The Plains Indians

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The Plains Indians

• Considerable linguistic cultural diversity
• Indian tribes inhabited three major subregions
• Speak different languages (20 distinct linguistic
  families)
• Often bitter enemies perpetually at war

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The Plains Indians

• Considerable linguistic cultural diversity
• Indian tribes inhabited three major subregions
• Agricultural villages and Nomadic
• Dakota Sioux of Minnesota
• Lakota, Blackfeet, Crow, Cheyenne

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The Plains Indians

• Considerable linguistic cultural diversity
• Indian tribes inhabited three major subregions
• Agricultural villages and Nomadic
• Religion Animistic
• Totem/ pole
• Sun Dance

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Animism

• Belief that elements of nature or natural
  phenomenon has a soul, spirit, or consciousness.

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Totem

• An object, animal, plant, or other natural
  phenomenon revered as a symbol of a tribe and
  often used in rituals.

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Destruction of Nomadic Indian Life

• Extinction of the Buffalo

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Destruction of Nomadic Indian Life

• Extinction of the Buffalo
• Pioneers exhausted grass supply
• Importation of Cattle
• Supply Eastern Markets
• Feed construction crews
• Undermine Indian Resistance

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Destruction of Nomadic Indian Life

• Extinction of the Buffalo
• Tribal Reservations

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Destruction of Nomadic Indian Life

• Extinction of the Buffalo
• Tribal Reservations
• Discovery of Gold Silver
• By 1860 8 Reservations established
• Indian reaction
• Peaceful
• Violent

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Map 17.1 Major Indian-White Clashes in the West
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Map 17.2 Western Indian Reservations, 1890
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Ghost Dance and Massacre at Wounded Knee

• Living Conditions Worsen for Indians
• Sioux Turned to Wovoka
• Spread of Ghost Dance
• Massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota - Dec.
  29,1890

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Analysis

• Effect on Indians?
• Destruction of Nomadic lifestyle . . . Due to?

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Analysis

• Effect on Indians?
• Destruction of Nomadic Lifestyle due to
• Extinction of Buffalo
• Tribal reservations

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Analysis

• Effect on Indians
• Destruction of Nomadic Lifestyle
• Reduced Indians to dependency

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Analysis

• Effect on Indians
• Destruction of Nomadic Lifestyle
• Reduced Indians to dependency
• Reduced Indian population and land
• Why this outcome for Indians?
• Three specific disadvantages

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Analysis

• Why this outcome for Indians?
• Three specific disadvantages
• Tribal

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Analysis

• Why this outcome for Indians?
• Three specific disadvantages
• Tribal
• Male worldview

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Analysis

• Why this outcome for Indians?
• Three specific disadvantages
• Tribal
• Male worldview
• Unable to learn and manipulate Washington system
• How have these events been interpreted --
  Historiography

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Historiography

• 19th Century Indians as Murderous Savage
• 20th Century Indians as sophisticated-primitive
  innocents
• Me Small difference between Indians and Settlers