Native American History Study Guide 2

Chief Joseph

WHAT: Nez Perce leader, was leader during the Nez Perce War. After getting evicted, Nez Perce members kill a settler family and run to Canada. They get caught just before they get there and Chief Joseph makes an iconic speech.

WHEN: 1870s

WHY: This is important because this marks the end of Native Americans fighting back against the U.S. government

General Allotment Act of 1887 (Dawes Act)

WHAT: A distribution of reservations to Native Americans so they could farm and assimilate becomes a disaster.

WHEN: 1880s.

WHY: This is important because this became very corrupt very fast, and a lot of land was sold to white landowners, which caused 90 million acres of land to be lost

Carlisle

WHAT: The most prominent Native American boarding school in Pennsylvania lasted from 1879 to 1918.

WHEN: 1870s-1910s

WHY: This is important because it led to a massive cultural genocide for Native Americans, trying to get them to assimilate

Wovoka

WHAT: A paute person, also called Jack Wilson. He had a vision that Native Americans were all living in a collective nightmare.

WHEN: 1890s

WHY: This is important because it gave Native Americans hope for a new future, which led to the Ghost Dances

Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)

WHAT: BIA appoints John Collier as head, who creates this act. This act has 5 aspects- 1.) The government no longer funds boarding schools; instead, it funds reservation schools, which are bi-cultural 2.) No more allotment. Native Americans get funding to buy their land back 3.) Native Americans get healthcare on reservations 4.) Loans for Native Americans to start businesses 5.) Every Native Nation is to be made into a government to restore sovereignty.

WHEN: 1930s

WHY: This is important because it is a step in the right direction for Native Americans, however many native nations did not agree with this and did not want to sign into this act.

Ira Hayes

WHAT: An O'odham soldier who worked as a guard in a Japanese internment camp. Was put in Iwo Jima and witnessed one of the most brutal fights in history. Famous because he was there to put the flag up

WHEN: 1940s

WHY: This is important because he is one of the more well known Native Americans of today, especially because he drank himself to death

Termination

WHAT: The government wanted to terminate its tribal relations and let the nations be their own thing. They first needed CONSENT, then they needed to see how many people in the nations spoke English and could get a job, and finally, they needed an economic resource that they could sell to make money for the Nations. They did this to get Native Americans off of reservations

WHEN: 1950s

WHY: This is important because it failed miserably. Most native nations went broke, like the Klamath, who lost out on a bunch of money.

Billy Frank

WHAT: A Nisqually activist. Is arrested 70 times for fish-ins (protesting fishing licences and illegal fishing); he did this just to get to the Washington Supreme Court. He also won U.S. v. Washington

WHEN: 1970s

WHY: This is important because of all the activism happening around this time. Not any violence

Alcatraz

WHAT: A Mohawk activist, Richard Oakes, who is very active in the NIYC, takes a group of fellow Native Americans, and they occupy Alcatraz

WHEN: 1960s-1970s

WHY: This is important because this is more activism from this time period that was non-violent

American Indian Movement (AIM)

WHAT: Started in Minneapolis by many activists. Inspired by the Black Panther Party. Leaders are Russel Means (Dakota), Dennis Banks (Ojibwe), and Clyde Bellecourt (Ojibwe). They want community service and to police the police. More focused on urban issues and education

WHEN: 1970s

WHY: This is important because they are a large activist group that seeks to be put on the news to raise awareness for their cause.

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

WHAT: Native American nations can operate gambling operations with permission from the state. Need a state compact which are terms and conditions for said casinos

WHEN: 1980s (1988)

WHY: This is important because it gave the Native American groups a chance to win some money back. It had many drawbacks, though, with new stereotypes and recognition

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

WHAT: This is a law that requires archaeologists to meet with Native American groups before taking culturally significant objects into study

WHEN: 1990s

WHY: This is important because it was groundbreaking at the time of its writing, but it was often ignored in favor of other laws

Winter Count

WHAT: A recount of the past year(s) illustrated by one member of a Plains tribe. The most important or significant event of a year is drawn in a spiral on paper.

WHEN: 1800s

WHY: This is some of the first recorded evidence of records made by Native groups

Keetowah Society

WHAT: Cherokee traditionalists who want their old culture. Directly opposing the Knights of the Golden Circle, as they value human life and don't want slaves.

WHEN: 1850s

WHY: This is important because the Cherokee Nation was completely split in half based on their views on slavery during the Civil War

Buffalo Bird Woman

WHAT: A traditional Hidatsa woman who gave perspectives on Hidatsa life

WHEN: 1860s

WHY: This is important because not a lot of people knew what life was like for these people at this time

Dakota War

WHAT: The Dakota are forced to sign a treaty in 1851 that makes them cede all of their land for $300,000; they only end up getting $60,000. This leads to an attack from the Dakota in the 1860s, which puts them in a terrible prison encampment while the government tries to charge them for murder. Lincoln only lets 38 people be hanged.

