Continued Conflict on the Plains, 1876-1890 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Why were Indigenous Peoples Angry with the US Government by 1876? - Summary

There are many reasons why Indigenous peoples resented the US government. These include:

• The US Government breaking treaties with the indigenous peoples. To defend their rights, the Indigenous tribes resorted to armed conflicts such as the Little Crow War

• Indigenous people were being forced to rely more on the US Government. This is because cattle ranching and other livestock reduced the buffalo herds. In addition, many tribes were forced to live in reservations. These were too small or poorly resourced for the Indigenous tribes to survive

• The US government allowed white settlers to trespass on tribal land. Railroad companies, cowboys, gold prospectors, ranchers and homesteaders all settled on indigenous peoples' land. Mass settlement caused issues with law and order, which impacted Indigenous peoples

• White Americans had a poor opinion of indigenous peoples. Many government officials were racist. They had no respect for the traditions and culture of each individual tribe of the Plains. Ideas such as Manifest Destiny meant that many white settlers believed that they had a bigger right to traditional tribal land. The US government did not respect the lives of Indigenous peoples, committing massacres such as the one at Sand Creek

Battle of the Little Big Horn, June 1876

• This event is a conflict within the Great Sioux War

Causes of the Battle of the Little Big Horn

• Gold prospectors used the Sioux hunting grounds called the Black Hills in Dakota

  • This went against the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty

• George Custer and his 7th Cavalry were meant to protect railroad builders

  • However, Custer was also searching for gold

• The Sioux rejected a new treaty

  • They continued to attack prospectors

• Thousands of Sioux warriors left their reservation to join leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse

  • The warriors were given 60 days to return to their reservation by President Grant or else they would be attacked

  • Deep snow made it impossible for the warriors to return. 7,000 Sioux were out of their reservation

Events of the Battle of the Little Big Horn

Consequences of the Battle of the Little Big Horn

The Wounded Knee Massacre, 29th December 1890

Causes of the Wounded Knee Massacre

• The Sioux suffered greatly in reservations

  • The US government cut the Sioux's rations

  • A drought in 1890 made a lack of food worse. The Sioux had no crops

• More Indigenous peoples believed in performing the Ghost Dance

  • If Indigenous peoples rejected the US way of life, the Ghost Dance would:

    • Bring their tribal members back to life

    • Return the land to the tribe that had been taken by the US government

  • The Ghost Dance spread quickly through all reservations

    • President Harrison ordered the US Army into the reservations to take control

  • Chief Sitting Bull was killed as the army believed he was about to start a dance

    • Sitting Bull’s followers fled and joined another tribal leader's band called Big Foot

Events of the Wounded Knee Massacre

Consequences of the Wounded Knee Massacre

• The US public supported the Army's actions at Wounded Knee Creek

  • They were relieved the Ghost Dance was over

  • White Americans believed Indigenous peoples were too wild and hostile

    • They either had to be assimilated or killed

  • They felt that the US Army were right to get revenge for their loss at Little Bighorn

• In 1890, the US Government announced the end of the Permanent Indian Frontier

  • White Americans now had a right to settle anywhere