section 1-1835-1861

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  America-beginning 1834

  
• How many tribes were part of the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  Many tribes
• What was the relationship between some tribes of the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  Some were sworn enemies, while others were allies
• What were the bands within the tribes composed of?

  Bands could have hundreds of people or just 20-30
• Why did different bands of Indigenous peoples of the plains need to work together?

  To survive
• When did all bands meet for the great tribal camp?

  Once a year in the summer
• What were the Sioux nations composed of?

  The Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota tribes
• Who were the leaders in the tribes of the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  Chiefs
• What was the gender of the chiefs in the tribes?

  Always men
• What types of chiefs did each tribe have?

  War chief and spiritual chief
• Why did US settlers have problems understanding the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  They found it difficult to understand the tribal leadership structure
• What qualities were chiefs valued for in the tribes?

  Wisdom, leadership, and spiritual powers
• Were chiefs often chiefs for life in the tribes?

  No
• How was a chief chosen in the tribes?

  There was no formal way of choosing a chief
• Who made tribal decisions in the bands?

  Band chiefs and elders
• What was required for decisions to be made in the tribal council?

  Everyone had to agree and be listened to
• In the Lakota Sioux, who had power in decision-making?

  Bands made their own decisions
• What was the significance of the great tribal camp for the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  It was for social and religious reasons
• What role did elders play in the tribal council?

  Elders helped make tribal decisions
• What was the importance of social gatherings for the Indigenous peoples of the plains?

  They strengthened community bonds and cultural practices
• chiefs

  Red Cloud-chief of Oglala sub-tribe of lakota people of the Sioux nation--born 1822---war leader

  Sitting Bull-chief of hunkpapa sub-tribe of the lakota sioux--born 1831---experienced warrior----famous holy man

  Crazy Horse-chief of Oglala Sioux--born 1842---respected warrior----famous for his ability to enter spirit worlds through visions
• warrior brotherhoods


  were formed from IP who had proved their bravery and fighting skills

  they trained young men in fighting skills and taught them about the tribe's beliefs and values

  they were not under the command of the tribe council, that meant they didn't always respect peace treaties

  leading men from the brotherhoods were invited to join the guard unit which organised the yearly buffalo hunt
• women


  could not be chiefs

  a successful man could have more then one wife

  responsible for feeding and clothing their families

  processed the buffalo hides (skin) an meat turning them into tradable products

  they were respected

  the men and women who had set roles didn't change-this allowed the tribes to flourish and survive
• hard life on the plains for the IP


  the summers were hot and try-lack of water

  winters were very cold-hypothermia, no insulation

  plains were very dry with no surface water-lack of drinking water-dehydration

  when it rained-torrential-flash flooding-destroyed camps

  thunder+lightning=fires-cant put them out

  needed to hunt the buffalo which migrated-may not have a lot of food->no buffalo->nomadic lifestyle(home not fixed)had belongings on a travois(made from buffalo ribs)
• how the IP survived

  • they migrated-following the buffalo
  • good at horse-riding
  • horses were a measure of wealth-raids=steal horses--hunkpapa tribe had 2900 people but 3500 horses
  • good at archery-can shoot the buffalo without getting close
  • tipis were used for travelling-quick to put up/down
  • Buffalo
  • deep respect for the buffalo-it was the basis of their survival--don't overuse scarce resources-used every bit of it
  • believed nature + land should be treated with respect
  • in winters most people lived in lodges
• buffalo


  used every part of it:

  • hooves-glue, rattles
  • hide(skin)-cloths, tipis, dolls
  • tail- decorations, brush, whips
  • fat-soap, cooking oil
  • bones-weapons, sleds, travois
  • dung-fuel
  • hair-ropes
  • horns-cups, ladles
• religious beliefs+spirits

  everything in nature had a spirit-these can help humans

  contact spirit world through 'vision quest'-guided by spirit animals

  danced ritual dances to enter the spirit world

  impossible to work with spirits to charge up magical items-such as charms worn in hunting for luck or protection from weapons
• beliefs about land

  land is sacred-it was the mother of IP

  IP believed they had been created by the great spirit in a special cave in the hills of Black hills of South Dakota-mount rushmore
• hunting and war

  • the IP had hunting areas they used together-treaties between tribes to share hunting areas
  • food=scarce-tribes pushed into hunting areas of others
  • IP raided for horses, food, weapons and people(to marry)
  • took a huge level of skills and bravery-success=respect and honour from tribe
  • US soldiers=never run away=massacres
• hunting and war


  they minimised deaths by: raids would only go ahead it they knew raiders could escape quickly; counting coup-warrior would hit or touch enemy without being injured or killed (try to get a tolkein from enemy-feather)otherwise all warriors would be killed=no one to hunt
• IP attitude to meadow=step carefully, don't squash flowers

  US attitude to meadow=pick up flowers and sell in market (make money)
• US Policy

  1. 1834-Permanent Indian Frontier-banned settlers from; settling on IP land and selling guns+alcohol to IP--had army forts all along it
  2. 1848-US won war over Mexico->US=bigger, gov wanted citizens to move across to the west--travel across the plains encouraged---US tried to for the IP away from the trails so traveller wouldn't be scared ( :(=buffalo) ----Us is breaking promise PIF
• US policy

  3. 1851-Indian Appropriation Act--paid IP to move into reservations

  4. 1851-forced IP to sign the Fort Laramie Treaty--identified IP territory, migrants must be allowed to travel safely, they would be given food and product( :(=IP relied on US)
• migration

  push factors- bank collapse, savings lost, businesses failed, 1000s jobs lost, wages reduced by 40%

  pull factors- farmland in oregon, oregon trail=cheap, plains=flat-can transfer belongings

  1849-GOLD

  Manifest destiny-obvious fate->the US was always going to own the plains
• Oregon trail


  route through rocky mountains

  first published by Jedidiah Smith in 1825 -they dug through the plants to create a path and the best routes to cross rivers

  numbers using the trail increased as pull+push factors increased

  1869-oregon trail was replaced by the transcontinental railroad, 400,000 people had crossed the trail by then

  1836-first migrants--missionaries to spread the word of the church amongst the IP

  1840-first family

  1841-60 people

  1842-100 people

  1843-900 people

  1849-100,000 people-GOLD RUSH