AP United States History: The Indian Wars

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Adopted by Congress in 1887, the Dawes Act authorized the President of the United States to survey American Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians. Those who accepted allotments and lived separately from the tribe would be granted US citizenship. The act was an attempt to destroy Indian culture and the unity of the tribe since land was communal in Indian culture, rather than property like in American culture.

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

Also known as Custer's Last Stand, the Battle of Little Bighorn marked an Indian victory over General George Armstrong Custer's forces. The Indians, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, enjoyed an advantage of superior troop numbers. After the skirmish, the Indians fled, fearing revenge from the U.S. government. In the end, they had to cede their lands and move onto Indian reservations.

Ghost Dance Movement (1890)

Indians that practiced the Ghost Dance Movement believed that it was possible to bring their dead ancestors back to life and revert back to pre-colonial days.

Carlisle Indian School (1879)

The Carlisle Indian School was an assimilation school in Pennsylvania that sought to teach Indians "white values." They were not allowed to speak their native language, wear native clothing, or wear long hair. The most ignorant phrase of the school was: "kill the Indian, save the man." Even up until the 20th Century, Americans viewed Indians as savages and thought that their cultures were disgusting.

Effects of the railroad and barbed wire

The building of railroads in the West harmed Indian populations there greatly. Not only were they forced to move but it also destroyed the habitats of buffalo that lived there. Since barbed wire reserved certain parts of land for Americans, Indian lands shrunk away and buffalos were forced to move somewhere else to survive.

Battle of Wounded Knee (1890)

The federal army, fearing the Ghost Dance, killed 200 men, women, and children in what is considered to be the last battle of the Indian Wars.