The Decline Of The Plains Indians
With the end of Civil war and the beginning of the reconstruction process, America started to expand west. After establishing many cities in the west, the abundance of railroads increased exponentially. This new “Frontier” of America alienated the Plains Indians. After already taking over the Indian’s land, the frontiers’ men started to kill buffalo, the major source of food, clothing and tools for the Indians, for game. To protect their lands and stop the waste of buffalo, Plains Indians had to fight. Although out numbered the Indians decided to fight for their land or die trying. Consequently, the Indian population began to decrease. There were multiple factors that contributed to , but ...
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attempts to surrender and killed men, women and children. This was the start of the many wars between Indians and the United States.
Although Plains Indians fought hundreds of battles from 1860 to 18890, their cause was doomed because they were dependent on the buffalo for food, clothing, fuel, and shelter. When the herds were wiped out, resistance became impossible. In spite of some victories and heroic deeds, such as the 1,500- mile march of Nez Perces under Chief Joseph in 1877 to avoid capture, the result was inevitable.
In 1887, Congress passed the Dawes Act, which broke up Indian nations, even on reservations. The Dawes Act gave each family 160 acres to farm. After a probation period of 25 years, an Indian was granted ownership of the land and United States citizenship. Unfortunately, the Plains Indians, who based their life of the buffalo hunt, did not understand the fine points of land ownership, farming, and were demoralized by reservation life. Between 1887 and 1943, ...
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The Decline Of The Plains Indians. (2008, August 27). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Decline-Of-The-Plains-Indians/88965
"The Decline Of The Plains Indians." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 Aug. 2008. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Decline-Of-The-Plains-Indians/88965>
"The Decline Of The Plains Indians." Essayworld.com. August 27, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Decline-Of-The-Plains-Indians/88965.
"The Decline Of The Plains Indians." Essayworld.com. August 27, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Decline-Of-The-Plains-Indians/88965.
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