The Western Settlement
Western Settlement: the Dawes Severalty Act, Battle of Little Bighorn, Homestead Act, and Exodusters
1. Dawes Severalty Act
1.1. White people wanted more land in the west to settle there and passed the act to take land from Natives for themselves.
1.1.1. Was destructive on Native American sovereignty, culture, and identity since it empowered the U.S. government to: legally preempt the sovereign right of Indians to define themselves
2. Exodusters
2.1. A group of African-American people that migrated West.
2.2. The cause of this mass migration westward was because they wanted to escape racial violence from white supremacy groups.
2.2.1. They were encouraged to move West (Kansas) for a better life where they could buy land, improve their lives, and settle in the west
3. Homestead Act
3.1. Passed by Abraham Lincoln guaranteeing 160 acres of land with the purpose to mainly help freed slaves and give everyone a chance at a better life.
3.1.1. Even though he was trying to be considerate, the land still had to be purchased in some way. Claiming, renting, etc.
3.2. Effect was that it was repealed. People took advantage of it and people who needed it were at a disadvantage. Problems caused because the Indians were losing their land in the process.
3.2.1. Large groups of people moved west and settled on their new land. Some claims didn't last (5-year warranty wasn't effective) because of the conditions.
4. Race
4.1. White people used their race to have power over others
5. Migration
5.1. Thousands of people were moving west.
6. Battle of Little Bighorn
6.1. A battle of the Sioux Wars between the U.S. and Natives over the western territory.
6.1.1. It was important because this battle was the most successful fight for the Indians against the U.S. Army.
6.1.1.1. The Indians won against the U.S.
6.2. Indians were mad that white people kept coming onto their sacred land they were settled on. They defiantly left their reservations and went to Montana to plan a battle plan.
6.2.1. Eventually, all of the battles between the Indians and the U.S. left Americans to the West land.