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Chapter 1: ‘‘Their Manners are Decorous and Praiseworthy’’ |
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Definition
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee begins with an overview of the relations between Native Americans and white settlers from the late−1400s to the mid−1800s. Initially peaceful, these relations become more tense as white emigration from Europe to the United States increases. |
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Chapter 2: The Long Walk of the Navahos |
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Definition
The government wants Navaho land for settlements and mining, so the U.S. Army kills or displaces all Mescalero Apaches and Navahos in the region. Many Navahos die when they are forced to live at the Bosque Redondo reservation. Ultimately, the Navahos sign a peace treaty and are allowed to return to what is left of their land. |
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Chapter 3: Little Crow's War |
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Definition
Manipulated by deceptive treaties, the Santee Sioux surrender most of their land for money and provisions they mostly do not receive. Little Crow does not want to fight the military might of the United States but has no choice when some of his men kill white settlers. The Santees are ultimately overpowered by the Army and by a Santee traitor. |
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Chapter 4: War Comes to the Cheyennes |
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Definition
White settlers ignore a treaty and begin settling on Native−American territory. After Cheyennes and Arapahos meet with the Colorado governor to try to maintain peace, many Cheyennes are mutilated or massacred in their Sand Creek village. The Cheyennes split, some going north to join the Northern Cheyennes and the Teton Sioux in Powder River country, while others go south, below the Arkansas River, where they are coerced into signing away their land in Colorado. |
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Chapter 5: Powder River Invasion |
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Definition
The Cheyennes learn that soldiers are building a fort in the Powder River country. A Cheyenne warrior tries to warn some Arapahos of coming soldiers, but they do not believe him, and their village is destroyed by one military column. A group of Sioux chase the half−starved, frozen soldiers of two other military columns and attempt to beat them in battle but are overpowered. |
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Chapter 6: Red Cloud's War |
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Definition
The government says it wants to buy transportation rights in the Powder River country, but it deploys soldiers even before a treaty is discussed. Angry at this deception, the Sioux fight a successful guerrilla war, cutting off the soldiers' supply lines, trapping soldiers in isolated battles, and derailing a train. Ultimately, the government withdraws its troops and settles for a peace treaty. |
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Chapter 7: ‘‘The Only Good Indian Is a Dead Indian’’ |
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Definition
Some of the exiled Southern Cheyennes and Arapahos, encouraged by the Sioux's successes, try to return to their old tribal lands. This action results in a war between the Army and several Native−American tribes, including the Cheyennes, the Arapahos, the Comanches, and the Kiowas. At the end of the fighting, all tribes except the Kiowas surrender and go to reservations. |
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Chapter 8: The Rise and Fall of Donehogawa |
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Definition
Red Cloud finds out that the peace treaty he signed included items he did not know about. Donehogawa, an educated Native American, is Commissioner of Indian Affairs at the time. He invites Red Cloud and several other Sioux to state their case to President Grant in Washington, D.C. Red Cloud is successful, but Donehogawa loses his influence due to political pressure and resigns. |
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Chapter 9: Cochise and the Apache Guerrillas |
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Definition
Several Apaches refuse to live on a reservation and instead they engage in a guerrilla war. Settlers massacre a peaceful band of Apaches at Camp Grant, prompting President Grant to send out a commission to talk to the Apache chiefs. After much fighting, most of the Apaches settle on reservations or live in exile in Mexico. |
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Chapter 10: The Ordeal of Captain Jack |
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Definition
The Modocs do not receive treaty provisions from the government and return to their old lands, the U.S. military comes to remove them, and Captain Jack takes his people to a stronghold. Hooker Jim's band kills some settlers in revenge, then forces Captain Jack into killing General Canby, which instigates a war. Hooker Jim and his men surrender to the soldiers, then track down Captain Jack, who is hanged. |
