Native American History
Native American History. 1800s. Many issues during this time period: Indian Removal Act Trail of Tears Long Walk of the Navajo Dawes Act Wounded Knee Massacre. Indian Removal Act. Andrew Jackson headed Coerced Native Americans to abandon their lands
Native American History
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Presentation Transcript
1800s • Many issues during this time period: • Indian Removal Act • Trail of Tears • Long Walk of the Navajo • Dawes Act • Wounded Knee Massacre
Indian Removal Act • Andrew Jackson headed • Coerced Native Americans to abandon their lands • Alleged that the government could fairly purchase Indian land • Government did not always uphold this sentiment • Many tribes coerced into leaving their land under penalty of invasion
Trail of Tears • Indians moved from their land in Georgia and other southern states to Oklahoma • Creeks • Cherokees • Forced to walk across the land—often times shackled • Epidemics spread during this process: • Starvation • Typhus • Whooping cough • Dysentery • Cholera • Many died (Estimates range from 8,500 to 20,000)
Long Walk of the Navajo • 1860s • Tribes forced to leave their lands • Navajo • Mescalero Apache • Moved to a reservation in New Mexico • Bosque Redondo • Thousands died (over 2,300)
Dawes Act • 1887 • Native Americans offered 160 acres of land in the West to farm for profit • Not allowed to sell the land for 25 years • Farming in the West takes expertise that Native Americans did not have • Government hoped this would satisfy natives • Looked at as a way to “civilize” them
Americanizing the Natives • Christianity • Missionaries tried to convert Native Americans • School • All children required to attend school • Clothing • Not permitted to wear traditional clothing to school • Language • Native American Languages disregarded • Forced to learn English • Names • Given “American” names
Reservations Today • Faced with problems: • Alcoholism • Poverty • Poor academics • Dropout rates HIGH • Gambling • Distance from jobs
Resources • Indian Removal Act/Trail of Tears: http://www.history.com/topics/trail-of-tears#a1 • Long Walk of the Navajo: http://www.npr.org/2005/06/15/4703136/the-navajo-nation-s-own-trail-of-tears • Dawes Act/Americanizing: http://www.ushistory.org/us/40d.asp • Reservation Info: http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoppisch/2011/12/13/why-are-indian-reservations-so-poor-a-look-at-the-bottom-1/