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| Geronimo (right) waiting for transport to Florida 1886. -National Archives |
A pivotal law was passed in 1871 stating that the United States would no longer treat Native American groups as independent nations. The government urged Native Americans to move out of their traditional dwellings, and become "civilized."
In the Dawes Act of 1887 tribal land was divided into plots. Land not allotted to individual Native Americans was sold to railroad companies or settlers.
One of the last major conflicts between Native Americans and the U.S. Army took place near Wounded Knee Creek in 1890. A group of Indian policemen had been sent to arrest Sitting Bull, but crowds gathered in protest and while trying to take him into custody, he was killed. Retreating Native Americans were pursued. As they surrendered there was an unexpected gunshot. Indians and soldiers grappled with each other at close quarters. Those who did not die in face-to-face battle froze to death in the bitter cold of the night.
In class activities:
- Learned about Custer's Last Stand
- Made baskets and imagined having to change our entire way of life
- Discussed the impact of cowboys and cattle on the Native Americans
- Discussed the Battle of Wounded Knee
- Made our own paper tee-pees and then destroyed them
Optional lesson extension activities:
- View historic images of the aftermath of the final Native American massacre of Wounded Knee (parents you may want to pre-view these images, but I highly suggest that you share #1-18 with your students - this was a sad period of our history and it will be important as we discuss the World Wars in future classes to understand that the white Americans are not always the good-guys)
- View a video about the growth of civil rights that Native Americans have today
- Read first hand accounts of the battle
Assignment:
- Read history cards #23-25
- Practice your timeline
