GCSE History: American West | Timeline & Events (2020)

Summary

This video explores the tumultuous history of Native American displacement and conflict with the U.S. government in the 19th century. It covers key events such as the Fetterman Massacre, the Second Fort Laramie Treaty, the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, and the Battle of Little Bighorn. It highlights the impact of policies like the Dawes Act and the Wounded Knee Massacre, which ultimately led to the forced relocation and cultural destruction of Native American tribes. The video provides insights into the complex dynamics between Native Americans, settlers, and the U.S. government during westward expansion.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Fetterman Massacre in 1866 marked a turning point in the Indian Wars, highlighting the challenges faced by the U.S. Army against Native American forces.
• 😀 The Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 established the Great Sioux Reservation, but not all Native American leaders, like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, agreed to it.
• 😀 The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 facilitated westward expansion, making it easier for U.S. soldiers and settlers to move across the country.
• 😀 The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871 stripped Native Americans of their independent nation status, allowing the U.S. government to seize more land for settlers.
• 😀 The Timber Culture Act of 1873 offered land grants to encourage tree planting, aiming to provide fuel and windbreaks on the Great Plains.
• 😀 Gold discovered in the Black Hills in 1874 led to conflict with the Sioux, who rejected offers to buy the land, viewing it as spiritually sacred.
• 😀 The Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876 saw General Custer's defeat due to underestimating the Sioux's numbers and failing to bring crucial artillery.
• 😀 The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual plots, which led to the loss of communal land ownership.
• 😀 The Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 marked the end of significant Native American resistance, as U.S. troops killed 146 Indians after a failed Ghost Dance movement.
• 😀 The U.S. government’s policies throughout the 19th century, including land treaties, military conflicts, and the Dawes Act, resulted in the widespread displacement of Native Americans.

Q & A

What event led to the massacre of Fetterman and his men, and why is it significant in Native American history?

The Fetterman Massacre occurred when a group of U.S. soldiers, led by Captain Fetterman, fell into a trap set by Native American warriors. This event is significant as it marked a major defeat for U.S. forces and highlighted the deepening conflict between the U.S. government and Native American tribes during westward expansion.

What was the main outcome of the Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868?

The treaty resulted in the establishment of the Great Sioux Reservation, a land designated for the exclusive use of the Sioux Nation. However, not all Sioux chiefs agreed to the terms, particularly Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, who refused to sign the treaty.

How did the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 impact Native Americans?

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated westward expansion, allowing settlers and soldiers to move more easily into Native American territories. This further encroached on Native lands, escalating tensions and leading to more conflicts.

What was the Indian Appropriations Act of 1871, and how did it affect Native American sovereignty?

The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871 declared that Native Americans would no longer be recognized as independent nations. This policy made it easier for the U.S. government to seize Native land and resources, undermining Native sovereignty and self-governance.

What was the significance of the Homestead Act and the Timber Culture Act for westward expansion?

The Homestead Act offered free land to settlers, and the Timber Culture Act incentivized planting trees on the Great Plains. Both acts promoted the settlement of western lands, increasing pressure on Native American territories and transforming the environment of the plains.

Why did the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 lead to conflict with Native Americans?

The Black Hills were sacred to the Sioux, and the discovery of gold triggered a rush of miners and settlers into the region. The U.S. government did not stop the influx, leading to conflict with Native Americans, who viewed this as an invasion of their spiritual land.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Little Bighorn, and why was it significant?

At the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, General Custer and his forces were defeated by a large coalition of Native American warriors, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. It was a temporary victory for the Native Americans, but it prompted a brutal response from the U.S. government, leading to their eventual defeat.

How did the Dawes Act of 1887 affect Native American land ownership and culture?

The Dawes Act divided tribal land into individual plots, encouraging Native Americans to adopt farming practices. This policy undermined communal land ownership and traditional Native cultures, leading to the loss of vast amounts of Native land to settlers.

What was the Ghost Dance movement, and how did the U.S. government respond to it?

The Ghost Dance was a religious movement that spread among Native American reservations in the late 1880s, promising the return of the dead, the restoration of the buffalo, and the disappearance of white settlers. The U.S. government feared it as a threat, leading to military intervention and the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890.

What was the Wounded Knee Massacre, and what did it signify in the history of Native American resistance?

The Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 occurred when U.S. troops killed 146 Native Americans, ending the Ghost Dance movement and the last major resistance from Native Americans in the Plains. It marked the violent suppression of Native American culture and autonomy, effectively ending organized Native resistance.