HIGE 335: Native American History

Ethnohistory

historical research with an understanding of anthropological ideas

Two ways the ancestors of Native Americans came to America

- Bering Strait, a land bridge
- Seafarers

Pre-Columbian Native Americans

Native tribes that engaged in large-scale agriculture, built towns, roads, temples, and conducted in far-ranging commerce

3 reasons the "New World" was considered empty

1. Few native settlements due to internal strife
2. Diseases from "Old World" contact
3. Information wasn't spread regarding earlier explorers

Spanish & NA

A new area filled with resources that promises wealth and favor to God.

French & NA

The middleground that fostered trade as well as Jesuit apostles for relations

English & NA

Transplantation was the result of a need for land and resources in that new land.

King Philip

English name for Metacon who forged an alliance among Indians to try to end the spread of English settlement in the North Eastern area.

Northwest Ordinance

Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states

Trade & Intercourse Act (1790)

A way to give NAs a trade permit to allow trade talks

Indian war for independence

Battling both sides of the American Independence war. Where the NAs have to worry about the Aggressive Americans and the Greedy English. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Thomas Jefferson

Saw native people as "enemies to freedom". Thought they fit best as farmers who created an orderly way rather than the sporadic way of the native tribes.

General George Custer

A US Army Officer who lead his troops to defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn

Tecumseh

A Shawnee chief who tried to unite Native American tribes into a confederacy.

Lalawethika/Tenskwatawa?

The prophet of the NA confederacy where he proclaimed and advocated for Native American wellness and to stray away from what's not natural to NA.

Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)

Tecumseh and the Prophet attack, but General Harrison crushes them in this battle ends Tecumseh's attempt to unite all tribes in Mississippi.

War of 1812

Brought the last, best hope of a permanent Indian homeland. The vision of an independent stead, supported by British allies, was on the brink of becoming a reality. Unfortunately, the death of Tecumseh puts the finality of the American Conquest
in the area of Ohio.

Jeffersonian Indian Policy

NA had more land than needed; IF they adopted farming and assimilated they need less land, and conflict would decline.

Jacksonian Indian Policy

Argued that tribes could not assimilate quickly enough and were better off transplanted west of the Mississippi River

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Passed by Congress under the Jackson administration, this act removed all Indians east of the Mississippi to an "Indian Territory" where they would be "permanently" housed.

Civilization Policy

The policy of the United States government under Jefferson that had sent missionaries to Native American lands to teach them how to live like white people. Cherokee leaders adopted this system.

Impact of Civilization Policy

The policy brought about a period of enlightment where a writtenconstitution, a push for agricultural steads, and a rise in language, religion, andeducation.

Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia

Supreme Court case where John Marshall found that the Indians have a right to stay on their land.

Worchester vs. Georgia

Supreme Court case in which the Indians of Georgia sued; John Marshall ruled for them and said that state law had no authority in Cherokee territory.

How was the west lost?

• Treaties

• Destruction resources

• Disease & Poverty

• Land loss — est’d reservations

• Violence, either through natives allies, US militias, US military

• Federal Policy

Indian Peace Commission

Established in 1867 to end the Indian wars in the West, the commission's solution was to contain the Indians in a system of reservations.

Boseman Trail

a short cut to the gold mines in montana, ended after the powder river war

Dawes Act (1887)

An acted aimed at allotting plots of reservation land and promote farming.

Burke Act (1902)

Created competency commissions that performed citizen ceremonies (turning NAs into American Citizens) just t bring debt and awareness to taxes.

Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)

With Cruster’s old men, the US Military man saw the revitalization ritual as threatening and annihilated NA people.

Richard Henry Pratt

Founder of the Indian Boarding School

What does “Kill the Indian, save the man” mean?

A philosophy aimed to assimilate NAs into American society. By stripping NA identity by isolating them from their culture

How did Indians avoid allotments?

Since land was lost through credit/debit, the distribution of goods on the reservations were done by leaders.

Indian Activism

The idea of masking, and promoting stereotypes just for the opportunity to educate their counterparts.

What are some acts of Indian Activism?

• Indian Craze

• World’s Fair

Indian Craze

A movement seeking to revive and celebrate authentic elements of Native American culture through various forms of expression and representation.

World’s Fair

Indian people were exhibited and, therefore, objectified. However, they did this at their own volition to explore and educate their counterparts.

Native American Church

A religious syncretism (Christin/Spirituality) that used entheogen

What were some reasons NAs joined WW1

• “Dual Pride” (Love one’s country and tradition)

• Opportunity for equity

Three NA Stereotypes during WW1

• Innately Warriors

• Masculine Men

• Savages in battle

Indian New Deal

A series of reforms and policies aimed at improving social and economic conditions of NA to preserve their culture

Indian Reorganization Act IRA (1934)

An act that sought to undo the effects of the Dawes Act, focusing on enhancing tribal self-governance and reinstating some level of sovereignty for Native Americans tribes.

John Collier

Commissioner of Indian Affairs who founded the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)