By mx villagers changed after rr brings commercial

by MX villagers CHANGED after RR brings commercial ranching/farming
 sale of communal landholdings, dominance of just 20 families

SUBJUGATION OF THE PLAINS INDIANS 
 It’s their FUCKING DOOOOOOM after West integrated into national economy
 in 1700s, intro of horse already hurt Plains Indians as Indians migrated to Plains to take advantage of new
hunting methods of bison via horse  tribal warfare
 as settlers encroach on Indian land in GP, bloody conflict
 1869 Grant’s peace policy did little, Civil War generals do TOTAL WARFARE (basically) against Indians
 Extinction of buffalo herds (hunted for hides)
“LET ME BE A FREE MAN”
 1877  troops by O.O. Howard pursue the Nez Perce Indians on 1700-mile chase
o Wanted to escape to Canada, but removed to Oklahoma
 2 years later, Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph delivers speech in front of President Hayes
o Condemns policy of reservations, POWERFUL language of freedom/equal rights
o Still, US gov just moves Nez Perce from OK to Washington reservation
 Some Indian victories like 1876 Little Bighorn
o Sioux and Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse defeat white armies
o Sitting Bull imprisoned in 1881, then released after 1883 to become part of Wild West show
 Comanche Indians in New Mexico/Colorado were broken, too
REMAKING INDIAN LIFE
 Majority of Americans believe fed gov should make Plains Indians surrender land and assimilate
 1871 – Congress eliminates treaty era (since 1770s)
o Tribes are NO LONGER treated as independent nations  no more tribal sovereignty from gov
o Makes it easier for western RR construction
o Bureau of Indian Affairs = establish boarding schools for Indian children, removed from parents, dressed
and assimilated to white ways
THE DAWES ACT (1887)
 Named after Senator Henry Dawes (Massachusetts)
 Breaks up land of nearly ALL tribes into small parcels, distribute to Indian families
o Remainder auctioned off to white purchasers
 Indians who accept and assimilate  become American citizens
 DAWES ACT IS DISASTER  loss of tribal land and destruction of Indian traditions
 Whites benefitted enormously, though  whites actually get more land than Indians, LAND RUSHES
INDIAN CITIZENSHIP
 Many laws/treaties offer Indians right to become American citizen if they leave tribe and assimilate
o FEW accept these offers (why tf would I leave my customs)  FEW become citizens
 Supreme Court ( Elk v. Wilkins 1884)  Citizenship rules of 14
th
/15
th
Amendments do NOT apply to Indians
o Court questioned if any Indian is “civilized enough” to be a Citizen
 Gradual citizenship of Indians, but mostly in 1919 and 1924  all Indians become Citizens
THE GHOST DANCE AND WOUNDED KNEE
 Ghost Dance = Indian religious revitalization campaign, predict day of NO more whites, buffalo return, and
Indians can re-practice lost customs
o Lots of Indians gather for celebration, but fed gov sends troops (scared!!!!)
Between 1865 – 1890, 8 new western states entered the Union.