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Chapter 11: The War to Save the Buffalo |
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Definition
The Kiowas are forced to go to a reservation. They resolve to leave the reservation to fight the white hunters who are destroying the buffalo but are overpowered. Some tribes choose to go back to the reservation, while others hunt buffalo at Palo Duro Canyon, the last remaining range. The Army destroys their village and forces the Kiowas to surrender. |
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Chapter 12: The War for the Black Hills |
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Definition
A force of several thousand Native Americans fights to save the sacred Black Hills. They win a major battle by destroying General Custer's army at the Little Bighorn, but the government uses the battle as justification for taking the Black Hills. They also send more troops to make most of the Native Americans surrender. Sitting Bull and some of his people escape to Canada. |
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Chapter 13: The Flight of the Nez Percés |
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Definition
The Nez Percés are told to give up their land and report to a reservation. Young Joseph advocates peace but is forced to fight when some of his men kill white settlers. The Nez Percés try to flee to Canada to join Sitting Bull, and some make it. However, after a surprise attack by the Army, most of Chief Joseph's people surrender and are sent to Indian Territory. |
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Chapter 14: Cheyenne Exodus |
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Definition
The Northern Cheyennes at Fort Robinson are transferred to Indian Territory, where many die. Some stay, while others attempt to return to their old lands. Soldiers chase the latter, killing several Cheyennes in the process. The Northern Cheyennes split again. Some are captured and sent back to Fort Robinson, where most are killed in an escape attempt. Others spend the winter in hiding, then surrender. |
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Chapter 15: Standing Bear Becomes a Person |
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Definition
The peaceful Poncas are sent to Indian Territory with other hostile Native−American tribes. Several die, including the son of Standing Bear, who tries to take the body to their old burial grounds. General Crook captures them but intervenes on their behalf, helping Standing Bear win a court case that gives him the right to stay on his land. Other Poncas try and fail to enforce this new right to return to their land. |
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Chapter 16: ‘‘The Utes Must Go!’’ |
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Definition
Through the skills of a chief, Ouray the Arrow, the Utes successfully retain one rich portion of their land as a reservation. A new agent, Nathan C. Meeker, tries to convert the Utes to his religion. His efforts instigate a battle between the Utes and the Army. The local government uses the incident as justification for taking the rest of the Ute land. |
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Chapter 17: The Last of the Apache Chiefs |
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Definition
Order breaks down following the departure of an agent who has established peace on the White Mountain reservation. Many Apaches leave the reservation and engage in raids. General Crook is sent to establish order. He gets Geronimo to surrender, but Geronimo leaves the reservation again when he thinks he is about to be arrested. Another general and several thousand men are enlisted to hunt down Geronimo and his twenty−four warriors. Geronimo surrenders. |
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Chapter 18: Dance of the Ghosts |
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Definition
The government lures Sitting Bull back to the United States under false promises of amnesty. Many Sioux agree to sell their land, under the threat of having it taken away from them by force. The religious Ghost Dance becomes the craze among Native Americans on reservations, and the government tries to suppress it. The government chooses to arrest Sitting Bull, who gets killed in the process. |
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Definition
Following Sitting Bull's death at Standing Rock reservation, many Native Americans there attempt to flee to Red Cloud's Pine Ridge reservation. The Army intercepts them and attempts to disarm them. After a shot is fired, the armed soldiers open fire with heavy artillery on the mainly unarmed Native Americans, killing most of them. |
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Definition
General of the United States Army who battled Indian tribes of the South in early 1800s and who later enacted a policy of relocating eastern Indian tribes west of the Mississippi River. |
