APUSH Indigenous–Anglo-American Relations: Conflicts, Policies, and Resistance

What is the central question regarding Indigenous and Anglo-American relations?

Was peaceful coexistence possible and/or desirable between Anglo-Americans and Indigenous peoples?

What sequence of events describes the relationship between European expansion and Indigenous peoples?

European/American expansion → competing land systems → conflict → U.S. legal/political policies → Indigenous resistance → assimilation.

What was the Pequot War?

A conflict from 1636-1638 between English colonists and the Pequot people, caused by competition over land and trade.

What were the results of the Pequot War?

Pequot power was severely weakened, survivors were dispersed, and it demonstrated how colonial expansion could lead to violent conflict.

Who was involved in King Philip's War?

Metacom (King Philip) and allied Indigenous peoples vs. New England colonists.

What were the causes of King Philip's War?

Increasing colonial settlement, loss of Indigenous land, political/economic tensions, and colonial attempts to impose authority.

What was the outcome of King Philip's War?

Indigenous resistance was defeated, colonial control of New England expanded, and Indigenous populations lost more land and political power.

What was the French and Indian War?

A conflict from 1754-1763 between Britain and France for control of North American territory, involving Indigenous nations.

What was the significance of the French and Indian War?

Britain won but incurred enormous debt, leading to new colonial taxes and resistance, contributing to the American Revolution.

What was Pontiac's War?

A conflict in 1763 where Pontiac and a coalition of Indigenous nations resisted British forces following their takeover of former French territory.

What was the Proclamation of 1763?

A British attempt to prohibit colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to reduce conflict with Indigenous nations.

What was the ruling in Johnson v. M'Intosh (1823)?

Indigenous peoples had a right of occupancy, but the federal government had ultimate authority over the land.

What was the outcome of Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)?

The Court ruled that the Cherokee were a 'domestic dependent nation' and the Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

What was the significance of Worcester v. Georgia (1832)?

The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia could not impose its laws inside Cherokee territory, recognizing tribal sovereignty.

What did the Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorize?

It authorized the federal government to negotiate the relocation of Indigenous nations east of the Mississippi to lands farther west.

What was the Trail of Tears?

The forced removal of the Cherokee from their southeastern homeland to Indian Territory, resulting in thousands of deaths.

What does Manifest Destiny refer to?

The belief that U.S. expansion across North America was justified or inevitable, leading to Indigenous dispossession.

What was the Dawes Severalty Act (1887)?

An act aimed at assimilating Indigenous peoples by allotting them individual plots of land and reducing communal land holdings.

What was the primary goal of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887?

To assimilate Indigenous peoples into mainstream American society by dividing tribal land into individual allotments.

What were some of the key aspects the Dawes Act aimed to encourage among Indigenous peoples?

Private land ownership, farming, Christianity, Euro-American lifestyles, and individual identity.

What was the impact of the Dawes Act on Indigenous land ownership?

It resulted in huge land loss, as 'surplus' land could be sold to non-Indigenous Americans.

How did the Dawes Act affect traditional tribal structures?

It weakened traditional tribal structures and communal practices.

What was the purpose of Indian Boarding Schools?

To force Indigenous children to adopt Euro-American culture and abandon their languages and traditions.

What historical shift does the Dawes Act represent in U.S. policy towards Indigenous peoples?

A shift from removal policies towards assimilation policies.

What was the Ghost Dance?

A spiritual movement among Indigenous peoples that offered hope for the restoration of their communities and ways of life.

Why did the U.S. government view the Ghost Dance as a threat?

Officials feared it could inspire Indigenous resistance and undermine U.S. control.

What was the significance of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890?

It symbolized the violent suppression of Indigenous resistance and the consequences of U.S. expansion.

What contradiction exists regarding the Medal of Honor awarded after the Wounded Knee Massacre?

Soldiers received medals for actions that resulted in the deaths of many Lakota civilians, highlighting differing historical perspectives.

Who was Helen Hunt Jackson and what did she criticize?

She criticized U.S. treatment of Indigenous peoples and documented violations of agreements and mistreatment.

What role did buffalo play in the lives of Plains Indigenous nations?

Buffalo were central to their economies and cultures, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools.

What was 'Counting Coup' in Indigenous culture?

A practice involving acts of bravery against an enemy, demonstrating courage without necessarily killing.

What is the biggest legal obstacle for Indigenous tribes?

The contradiction between tribal sovereignty and U.S. claims to ultimate authority over Indigenous land.

What are the three major policy stages regarding Indigenous peoples in U.S. history?

1. Conflict & Expansion, 2. Removal, 3. Assimilation.

What events are associated with the Conflict & Expansion stage?

Pequot War, King Philip's War, French & Indian War, Pontiac's War.

What events are associated with the Removal stage?

Manifest Destiny, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears.

What events are associated with the Assimilation stage?

Dawes Act, Indian boarding schools, cultural assimilation.

What timeline should be memorized regarding Indigenous policy?

1636-38 Pequot War, 1675-76 King Philip's War, 1754-63 French & Indian War, 1763 Pontiac's War, 1823 Johnson v. M'Intosh, 1830 Indian Removal Act, 1831 Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 1832 Worcester v. Georgia, 1830s Trail of Tears, 1887 Dawes Act, late 19th century Indian boarding schools, 1890 Ghost Dance/Wounded Knee.