Lesson 19: Native Americans, Cowboys, and Farmers
Treatment of Native Americans by European settlers (later to become United States citizens) has never been good. During the period of 1880-1900, there were major difficulties between Native Americans and United States citizens. This is only an overview of the issues and highlights on some individuals during this period.
Sitting Bull - Watch the video and read about him here: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/sitting-bull
Geronimo - Read about him here: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/geronimo
Buffalo was one of the biggest problems that Native Americans had. United States settlers didn't like the buffalo because they trampled and tore up the ground. Railroad trains were stuck for hours while buffalo crossed (or just stayed on) the tracks. For Native Americans in the Great Plains, however, the buffalo was like a grocery store, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools. Settlers began shooting buffalo by the thousands, leaving the carcasses to rot, rather than using them.
Sitting Bull - Watch the video and read about him here: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/sitting-bull
Geronimo - Read about him here: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/geronimo
Buffalo was one of the biggest problems that Native Americans had. United States settlers didn't like the buffalo because they trampled and tore up the ground. Railroad trains were stuck for hours while buffalo crossed (or just stayed on) the tracks. For Native Americans in the Great Plains, however, the buffalo was like a grocery store, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools. Settlers began shooting buffalo by the thousands, leaving the carcasses to rot, rather than using them.
Cowboys
The life of the cowboy has been romanticized. Being a cowboy was hard work. Gun fighting actually didn't happen every often. There were a few people, however, who were known for being gun fighters. Many of these gun fighters we have romanticized into heroes, but they were actually murderers. Read about a couple of them here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/james-jesse/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/billythekid.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/james-jesse/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/billythekid.htm
Farmers
The Homestead Act gave 160 acres to anyone that would make improvements on the land and live there for five years. Read about the Homestead Act here: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=31 This was great, except most of the land actually wasn't very good farming land. Dry farming was created. This is where a farmer will plant in the fall, hope that it snows enough to moisten the ground so that the crops will grow in the spring. Farmers, like cowboys, had a hard life.
Assignment #5
1. What Native American led a battle against George Custer? What was the result of the battle?
2. Why do you think people such as Jesse James and Billy the Kid are considered "cool" today?
3. Describe, in your own words, Geronimo's life.
4. Besides staying on the land for 5 years, how could you earn the rights to the land under the Homestead Act?
5. Describe the effects of buffalo on a settler.
6. Describe the importance of buffalo for a Great Plains Native American.
2. Why do you think people such as Jesse James and Billy the Kid are considered "cool" today?
3. Describe, in your own words, Geronimo's life.
4. Besides staying on the land for 5 years, how could you earn the rights to the land under the Homestead Act?
5. Describe the effects of buffalo on a settler.
6. Describe the importance of buffalo for a Great Plains Native American.