GCSEHistoryEdexcelRevision NotesThe American West, c.1835-c.1895Later Developments in the West, c1876–c1895Continued Conflict on the Plains, 1876-1890

Continued Conflict on the Plains, 1876-1890 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Revision Note

Zoe Wade

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Zoe Wade

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History

Why were Indigenous Peoples Angry with the US Government by 1876? - Summary

There are many reasons why indigenous peoples resented the US government. These include:

  • The US Government breaking treaties with the indigenous peoples. To defend their rights, the indigenous tribes resorted to armed conflicts such as the Little Crow War

  • Indigenous people being forced to rely more on the US Government. This is because cattle ranching and other livestock reduced the buffalo herds. In addition, many tribes were forced to live in reservations. These were too small or poorly resourced for the indigenous tribes to survive

  • The US government allowed white settlers to trespass on tribal land. Railroad companies, cowboys, gold prospectors, ranchers and homesteaders all settled on indigenous peoples' land. Mass settlement caused issues with law and order, which impacted indigenous peoples

  • White Americans had a poor opinion of indigenous peoples. Many government officials were racist. They had no respect for the traditions and culture of each individual tribe of the Plains. Ideas such as Manifest Destiny meant that many white settlers believed that they had a bigger right to traditional tribal land. The US government did not respect the lives of indigenous peoples, committing massacres such as the one at Sand Creek

Battle of the Little Bighorn, June 1876

  • This event is a conflict within the Great Sioux War

Causes of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

  • Gold prospectors used the Sioux hunting grounds called the Black Hills in Dakota

  • George Custer and his 7th Cavalry were meant to protect railroad builders

    • However, Custer was also searching for gold

  • The Sioux rejected a new treaty

    • They continued to attack prospectors

  • Thousands of Sioux warriors left their reservation to join leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse

    • The warriors were given 60 days to return to their reservation by President Grant or else they would be attacked

    • Deep snow made it impossible for the warriors to return. 7,000 Sioux were out of their reservation

Events of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

A flow diagram showing the outcome of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
A flow diagram showing the outcome of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

Consequences of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

Positive consequences

Negative consequences

Rather than seeing them as 'savages', white settlers and the US government acknowledged that they had underestimated the military threat that indigenous peoples posed

By the end of 1876, many Sioux were forced back to their reservations as they became short of ammunition and food.​ In 1877, Crazy Horse surrendered to the US Army but he was killed while under arrest

The white settlers pressured the US government to destroy Sioux resistance. Sioux had to give up the Black Hills or else they would not be given food by the US government. The public now wanted the US government to follow the policy of ‘Assimilate or Die’.​

Worked Example

Explain one consequence of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

4 marks

Answer:

One consequence of the Battle of the Little Bighorn was how white settlers and the US government viewed indigenous peoples (1). At the battle, Custer sent only 200 men to fight around 2,000 Sioux warriors. All of his men and Custer himself were killed in the battle (1). This changed people's view of the Sioux. Custer's arrogance to only send 200 men showed that many people considered indigenous peoples inferior to them (1). As a result, white settlers recognised the Sioux as a serious military threat. They had to treat all indigenous tribes as a threat to US society (1).

Exam Tip

In the American West exam, this style of question would ask you to explain two consequences of an event. As a result, it would be worth 8 marks.

Students sometimes struggle with questions that ask about the consequences of an event. Students mistakenly believe that consequences are always negative effects. However, consequences are something that happens as a result of an event. They can be positive or negative.

The Wounded Knee Massacre, 29th December 1890

Causes of the Wounded Knee Massacre

  • The Sioux suffered greatly in reservations

    • The US government cut the Sioux's rations

    • A drought in 1890 made a lack of food worse. The Sioux had no crops

  • More indigenous peoples believed in performing the Ghost Dance

    • If indigenous peoples rejected the US way of life, the Ghost Dance would:

      • Bring their tribal members back to life

      • Return the land to the tribe that had been taken by the US government

    • The Ghost Dance spread quickly through all reservations

      • President Harrison ordered the US Army into the reservations to take control

    • Chief Sitting Bull was killed as the army believed he was about to start a dance

      • Sitting Bull’s followers fled and joined another tribal leader's band called Big Foot

Events of the Wounded Knee Massacre

A flow diagram showing the outcome of the Wounded Knee Massacre
A flow diagram showing the outcome of the Wounded Knee Massacre

Consequences of the Wounded Knee Massacre

  • The US public supported the Army's actions at Wounded Knee Creek

    • They were relieved the Ghost Dance was over

    • White Americans believed indigenous peoples were too wild and hostile

      • They either had to be assimilated or killed

    • They felt that the US Army were right to get revenge for their loss at Little Bighorn

  • In 1890, the US Government announced the end of the Permanent Indian Frontier

    • White Americans now had a right to settle anywhere

Exam Tip

A question could ask you to write a narrative account of the conflict between the indigenous peoples and the US Government in the years 1876-1890. A common misconception that students have is that a narrative account is a story. A narrative account answer should follow CHRONOLINK:

  • Put the sequence of events in chronological order

  • Link each section of the narrative to the next event that occurred. You should use linkage terms such as: 'as a consequence', 'this led to' or 'because' 

You need to have three events in this period that showed a continued conflict between the US government and the indigenous peoples, for example, the Dawes Act.

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    Zoe Wade

    Author: Zoe Wade

    Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.