NATIVE AMERICANS

History and Culture

Types of Native American Tribes

Southeast Indians Eastern Woodlands Indians Northwest Indians Great Plains Indians Southwest Indians

Southeast Indians

These Native Americans were hunters and gatherers.

The main crops grown were the “Three little sisters” – corn, squash and beans.

The Southeastern tribes were “matriarchal” – mother was the center of family.

Tribes lived in longhouses.

Example Tribes: Seminole Cherokee Blackfoot

Southeastern IndiansLonghouse

Eastern Woodlands Indians

These tribes mostly spoke Iroquoian.

The tribes formed the Iroquois League.

Most of their homes were log cabins or wigwams.

They used wood to make homes, tools, utensils and weapons.

Examples of tribes: Mohawk Senaca Cayuga

Eastern Woodlands Wigwam

Northwest Indians

The Northwest Indians were the oldest tribes in North America. (App. 16,000 yrs.)

They were considered the richest tribes because of their abundance of food and shelter.

There main food was crops and fish, but also they had an abundance of wild game.

They used Totem Poles to tell their history.

Examples of Northwestern Tribes: Nez Perce Chinook Spokane

Northwestern IndiansGreat House

Plains Indians

These tribes were located between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.

These tribes were nomadic…They followed the buffalo.

The buffalo was the main source for clothing, food, tools , weapons and shelter.

They lived in Teepees, the first mobile homes.

Examples of tribes: Souix Cheyenne Comanche

Plains Indians – Totanka (Buffalo)

Southwestern Indians

These tribes were located in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.

These tribes are most remembered for their art, jewelry and pottery.

The greatest skill of the Southwest tribes was basket-weaving.

The Southwestern tribes were referred to as Pueblo.

These tribes lived in adobe homes called Pueblos.

Examples: Hopi Navajo Apache

Southwest Indians - Pueblos

Famous Historical Events

Native Americans

Native Americans and Europeans Meet

The Taino Tribe (The Bahamas) met Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Spanish Conquistador Cortez conquers the Aztecs in 1619 (Central Mexico).

Spanish Conquistador Pizarro conquers the Incas in 1621 (Peru).

As a result from slavery, war and disease, more than 8 million Native Americans were killed…89% of their original population.

AtahualpaPizzarro

Cortez Montezuma

Conflicts Between Indians and European Settlers.

The struggle for land was at the heart of the conflicts between Native Americans and European Settlers.

Whites felt that Indians used the land inefficiently – Underutilized.

This was the justification for taking their land.

Trail of Tears

President Andrew Jackson signed a new law called the Indian Removal Act in 1830.

The main reason for this new law was to open Southern lands to white settlers.

Southeastern tribes were forced to leave their homes and travel more than 600 miles to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

More than 2,000 died due to cold, disease and hunger.

By 1838, more than 46,000 Native Americans moved from the South.

President Jackson Ross

Massacre at Sand Creek

1864 – the Cheyenne were forced onto a barren area of the Colorado Territory known as Sand Creek Reserve.

The starving Cheyenne began raiding trails and nearby settlements for food and supplies.

The Territorial Governor ordered the militia to attack the Native Raiders.

Rather than attack the raiders, the militia attacked the reserve at Sand Creek, killing 200 Cheyenne.

Mostly women and chilldren.

Black KettleGovernor Evans

Battle of Little Bighorn

Miners began to move into the Black Hills of South Dakota to hunt for gold.

The Sioux protested. The Army sent Civil War Hero

George Custer to investigate. On June 25, 1876, Custer rode

out with 700 troops of the 7th Calvary to face the Sioux.

They were expecting between 1,000 and 1,500 warriors.

There were actually between 2,500 and 3,000 Sioux Warriors.

The Sioux, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, attacked Custer’s Army and within 20 minutes they all were killed.

Sitting Bull Custer

Battle of Wounded Knee Sitting Bull had a vision that

the Native American lands were restored, the buffalo returned, & the whites disappeared

He promised this would come true if the ritual called the Ghost Dance was performed.

The US Army were alarmed by the Ghost Dance…Sitting Bull was arrested.

On December 29, 1890, the 7th Calvary was sent to disarm the Sioux.

At Wounded Knee, the Army opened fire on the Sioux killing more than 300 unarmed Sioux.

This event would bring the Indian Wars to an end.

Sitting Bull Whiteside