Plot Summary Of Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee By Dee Brown - Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

Summary

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by D. Brown examines the struggles of Native American tribes in the 19th century as they resisted U.S. expansion and broken treaties. The book chronicles the battles and forced relocations of tribes like the Navajo, Sioux, Apache, and Cheyenne, focusing on leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Brown highlights the tragic events, including the Wounded Knee Massacre, that marked the decline of Native American resistance. The book serves as a critical reflection on the injustices faced by Native Americans during this period.

Takeaways

• 📜 The book starts by discussing the political forces in North America during the late 19th century, highlighting U.S. expansion after the Civil War.
• 💥 The U.S. government often broke treaties with Native American tribes and forced them onto reservations, leading to conflicts.
• 🛡️ Each chapter of the book covers a different Native American tribe and their resistance against U.S. military forces.
• ⚔️ The Navajo tribe, led by Manolito, fought back against the U.S. military but eventually suffered from starvation due to the military's destruction of their resources.
• 🪖 Little Crow, leader of the Santee Sioux, rebelled against the U.S. after realizing that fake land deals had forced his people into reservations.
• 🏞️ The Sand Creek Massacre marked a devastating point for the Cheyenne tribe, leading their chief, Black Kettle, to surrender and move to a reservation.
• 🚫 The Sioux tribe, led by Red Cloud, resisted U.S. military forces and won some battles but eventually lost their land through a peace treaty.
• 🏹 Crazy Horse, a Sioux leader, famously defeated General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn but was later captured and killed.
• 🌵 The Apache tribe, led by Cochise and later Geronimo, fought against U.S. settlers but eventually surrendered and relocated to reservations.
• ⚰️ The Wounded Knee Massacre is seen as the tragic end of Native American resistance to U.S. expansion, where over 300 Native Americans were killed.

Q & A

What is the central theme of *Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee* by Dee Brown?

The central theme of *Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee* is the systematic displacement and oppression of Native American tribes by the U.S. government during the second half of the 19th century. The book highlights broken treaties, forced relocations, and violent conflicts that ultimately led to the destruction of Native American ways of life.

How does Dee Brown describe the political landscape of North America in the 19th century?

Dee Brown describes a North America where the U.S. government, fresh from the Civil War, was becoming increasingly powerful and expansionist. Despite being weakened by the war, the U.S. had a strong military and government and sought to expand its territory westward, often at the expense of Native American lands.

What was the impact of the U.S. government breaking treaties with Native American tribes?

The breaking of treaties by the U.S. government led to widespread displacement of Native American tribes, forcing them onto small and less fertile reservations. This often resulted in conflict, loss of traditional lands, and significant hardship for the tribes, many of whom fought back against the U.S. military's actions.

How did the Navajo tribe respond to the U.S. military's attempts to relocate them?

The Navajo, led by Chief Manolito, resisted U.S. military efforts led by Kit Carson to relocate them to the Bosque Redondo reservation. Despite their resistance, the Navajo faced starvation as the U.S. military burned their crops and killed their livestock, eventually forcing them to surrender.

What role did Sitting Bull play in the resistance against U.S. expansion?

Sitting Bull was a key leader of the Sioux who resisted U.S. expansion. After hearing about massacres like Sand Creek, he led his people in opposition to the U.S. government, seeking to preserve Native American ways of life. He later became involved in the Ghost Dance Movement before being killed during a conflict over his support for it.

What was the significance of the Battle of Little Bighorn in the book?

The Battle of Little Bighorn, led by Crazy Horse against General George Armstrong Custer, is highlighted as a significant Native American victory against the U.S. military. It demonstrated the strength and determination of the Sioux and their allies, even though Crazy Horse was eventually captured and killed a year later.

Why is the Wounded Knee Massacre considered a turning point in Native American history?

The Wounded Knee Massacre, where over 300 unarmed Native Americans were killed by U.S. troops, is often seen as the end of active Native American resistance against U.S. expansion. It symbolizes the final crushing of Native American efforts to maintain their lands and way of life.

What challenges did the Modoc tribe face, and how did they respond?

The Modoc tribe, led by Kintposh, faced starvation and loss of land as white settlers moved in. Kintposh led his people to the Lava Beds in California and pleaded for their return to Oregon, but after young Modocs attacked U.S. soldiers, he was captured and executed. Despite this, the Modocs were eventually allowed to return to Oregon.

What role did Dee Brown’s upbringing and early experiences play in his perspective on Native American history?

Dee Brown's childhood friendship with a Native American baseball player and his upbringing in rural Arkansas shaped his understanding that Native Americans were often misrepresented as violent or primitive. This influenced his decision to write *Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee* as a way to present a more accurate history of Native American struggles.

What was the significance of the Ghost Dance Movement, and how did it relate to Sitting Bull’s story?

The Ghost Dance Movement was a spiritual and cultural revival among Native Americans that sought to restore their traditional way of life and bring back the buffalo. Sitting Bull's support for this movement symbolized his continued resistance to U.S. domination, but it also led to his death during a conflict with U.S. authorities, further illustrating the tragic end of Native American resistance.