Allison MoreyCindy Donehoo

Vic Selestay

Westward Expansion and the Impact on American Indians

Agenda:1. Students will use their prior knowledge from 6th grade to discuss the

meaning of the Peace Medal that President Jefferson gave to Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Students will reflect on the relationship between the U.S. government and the Native population.

2. Students will then be shown the next primary source, the painting of Custer’s last stand. Using historical thinking skills, students will analyze the current relationship between the U.S. govt. and the Native populations.

3. Teacher will discuss the government’s treatment of Native Americans and how the country got from “here to there” in approximately 75 years, as well as why reservations were established; and why conflicts ensued. Students will do individual reading on this topic.

4. Students will read the two quotes: one from a Native American and one from the Secretary of the Interior and use historical thinking skills to compare and contrast.

Westward Expansion and the Impact on American Indians

http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu/resource/?key=2653

Using your prior knowledge (think 6th grade!), what do you know about the relationship

between the U.S. government and American Indians during

this time period?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/resources/Lesson5.pdf

Custer’s Last Stand Courtesy of Buffalo Bill Historical Center

Close Reading: What do you see? What is the overall tone? Sourcing: What type of source is this? What do you think is the painter’s viewpoint? Contextualizing: When did this take place? What relevant events came before this event?Corroboration: How does this image compare to the peace medal from the Lewis and Clark expedition?

“Look at me and look at

the earth. It was our

father’s and should be our

children’s after us….

If the white men take my

country, where can I go?

I have nowhere to go.

I cannot spare it, and I love

it very much. Let us alone.”

—Sitting Bull,

Lakota Sioux chief, 1877

“I am inclined to think thatthe occupation of thisregion of the country isnot necessary to thehappiness and prosperityof the Indians, and as it issupposed to be rich inminerals and lumber it isdeemed important to haveit freed as early as possiblefrom Indian occupancy.”—Columbus Delano,secretary of the interior, 1872

Close Reading: What do the two texts say? Who are the people? What words do you notice? Sourcing: What types of sources are these? What are the point of views of each quote?Contextualizing: When were these written and why is this important? What events happened before these sources were written?Corroborating: How do these two texts agree or disagree? What do you know about Westward Expansion given these accounts?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/resources/Lesson5.pdf

Background Info for Individual Reading

In 1868, the United States made a treaty with the Sioux nation—a loose confederacythat included the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples—that confined them to areservation. The Treaty of Fort Laramie promised that the Black Hills, which the Siouxconsidered sacred, would forever be part of their reservation and closed to whitesettlement. In 1874, however, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led anexpedition that verified rumors of rich gold deposits there. Prospectors quickly beganto trespass on Indian land and stake illegal claims—then demand that the armyprotect them from Indian attacks.

In the summer of 1876, the U.S. Army deployed troops to the Black Hills to trap agroup of roaming Sioux and force them back to their reservation. Custer’s SeventhCavalry and his Crow Indian allies were supposed to coordinate operations with otherunits of the expedition. But on the morning of June 25, Custer found an Indian villageand decided to attack on his own. In the ensuing battle, the Seventh Cavalry wasoverwhelmed: more than 200 troops, including Custer, were killed. The loss sooutraged the U.S. government—and the public at large—that the army mounted a newoffensive, crushing armed Sioux resistance.

Exit Ticket:

• List reasons for Westward Expansion that had an impact on American Indians.

• How did Westward Expansion impact American Indians?