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Navaho chief, led attacks against the Army and resisted being sent to Bosque Redondo reservation before finally surrendering. Manuelito is a Navaho chief who tries to maintain peace with the United States through treaties. However, after U.S. soldiers cheat during a friendly horse race—and shoot Navahos who try to protest—the Navahos go to war with the soldiers. Manuelito is the last chief to surrender. He and the others live in squalor for two years at the Bosque Redondo reservation before the government allows them to return to a small portion of their old land. |
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Colonel Edward Richard Sprigg Canby |
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Definition
Army colonel at Fort Fauntleroy who is later killed by Captain Jack. |
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Ruthless Army general, commanded New Mexico Army in campaigns against Navahos. |
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Former trader, negotiated with Navahos before successfully campaigning against them. |
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Chief of Mdewkanton Santee Sioux who led the struggle against the Army. Little Crow is a chief of the Santee Sioux, who are repeatedly swindled out of their treaty provisions. Little Crow does not want to fight the powerful U.S. military, but he has no choice when some of the Santee Sioux young men kill settlers. The Santees win some battles but lose the war when their major ambush fails and when Little Crow is betrayed by another Santee. Little Crow is shot and killed by a white settler. |
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Definition
Army colonel, leader of Sixth Minnesota Regiment in battles against Santee Sioux, who oversaw the conviction and hanging of 38 Santee Sioux. |
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Definition
Southern Cheyenne warrior, leader of Dog Soldiers who is later killed in a battle against Forsythe’s Scouts. Roman Nose is a Southern−Cheyenne warrior. Although he is not a chief, he commands the allegiance of the Dog Soldier Society, a powerful group of Cheyenne warriors. He leads a successful attack against soldiers in the Powder River country and unifies the Southern Cheyennes and Arapahos to fight for their own country. The government knows that Roman Nose is the key to a lasting peace in the area, but he refuses to attend a peace commission. Instead, he leads several raids against settlers and dies while fighting a small band of Army scouts. |
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Definition
Brothers who are the sons of a Cheyenne woman and white man. They help the Cheyennes negotiate and communicate with the Army |
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Southern Cheyenne chief who sought peace with the Army. Black Kettle is a Cheyenne chief who goes to great lengths to keep peace with white people. He assures his people at Sand Creek that they have protection from the Army, who slaughters the village. He escapes, but is tricked once again at a later date, and dies while trying to make peace with the soldiers. General Sheridan lies about Black Kettle's death, saying that he was offered peace but chose to make war. |
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Term
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Definition
Army major on friendly terms with the Indians. He is relieved of post as commander at Fort Lyon. |
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Colonel John M. Chivington |
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Definition
Commanded Colorado Volunteers and sought to bring Indians under military authority. |
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Term
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Definition
The attack, carried out at the Cheyenne’s Sand Creek camp, kills 105 unarmed, peaceful women and children, and 28 men; in the attacks, 9 Army soldiers are killed and 38 wounded. |
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Definition
Oglala Sioux chief who fought and won a war against the Army. Red Cloud is a Sioux chief who wins many battles against the U.S. government. He engages in a successful guerrilla war that causes the government to withdraw the Army from the region. When Red Cloud finds out later that the peace treaty he signed had unknown items in it, he successfully presents his case to President Grant and Donehogawa. He also wins over a crowd of New Yorkers with his impassioned speech about the false treaty. Ultimately, however, Red Cloud loses all that he has gained when he is forced to sign a treaty giving away his lands and move his people to a reservation. |
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Term
General Patrick E. Connor |
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Definition
Army general and the leader of the Army’s campaign in Powder River country. |
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Definition
Army colonel, engaged in treaty negotiations with Red Cloud |
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Colonel Henry B. Carrington |
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Definition
Head of 18th Infantry Regiment, led Battle of the Hundred Slain/Fetterman Massacre, and was dismissed after losing the battle. |
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Term
General William T. Sherman |
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Definition
