Conflict with Native Conflict with Native AmericansAmericans

AmericaAmerica chapter 14 section 2 chapter 14 section 2

The Indian Problem…The Indian Problem…

What could be What could be done with Western done with Western Indians so their Indians so their land could be used land could be used more productively more productively for mining, for mining, ranching, farming, ranching, farming, railroad expansion, railroad expansion, etc.?etc.?

The Great PlainsThe Great Plains

The middle of America!The middle of America! Grasslands b/t the Mississippi River & Grasslands b/t the Mississippi River &

the Rocky Mountainsthe Rocky Mountains Some tribes were famers, hunters, & Some tribes were famers, hunters, &

gatherersgatherers Others were nomadicOthers were nomadic

Nomad: people who travel from place to Nomad: people who travel from place to place, usually following a food sourceplace, usually following a food source

The Looming ConflictThe Looming Conflict

Settlers: white people need to control Settlers: white people need to control the land b/c they would make the the land b/c they would make the land more productive…therefore it land more productive…therefore it was ok to just take it from Native was ok to just take it from Native AmericansAmericans

Indians: these “settlers” were really Indians: these “settlers” were really just invaders and thieves!just invaders and thieves!

U.S. Government PolicyU.S. Government Policy

Negotiated treaties to restrict Negotiated treaties to restrict movements of nomadic tribesmovements of nomadic tribes

Other treaties purchased Native Amer. Other treaties purchased Native Amer. Land, usually for an incredibly low priceLand, usually for an incredibly low price

Others forced Native Americans to Others forced Native Americans to move to and stay on reservationsmove to and stay on reservations Reservations: federal land set aside for Reservations: federal land set aside for

Native Americans & where they were Native Americans & where they were forced to liveforced to live

Treaties with Native Treaties with Native AmericansAmericans

Corruption!Corruption!

““chiefs” who signed treaties often did not chiefs” who signed treaties often did not represent all the people of the triberepresent all the people of the tribe

Some negotiators never intended to honor Some negotiators never intended to honor the deals they madethe deals they made

Some used violence to force Native Some used violence to force Native Americans to signAmericans to sign

BIA ( Bureau of Indian Affairs): gov’t BIA ( Bureau of Indian Affairs): gov’t agency supposed to ensure delivery of agency supposed to ensure delivery of critical supplies to reservations, but many critical supplies to reservations, but many ended up stolen, lost, or mishandledended up stolen, lost, or mishandled

The SettlersThe Settlers

Acting on the premise they were superior Acting on the premise they were superior to the natives and would make the land to the natives and would make the land more productive, white settlers in the more productive, white settlers in the Great Plains and Western U.S. took and did Great Plains and Western U.S. took and did what they wantedwhat they wanted Stole land Stole land Killed off buffalo in HUGE numbersKilled off buffalo in HUGE numbers Redirected or stole water supplies (streams)Redirected or stole water supplies (streams) Attacked Native AmericansAttacked Native Americans

The SettlersThe Settlers