Western Expansion Impact on Native Americans

Questions and Answers

How did westward expansion impact Native Americans?

They assimilated without conflict.

They prospered economically.

They were forced to move to reservations. (correct)

They were given more land.

Why did settlers feel justified in taking Native Americans' land?

They believed they were making the land more productive.

What are reservations?

Small pieces of government land set aside for Native Americans.

Native Americans were forced to move to reservations due to treaties.

True Signup and view all the answers

What happened when the government broke treaties?

It resulted in the government and settlers taking more land from the Native Americans. Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the killing of the buffalo on Native Americans?

It forced Native Americans off their hunting grounds and into reservations. Signup and view all the answers

What does forced assimilation mean?

Efforts to get Native Americans to become settled farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What does assimilation mean in the context of Native Americans?

To blend into another culture and accept that culture as one's own. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Dawes Act?

It divided reservation land into 160-acre plots for individual families to farm. Signup and view all the answers

What was the missionaries' attempt related to Native Americans?

They attempted to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of Indian boarding schools?

To focus on skills like carpentry and housekeeping. Signup and view all the answers

When did Native Americans become considered U.S. citizens?

1924 Signup and view all the answers

How did Native Americans respond to westward settlement?

They viewed settlers as invaders and many made efforts to save their people. Signup and view all the answers

What happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

Gold was discovered on the Sioux reservation, leading to conflict with the U.S. Army. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Sioux also called?

Lakota. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the Sioux reservation located?

South Dakota. Signup and view all the answers

What happened at the Massacre at Wounded Knee?

The U.S. Army killed Sitting Bull and many others. Signup and view all the answers

What was the last major episode of violence in Native American wars?

The Massacre at Wounded Knee. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Chief Joseph?

Leader of the Nez Perce who led a resistance to relocation. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Apache believe?

They believed that their leader had special powers. Signup and view all the answers

When did the Apache surrender?

1886 in Arizona. Signup and view all the answers

What is a synonym of Apache?

Bravery Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Impact of Westward Expansion on Native Americans

Native Americans were forcibly relocated to reservations due to treaties and government policies.
Assimilation efforts aimed to transform Native Americans into settled farmers, impacting their traditional lifestyles.
The mass hunting of buffalo by Americans disrupted Native American economic and cultural practices.

Justification for Land Seizure

Settlers believed their actions made the land more productive, rationalizing the appropriation of Native American territories.

Reservations

Reservations are designated lands set aside by the government for Native Americans, often characterized by limited resources and poor living conditions.

Treaty Violations

The U.S. government frequently broke treaties, further encroaching on Native American lands and rights.

Cultural Assimilation

Forced assimilation sought to erase Native American cultures and integrate them into Euro-American society.

Dawes Act

The Dawes Act reallocated reservation land into 160-acre plots for individual Native American families, promoting farming for profit.

Missionary Efforts

Missionaries attempted to convert Native Americans to Christianity, often undermining existing belief systems.

Indian Boarding Schools

Native American children were sent to boarding schools to learn skills like carpentry and housekeeping, aimed at erasing their cultural identities.

Citizenship

Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1924, marking a significant, albeit delayed, recognition of their rights.

Native American Resistance

Many Native Americans viewed westward settlers as invaders and made heroic efforts to protect their lands and cultures from encroachment.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Following the discovery of gold on Sioux lands, many Sioux resisted relocation, leading to the defeat of Custer's forces.

Sioux Nation

The Sioux are also known as the Lakota, with prominent figures like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse leading their resistance efforts.

Sioux Reservation Location

The Sioux Reservation is primarily located in South Dakota, encompassing significant historical lands.

Wounded Knee Massacre

The massacre at Wounded Knee involved the U.S. Army and resulted in the deaths of Sitting Bull and over 300 camp followers, marking one of the last violent confrontations.

Chief Joseph and Nez Perce

Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce on a strategic retreat toward Canada after being forcibly removed to reservations in Idaho.

Bears Paw Mountain

Bears Paw Mountain is where Chief Joseph and his followers surrendered to U.S. troops after an extensive pursuit.

Geronimo and the Apache

Geronimo was a prominent leader of the Apache in the Southwest, known for his resistance against both Mexican and U.S. forces.

Apache Beliefs

Geronimo believed he had supernatural abilities, including the power to walk without leaving tracks, emblematic of his fierce spirituality and resistance.

Apache Surrender

Geronimo surrendered to U.S. forces in 1886 in Arizona, symbolizing the broader decline of Apache resistance.

Symbolism of Bravery

The term "Apache" has become a synonym for bravery, highlighting the fierce resistance of the Apache people throughout their conflict with American settlers.

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Description

This quiz explores how westward expansion affected Native Americans, focusing on forced relocations to reservations, treaty violations, and lifestyle changes. It also examines settlers' justifications for taking Native American land. Perfect for understanding this crucial chapter in American history.