Negotiator at the peace council to end Red Cloud’s war and later helped direct anti−Indian campaigns. General Sherman, a Civil War hero known as the Great Warrior Sherman by most Native Americans, oversees American forces through many of the Native−American wars. He attends several peace commissions with various Native−American tribes. Following Custer's defeat, Sherman assumes military control of all reservations. After Standing Bear wins his court case and freedom, Sherman defies the new law by giving General Sheridan military authority to apprehend other Poncas. |
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General Winfield Scott Hancock |
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Definition
Army general who ordered destruction of Indian camps. |
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Definition
Southern Cheyenne chief and leader of the Dog Soldiers who was killed in battle with Army soldiers. |
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Definition
Army general with command of Kansas forts who ordered Custer to destroy hostile Indian tribes. General Sheridan leads several campaigns against the Plains Native Americans. He lies about the massacre at Black Kettle's village, saying that he had offered the chief sanctuary. Sheridan makes a comment that in being quoted eventually evolves into the hate statement: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” Sheridan believes that killing all of the buffalo is the best way to get Native Americans to adopt white culture. |
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Definition
An Army general who fought many campaigns against Plains Indians before dying at Battle of Little Bighorn. General Custer participates in several campaigns against the Plains Native Americans—who call him either Hard Backsides or Long Hair. Custer reports that the Black Hills are filled with gold, which attracts many gold seekers to the region. During the resulting War for the Black Hills, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Sioux and Cheyenne warriors kill Custer and all of his men—the greatest defeat suffered by the United States Army in the conflicts with Native Americans. The government's massive retaliation for this defeat ultimately leads to the end of freedom for all Plains Native Americans. |
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Donehogawa/Ely Samuel Parker |
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Definition
An Iroquois who adopted the name Ely Samuel Parker and served as Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Donehogawa, an Iroquois who takes the American name of Ely Samuel Parker, has an unusual amount of success in the world of white people. He learns English and goes to law school but is refused the right to take the bar exam. He becomes a civil engineer and serves with General Grant during the Civil War. When General Lee surrenders at Appomattox, Parker writes out the terms of surrender. When Grant is elected president, he makes Parker his Commissioner of Indian Affairs. However, a strong political group opposed to any Native American in government eventually harasses Parker until he resigns. |
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As Secretary of the Interior, he assured the Sioux that they could live outside their reservation and trade and receive goods. |
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Apache chief and leader of tribes’ fierce resistance against the Army. Cochise is an Apache chief who fights many battles with the American military, escapes capture on several occasions, and helps lead raids against white settlers. When American soldiers shoot his father−in−law, Mangas, Cochise rides to Mexico and forces a Mexican surgeon to save Mangas's life. Cochise is able to secure a reservation that encompasses part of the Apaches' land. |
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Definition
Apache war chief imprisoned and killed by soldiers |
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Definition
Chief of Aravaipa Apaches who is sent to Camp Grant reservation and imprisoned by the Army. |
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Modoc chief who sought to keep his tribe in California Lava Beds and was betrayed by Hooker Jim and hanged by the Army. Captain Jack is the chief of the Modocs; he tries to make peace with white people, even after some Modocs are killed. However, when Hooker Jim's band of Modocs kill some settlers, Captain Jack agrees not to turn them in. He kills General Canby under pressure from this band who then betrays Captain Jack by helping the Army find him. Captain Jack is hanged. |
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Modoc chief who disagreed with Captain Jack’s strategy and later betrayed Captain Jack to the Army. |
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Kiowa chief who led struggle against the Army and was repeatedly jailed. He killed himself in Texas. Satanta is a Kiowa chief who is captured and imprisoned. Eventually, Lone Wolf arranges for his parole. Satanta and his warriors are unsuccessful in their fight to drive away the white buffalo hunters. Satanta is eventually given life in prison, where he commits suicide. |