WHEN: 1860s

WHY: This is important because the Dakota were tricked out of their own land and then insufficiently paid for it, which becomes a theme for this era. It is also important because it led to the largest public hanging in USA history.

Sand Creek Massacre

WHAT: Colonel Chivington wants to entrap Native Americans in camps to prove that they are peaceful. Black Kettle, the leader, eventually agrees. Chivington attacks the Sand Creek camp suddenly, killing almost all of them.

WHEN: 1860s

WHY: This is important because it was unjustified violence against Native Americans, and it even horrified men under Chivington.

Grant's Peace Policy

WHAT: This policy 1.) Makes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or the BIA, which distributes annuities and ensures there is a Native head of it (Ely Parker) 2.) Ends treaty making 3.) Creates the Board of Indian Commissioners, which has 73 agencies, all distributed to different churches, and 4.) Makes the reservation system. In reservations, Native Americans get religious training

WHEN: 1860s

WHY: This is important because this was made to improve things for Native Americans, but it actually made things harder for them

Quanah Parker

WHAT: A Comanche leader who declares war on white bison hunters. Makes Comanche attack the Adobe walls, where all the white bison hunters gather, but is forced to retreat

WHEN: 1870s

WHY: This is important because the white bison hunters were overhunting the bison because they were trying to starve out the Native Americans in the area

Greasy Grass

WHAT: Also called the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Custer's army charges at some Native Americans and runs into a canyon. His army is then surrounded and killed.

WHEN: 1870s

WHY: This is important because it was the last battle and sign of resistance from the Lakota, as well as being Custer's last stand. Custer was replaced by Nelson Miles, who was even worse than Custer.

Long Walk

WHAT: The Navajo people are forced to walk to a new reservation in the sweltering heat, which kills a lot of them and almost all of their sheep. The Navajo escape and hide in the Canyon de Chelly

WHEN: 1860s

WHY: This is important because this is just like the trail of tears, and also proving that the reservation system wasn't working out like the U.S. government intended

Camp Grant Massacre

WHAT: The U.S. says that if the Chiricahua were peaceful, they would go to a camp. One morning, a group of people sneaks in and kills a bunch of people. NOT government funded, all civilians from Tuscon and Tohono O'odham Native Americans too

WHEN: 1870s

WHY: This is important because it displays evidence of racism towards Native Americans.

Geronimo

WHAT: The most feared and notorious Native American. Relentless and wild. The entire family was killed, and it set him on a path of revenge

WHEN: 1880s

WHY: Geronimo was a symbol of revolution for a lot of Native Americans all across America

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

WHAT: A form of entertainment, not unlike a rodeo. The most popular form of entertainment across the U.S. would often pay Native Americans to act in it, which people enjoyed watching

WHEN: 1880s

WHY: This is important because Native Americans found this to be a good way to be paid. They also gained recognition across the U.S.

Wounded Knee Massacre

WHAT: Big Foot and 350 other people leave their reservation to visit Red Cloud at his reservation, and they end up being chased by the army. After an accidental gunshot, the army attacks and kills 250 of them

WHEN: 1890s

WHY: This is important because it is more violence against Native Americans over a misunderstanding

Livestock Adjustment

WHAT: John Collier believes that the Navajo are killing the land with their sheep, and that gives him a reason to kill their sheep. The government insisted that if the Navajo gave them half of their sheep, they would get paid, so the Navajo gave them half of their sick sheep, but then Collier sent the government to forcefully take half of their sheep.

WHEN: 1930s

WHY: This is important because this is only one example of the Navajo nation being discriminated against because they weren't like "traditional" Native Americans with their sheep

Codetalkers

WHAT: During WWII, the Allies decided they should speak in code, so they ended up speaking in Navajo, as the Axis powers wouldn't know what they were saying

WHEN: 1940s

WHY: This is important because it led to a lot of Navajo people being deployed.

Trail of Broken Treaties

WHAT: After the murder of Richard Oakes, AIM goes on a road trip from California to Washington, D.C., stopping at reservations along the way. They got to D.C. and occupied the capital for 6 days.

WHEN: 1970s

WHY: This is important because it was a massive movement, bigger than any from this era

Siege at Wounded Knee

WHAT: A 71-day standoff at the Pine Ridge reservation. Dick Wilson, the leader of the reservation (very corrupt), called the FBI and other organizations to take care of them

WHEN: 1970s

WHY: This is important because a lot of AIM members were wrongfully prosecuted for this, even though they negotiated not being prosecuted for this.

Recognition

WHAT: The federal government can decide who is recognized as Native American or not. Started with the Federal Acknowledgement of Indian Tribes, which allows Native American groups to apply to be recognized and show many forms of proof

WHEN: 1970s

WHY: This is important because the government set up an almost rigged system that only lets some Native American groups be officially recognized by the government

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