Section 2: Native

Americans Struggle to
Survive
By: Victoria L. and
Christopher C.
Vocabulary
Travois- small sled in which Native Americans
carried their belongings on
Teepee- cone-shaped tents made of buffalo skin
Reservation- land set aside for Native Americans to
survive
Sitting Bull- a leader who led attacks to keep whites
out


Native Americans lived by hunting wild animals, gathering crops, and
fishing. To get the weapons for their food, they traded crops with the
French and British for the guns.

The Most common animal hunted was a buffalo. The meat was protein-
rich, the horns and bones could be made into tools, and the tendons
were made into thread.
The womens jobs were they cared for the children, prepared food,
made clothing and teepees, and some even went to war. The men were
hunters, warriors, and led a religious life.
The US made a treaty with the Native American Tribes saying that they
would safeguard their land. Once Miners and railroaders came, they
pushed the Tribes away. A few years later, US officials met with the
Native Americans. A new deal was made: the Native Americans would
keep their land, if they stopped hunting buffalo.
In the early 1860s, a new treaty was signed. Miners were allowed to move
back into the Native American Territory. Warriors were livid, and they started
attacking food supply and homes. John Chivington created a band of the
Tribes enemies and attacked the Cheyenne Tribe. The Cheyennes held a
white flag, saying they held peace, but Chivington attacked and killed over 100
innocent people. This was called the Mountain Creek Massacre.
After the Mountain Creek Massacre, Native Americans started training new
warriors. These new warriors fought on the plains, and carried bandits from
Texas to Dakota.
Buffalo started moving back into the Native Americans lives. Since the deal was
broken, Native Americans and Railroad crews would hunt buffalo all day, killing
an average of 1,000 a month.
Treaties were released in the late 1860s to stop the wars on the
plains. Officials wanted them to stop fighting and settle in an area
where they could farm and stop killing buffalo.
The Kiowas, Comanches, and Arapahos in the southern plains had reservations
for Oklahoma. There were a few problems, however. In Oklahoma, there was
poor soil, so farming was very difficult. This alone was a big enough problem
to keep them busy.
Other tribes settled in the Black Hills of Dakota. Life was quiet there, until a
gold struck happened. Sitting Bull attacked tribes to keep whites out.
A new treaty enforced. Native Americans were forced to go to a reservation.
Colonel George Armstrong Custer, even though outnumbered, attacked Little
BigHorn Valley in Montana.
Other Tribes were under pressure and were forced to move. New Perces, a
tribe, gathered soldiers because they were furious about moving again. Chief
Joseph and his army traveled 1,300 miles until they were caught by an army
by the border of Canada.
The Navajo tribe raised sheep, horses, and cattle. They also trained soldiers to go to
war. After a long war, the Navajos took a Long Walk under defeat. In their new
area, many suffered from diseases and hunger.
The Apaches Tribe was sick and tired of moving all the time also. A warrior named
Geronimo attacked by the border of Mexico, but was captured and was forced to move
to a reservation.
Native Americans were dreaming of going back to their old ways, but finally were. The
danced across the plains because they believed they were talking to ghosts. Police
found these Native Americans and killed some of them, including Sitting Bull. Some
Native Americans tried to escape, but when they handed in their guns, someone shot
and Police killed over 230 Native Americans.
After this, people criticized the government for terrible treatment to the Native
Americans. Susette La Flesche told about her father and about how he was an Omaha
Chief and about their harsh treatment. Inspired by her, Helen Hunt Jackson wrote a
poem called A Century of Disaster. Alice Fletcher helped the Native Americans and
became an agent to deal with them.

Hoping to improve Native American life, Congress created the Dawes Act. It
stopped the Native Americans wandering and turned them into farmers. They
received 160 acres of farmland and also recieved schools for the children.
Sadly, this failed. Only a few decided to farm, many sold their land. Native
Americans had to give up hunting buffalo. This made them poor and made them
depend on the government for food supplies.
Assignment- Write a paragraph on the video
Do your best to generalize your information
about the Native Americans.
Explain their struggles and what they had to
do to survive.