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Kicking Bird is a Kiowa chief who refuses to engage in or support aggressive acts against the Army. Because of this allegiance, the government forces Kicking Bird to choose several Kiowas to answer for the tribe's part in their battles. Kicking Bird dies mysteriously after drinking a cup of coffee, two days after his life was threatened by a medicine man. |
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Kiowa chief who led delegation to Washington, D.C., and won release of Satanta and Big Tree. Lone Wolf is a Kiowa chief who arranges for the parole of Satanta and another chief. He argues with Kicking Bird's peaceful ways. Lone Wolf joins with the Comanches and participates in several battles with white soldiers and hunters, in an attempt to drive them out of the region and save the buffalo. When his son dies in one of these battles, Lone Wolf strengthens his resolve. Lone Wolf is one of the last Kiowas to surrender and is one of the people chosen by Kicking Bird to be imprisoned. |
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Definition
Sioux chief and leader of the Hunkpapas who led Indians to victory at Little Bighorn. Sitting Bull is the Sioux's most powerful chief, and on some occasions he commands allegiance from other Native−American tribes as well. He fights many battles with U.S. soldiers to preserve his freedom and the Sioux ownership of the Black Hills. He and Crazy Horse defeat Custer's forces at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. When the military comes in overwhelming force to avenge Custer's death, Sitting Bull and some of his followers move into Canada. However, he becomes a military prisoner after he returns to the United States under a false promise of amnesty. Many chiefs, newspaper reporters, and others come to visit him, and Sitting Bull soon becomes a celebrity. He even receives permission to go on tour around the country. The government incorrectly believes that Sitting Bull is responsible for the spread of the Ghost Dance and tries to arrest him. He is killed in the process by two Sioux policemen. |
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Oglala chief and an advocate of defending the Black Hills who helped win battles at Rosebud and Little Bighorn. Crazy Horse is a Sioux chief who refuses to live on a reservation. As a young man, Crazy Horse distinguishes himself in Red Cloud's War. He is one of the many chiefs who oppose selling the Black Hills to the government, and he helps lead several battles in this war, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn, in which General Custer is killed. When the military comes in overwhelming force to avenge Custer's death, Crazy Horse attempts to fight them, but ultimately he surrenders. When several of his people enlist with the military to help fight other Native Americans, Crazy Horse tries to take the rest of his people and return to his land. He is captured and is fatally stabbed while trying to escape. Crazy Horse's parents bury his heart and bones near Wounded Knee Creek. |
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An Army general who defeated the Apaches and led Army soldiers in battle at Rosebud and campaigns against Plains Indians. He later resigned his post under pressure. General Crook leads several campaigns against the Apaches—who call him Gray Wolf—and the Plains Native Americans—who call him Three Stars. Over the course of a decade, Crook's cold attitude towards Native Americans changes to one of respect and sympathy. He helps the runaway Poncas win their freedom in court, uses diplomacy instead of force to get Geronimo to surrender, and condemns local newspapers for spreading lies about the Apaches. He resigns when the War Department does not recognize Crook's surrender terms with Geronimo. The government later dupes Crook into convincing the Sioux that the government will take their lands by force if the Sioux do not sell them. |
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Chief of the Nez−Percé tribe who gave a famous speech upon surrendering to Colonel Miles. When miners pressure the government to move the Nez Percés to a reservation, Chief Joseph tries to go peacefully but resolves to fight after some of his warriors kill settlers. He leads his noted marksmen to several victories against superior forces, but the military ultimately overpowers him and he surrenders. He and most of the others are sent to Indian Territory, where he dies of a broken heart—according to the agency physician. |
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Nicknamed Bear Coat by the Indians, he led the Army’s campaign to defeat and capture the Nez Percés. |
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Northern Cheyenne chief who argued that the tribe should settle down and go to Red Cloud’s agency. Dull Knife is a Northern−Cheyenne chief who helps lead a number of battles. Following Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn, the military attacks and destroys Dull Knife's village. The Northern Cheyennes are transferred to a Cheyenne reservation in Indian Territory, where many die from hunger and disease. Dull Knife and several Cheyennes seek sanctuary with Red Cloud but are captured. They escape, but only Dull Knife and a small band of Cheyennes make it to Red Cloud's agency, where they become prisoners. |
