Native American Struggles, Philosophy, Culture

November is American Indian Heritage (Native American) Month. Many of the struggles of current Native Americans evolved from Indian Wars in the mid-1860s up to the 1880s. This era lasted from the 1860s through the 1880s. Most of the wars were in response to the increasing number of white settlers infringing on Native American lands and U.S. policies that forced Native Americans into reservations where they were prevented from participating in traditional hunting and religious practices.

In 1877, the campaign against the Nez Perce Indians came to an end with the retreat and capture of Chief Joseph. The Nez Perce were forced onto reservations away from their traditional lands.

Geronimo led the Apache Indians in many battles against the U.S. Geronimo was captured and escaped on numerous occasions. He even toured with "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show." The Apache Indians continued to fight, but ultimately were defeated. Geronimo finally surrendered a last time to General Nelson A. Miles in 1886 and was exiled to Florida.

In 1890, the Sioux Indians experienced a religious revival as the "Ghost Dance" movement spread, which predicted a messianic figure would appear and save the Native Americans from the white settlers. During this time, the Sioux engaged in a ritual in which the participants of the "ghost dance" became excited to the point of frenzy.

The enthusiasm of the Native Americans for this movement alarmed the U.S. government. In an attempt to end the fervor of the movement the government went to arrest Sitting Bull at the reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He was killed in the ensuing skirmish. Shortly after the death of Sitting Bull, the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, also in South Dakota, decimated what was left of the Sioux ghost dancers and signaled the end of the Indian Wars.

First Americans haven't shared in the benefits of the "American Dream" as the immigrants that displaced them did. The past and current prejudice against Native Americans was fostered by the Indian Wars and their eventual settlement on government reservations. This separation exists even to this day, and as African Americans can attest to, separate is never equal.

Student can look back on this period of time to get a better appreciation of how the settlers viewed the Indians and also the attitude of the government and policy makers of the time.

Pathfinders:

1. Click the Topics tab
   
   
2. Select Westward Expansion and Imperialism
   
   
3. Click Sioux Wars; Westward Expansion and Imperialism
   
   
4. Also explore Federal Policies Towards Native Americans, plus Westward Expansion and Imperialism > Other Indian Wars.
   
   
5. Assign students one of the three eras listed below to ensure a variety of reports. Students should use at least three resources for their reports. Assign each student three of the essential questions for critical thinking listed below (you can create and include your own).
   
   Oral (or PowerPoint) reports are recommended (limit: three minutes) so that student knowledge can be shared and students can be questioned by their peers (limit of three questions). This is an excellent way to motivate student interest and curb plagiarism. It also helps students to develop standards-based language arts presentation skills.
   
   
6. If written reports are chosen, the teachers can download this guide for additional guidance.

• What were the attitudes of the Indian tribes toward the settlers and why?
  
  
• What were the attitudes of the settlers toward the Indian tribes and why?
  
  
• Were there any examples of successful co-existence between tribes and settlers?
  
  
• Why was the reservation system used as the solution for peace?
  
  
• What were the major factors in conflicts between the Indian tribes and the settlers?
  
  
• What solution would you have developed to end hostilities, and yet be fair to the Indians?
  
  
• Does the Reservation system work--why or why not?