traditional circle dance.
By 1890 the ritual was spread to Lakota. In the 1800s, the U.S broke the Great Sioux Reservation of Dakota into five reservations, and were mostly occupied by white homesteaders from the east. They intended to make Indians live like white men as farmers, so they formed the Bureau of Indian Affairs agents to help the Sioux farm.
The spread of Ghost Dance frightened the whites. The BIA sent policemen to arrest Sitting Bull, who was thought to be the leader of the movement. On December 15, 1890, he was executed for failing to keep his people from the practice. In 1890, the BIA sent the Seventh Cavalry to take control of Lakota.
The Lakota Sioux leader Chief Spotted Elk led his followers to the Pine Ridge Reservation seeking for protection. In December 29 of 1890, they were surrounded by U.S. troops while they camped on the banks of Wounded Knee. The soldiers open fired at the Sioux for performing ghost dance and killed more than 300 Indians. Two weeks after the massacre, the survivors surrendered to the U.S. and led to the end of the Dawes Act.
The Dawes Act was not generous, even though it gave lands to the Indians, but in the end, the Indians lost their land and culture. The Indians recieved 160 acres of the land, but in 1890, they ended up with 140 acres of land.
Works Cited:
http://assiniboinetipis.com/d0.html
http://www.american-historama.org/1881-1913-maturation-era/ghost-dance.htm
http://www.nativeamericanresearch.org/ghost-dance.html
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ghostdance.html
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/G/GH001.html
http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/wounded-knee