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Northern Cheyenne chief who led a band of Cheyennes north to the Tongue River valley. Little Wolf is a Northern−Cheyenne chief who helps lead a number of battles. The Northern Cheyennes are transferred to a Cheyenne reservation in Indian Territory, where many die from hunger and disease. Little Wolf and several other Cheyennes flee north towards their old territory but surrender after spending a winter hiding from soldiers. Little Wolf is one of many Native Americans who is destroyed by alcohol. |
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Ponca chief who successfully argued that he was a “person” and a U.S. citizen. Standing Bear is a Ponca chief. Standing Bear's people are tricked into being transferred to Indian Territory, where many of them die, including his last son. He and a group of Poncas are captured while trying to return to Poncas land to bury him. General Crook, two lawyers, and a sympathetic judge intervene, and Standing Bear successfully wins freedom for him and his escort party but not for the rest of his people. |
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Secretary of the Interior, nicknamed Big Eyes by Indians, who returned the Poncas to their reservation. |
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Chief of the Utes who attempted to placate the U.S. but was forced onto a reservation in Utah. Ouray is a Ute chief who is fluent in English. He uses these skills to retain a large chunk of Ute land. When a new agent comes to the White River Agency and attempts to convert Ouray and the Utes to his religion and ways of life, the agent instigates a battle. The government uses the incident as justification to take the Ute land. |
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Indian agent who tried to convert Utes to an agrarian lifestyle. His policies set the stage for the conflict between the Utes and the Army. |
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Issued propaganda against Utes and authored the article that inspired “The Utes Must Go!” slogan. |
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Apache chief who was made notorious through rumors of his atrocities and was forced onto a reservation in 1894. Geronimo is an Apache chief who leads many raids into Mexico. When the government places soldiers near his reservation, Geronimo thinks he is in danger. He and others escape to their Mexican stronghold and build a small army. Geronimo surrenders to General Crook but leaves the reservation again when he hears rumors he is going to be arrested. The Army sends a force of several thousand against Geronimo's twenty−four men. Geronimo surrenders and is sent to prison in Florida. He dies on a reservation as a prisoner of war. |
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Apache chief, leader of Warm Spring band, who was killed in 1880 after making raids in Mexico and the U.S.. |
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A Minneconjou who had a vision of Christ in Nevada and began the Ghost Dance religion. |
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The stager of Wild West Show in which Sitting Bull performed. |
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Kicking Bear, a Minneconjou of the Cheyenne River agency, says that he and ten other Sioux had gone to Nevada by rail, and there they saw the returned Christ, who taught them the Dance of the Ghosts. He also tells them that in the next springtime, new soil would cover the earth and bury all white men, then sweet grass, streams, and trees would cover the ground. The buffalo and wild horses would return, and all Indians dancing the Ghost Dance would go up in the air to wait for the new earth to emerge, at which point they and the ghosts of their ancestors would live on the new earth. |
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Leader of band of Minneconjous who was killed at his camp at Wounded Knee in 1890. Big Foot is a Minneconjou chief who surrenders his people when the military starts killing indiscriminately in revenge for the death of Custer. After he is identified as an instigator of the Ghost Dance, Big Foot tries to take his people to Red Cloud's Agency at Pine Ridge. The Army captures and tries to disarm them. In the process, a Minneconjou fires a shot and the military reacts, killing Big Foot and most of the Minneconjous. |
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The Minneconjou whose dispute with Army soldiers sparked battle at Wounded Knee |
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Much of the mistreatment of Native Americans in the nineteenth century can be attributed to a concept known as Manifest Destiny. This theory stated that European descendents in the United States were destined to spread over the North American continent and that they were justified in doing so. As a result, many politicians, military personnel, and settlers felt it was their God−given right to take land from whoever stood in their way. As Brown notes, the concept of Manifest Destiny simply “lifted land hunger to a lofty plane.” Says Brown: “Only the New Englanders, who had destroyed or driven out all their Indians, spoke against Manifest Destiny.” |
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