Topic Assimilation and Allotment IWBAT analyze primary documents

Topic: Assimilation and Allotment �IWBAT analyze primary documents in order to determine whether or not allotment and assimilation was an effective way to end the Plains Wars. �Drill: What does it mean to be assimilated? What does allotment mean in relation to land?

Dawes Act - 1887 v. Effort to convert Native Americans into “Americans” (assimilation) v. Given 160 acre plots that could not be sold for 25 years, known as allotment. v. Aid in process of assimilating Native Americans to U. S. society, as they would learn benefits of owning and cultivating property. Federal Department Regional Office “Homestead” Between 1887 and 1934, Native Americans lost approximately 90 million acres of land through allotment.

�“The first step to be taken toward civilization, toward teaching the Indians the mischief and folly of continuing in their barbarous practices, is to teach them the English language…. ” �Source: Congressional Report on Indian Affairs, 1887.

�“They were trying to make white people out of 'em. ” - Mildred Cleghorn �“She said, Don't you ever speak Indian again or I'm going to wash your mouth again. And my tongue got blistered from that lye [soap]. ” - Mary Armstrong

“Kill the Indian--Save the Man” –Capt. Richard H. Pratt, 1892 (Carlisle’s Founder) CHOATE, J. N. (1886, NOVEMBER 4). CHIRICAHUA APACHES AS THEY ARRIVED AT CARLISLE FROM FORT MARION CHOATE, J. N. (1886). CHIRICAHUA APACHES FOUR MONTHS AFTER ARRIVING AT CARLISLE

Your Task �Listen to Sitting Bull and Red Cloud http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. CVHDv 5 shag �Read • The Dawes Act, Helen Hunt Jackson & Red Cloud Documents �Discuss and answer the following questions in your notes

Discussion Ø Would it have been only a matter of time before the Native Americans would have lost all of their land? Ø In what ways did Congressmen Dawes’ proposal help the Native Americans? …hurt the Native Americans? Ø How did Helen Hunt Jackson justify the need to have Native Americans move to allotments? Ø How did assimilation affect Native American culture? Ø How did some Native Americans view assimilation? Ø What was the American government’s rational for assimilating Native Americans

Summary �Was assimilation and allotment an effective way to end the Plains Wars? �Was the Dawes Act progressive?