Guided Notes:Native Americans in Crisis and the Rise of

Populism

1st, 2nd, and 8th Period

2/10/12

Section 13.1:Native Americans in Crisis

• Following the Civil War, many Americans moved west.

People moved west during and after the Civil War for 3 reasons: 1. The Gold Rush 2. Land itself 3. The growth of railroads

“American Progress” by John Gast (1872)

Homestead Act

• Along with those factors, the Federal government added extra incentive by passing the Homestead Act (1862).

• This act offered 160 acres of land to anyone who would live on and cultivate (raise crops on) the land for 5 years.

• Unfortunately, these movements west lead to continued conflicts with Native Americans.

The Indian Wars

During the Sand Creek Massacre, a group of U.S. soldiers killed 200 peaceful members of the Cheyenne tribe in Colorado.

The Indian Wars

At the Battle of Wounded Knee, U.S. soldiers massacred 300Native Americas. This battle brought the U.S. wars with Native Americans largely to an end.

Assimilation

• When the U.S. government wasn’t killing Native Americans, they supported the idea of assimilation.

• Assimilation was the idea that Native Americans were expected to give up their way of life and become part of white culture.

Dawes Act

• The Dawes Act was an effort to make assimilation official government policy.

• It attempted to “Americanize” Native Americans by distributing reservation land to individual owners.

• In reality, it only exploited Native Americans for their land.

The destruction of the bison was perhaps the most devastating thing to Native American life.

Section 13.4:Farmers and the Populist Movement

• Upset by outrageous railroad costs, falling crop prices, and continuous poverty farmers began to organize together.

• One man, Oliver Kelley, formed the Grange (or Patrons of Husbandry) which was a social and economic organization for farmers that attempted to combat the power of the railroads.

The Populist Party

• The farmer’s movement would evolve into the Populist Party.

• The name comes from the word “populism” which means: the movement of the people.

• The Populist Party wanted to give people a greater voice in the government.

Fall of Populism

• While the Populist Party never became as popular as the Democrats or Republicans, it became a major force in politics.

• Eventually, the Democrats would adopt many of its policies.

• After barely losing the 1896 Election, the Populist Party collapsed.

Legacy of the Populist Party

• The Populist Party left behind two major legacies.

1. It proved the downtrodden could organize and have a political voice.

2. It would leave an agenda for reforms, many of which would be enacted later in the 20th century.