BGE History

Wallace Hall Academy

Native Americans & Europeans

When Two Worlds Collide

Task 1- Find and answer

The History of Native Americans is both fascinating and miserable. The booklet will cover a wide range of areas including how the Native American Tribes lived. The way they interacted with White European and the eventual downfall of the Native American way of life.

The first task is difficult but all the answers are there. You have to carefully read the information below and then answer the questions that follow.

You can time yourself to see how quick you can scan and find the relevant information.

Natives & Europeans Relay Race

In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean, unlocking what Europeans quickly came to call the ‘New World’. Columbus ‘found’ a land with around two million inhabitants. He thought he had found a new route to the East, so he mistakenly called these people ‘Indians’. Within a hundred years, Europeans were trying to settle in the Americas. With Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the south, English explorers focused on North America.

1607 was the year that the first permanent English settlement was established in North America, known as Jamestown. The settlement was named ‘Jamestown’ after the current King of England, James I. These first settlers – and those who sent them – were keen to find out about the area, keen to see how they could benefit. These settlers began to explore and they soon encountered the Native people.

In the first three years, despite new arrivals, more than 80% of the settlers died – mostly from illness such as malaria. Thousands of Native Americans were also killed, either in fighting or by outbreaks of European diseases to which their bodies had no immunity.

Pocahontas was the daughter of the chief of the Powhatan tribe which lived near the English settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. She ended up saving the life of Jamestown leader Captain John Smith when he visited her village. She also helped to warn the settlers of an attack from her father and his warriors. Later, Pocahontas would be captured and held for ransom by the settlers. She was treated well, though, and soon fell in love with English settler John Rolfe. After marrying John Rolfe, Pocahontas travelled back to England with Rolfe and became a famous celebrity. Unfortunately, she died in England at the young age of 22.

As the English, French, and Spanish explorers came to North America, they brought tremendous changes to American Indian tribes. Europeans carried a hidden enemy to the Indians: new diseases. Native peoples of America had no immunity to the diseases that European explorers and colonists brought with them. Diseases such as smallpox, influenza, measles, and even chicken pox proved deadly to American Indians. Europeans were used to these diseases, but Indian people had no resistance to them. Sometimes the illnesses spread through direct contact with colonists. Other times, they were transmitted as Indians traded with one another. The result of this contact with European germs was horrible.

Sometimes whole villages perished in a short time. Experts believe that as much as 90 percent of the American Indian population may have died from illnesses introduced to America by Europeans. This means that only one in ten Natives survived this hidden enemy.

The Europeans had a very mixed view of the Indian natives. On one hand, they were told that Indians could be gentle and receptive, helpful and eager to trade. It was a very positive image and gave intended settlers hope that they would be welcome with open arms and helping hands. They wanted to believe that they were heading to a Paradise of free land and abundance of resources.

However, there was an opposing image of these same Indians. Perhaps these came from the Spanish or from visitors to America who’d had bad experiences with the locals. Indians were often described in very unflattering terms. Among these descriptions were terms like, “flesh-eating primitives,” “savage, hostile and beastlike,” and “crafty, loathsome half-men.” These various metaphors could not have inspired much confidence in the people who heard them.

New trade goods represented another big change that European explorers and colonists brought to American Indians. Soon after meeting their European visitors, Indians became very interested in things that the colonists could provide. In a short time, the Indians began using these new materials and products in their everyday lives. Native hunters were eager to trade prepared deer hides and other pelts for lengths of coloured cloth. Metal tools such as axes, hoes, and knives became valuable new resources. Soon American Indian men put aside their bows and arrows for European firearms, powder, and lead shot.

Trade items like metal pots often were cut up and remade into new tools or weapons. The desire to get European goods changed ancient trading patterns. The tradition of simple hunting for food began to become less important than getting animal hides to trade. Soon American Indians depended on European items for daily needs. Colonial traders also brought rum, and this drink caused many problems for some tribes. New trade goods brought from across the Atlantic Ocean changed American Indian lives forever.

The Native Americans lived a life that was a complete opposite from the way that the Europeans were accustomed to. The Native Americans believed that the land was shared by everyone and not one person could own it. Europeans came over with the intention of getting rich and claiming as much land as they possibly could.

The men who came over were sponsored (paid) by stock companies financed by wealthy Englishmen who understood the economic potential of this new land. The main purpose of this colony was the hope of finding gold or the possibility (or impossibility) of finding a passage through the Americas to the Indies.

Native peoples enthusiastically welcomed European settlers to their shores up to the third decade of the seventeenth century. Their motives were mixed. Many thought the armed Europeans would protect them from their more powerful native enemies.

They also welcomed the trade with Europeans in skins and hides, receiving wampum in the form of shells and beads in exchange. Natives generously shared with the settlers their belongings, supplies, food, and the skills necessary for survival in the New World.

What the settlers gave them in exchange was destined to destroy them: disease, firearms, whiskey, a brutal religion totally at odds with nature, and a demand for material goods that would rob them of their independence.

Squanto was a famous Native American who learned English and was able to interact with the new settlers. In 1614, he was kidnapped by English explorer Thomas Hunt, who brought him to Spain where he was sold into slavery. Squanto escaped, eventually returning to North America in 1619. He then returned to the Patuxet region, where he became an interpreter and guide for the Pilgrim settlers at Plymouth in the 1620s.

Squanto's unique knowledge of the English language and English ways gave him power. He sought to increase his status among other native groups by exaggerating his influence with the colonists and even going so far as to tell them that if they didn't do what he wanted, he could have the English release the plague, which he claimed they were holding in storage pits.

In the fall of 1621, the English Pilgrims and Wampanoag Tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving after reaping a successful crop. The following year, Squanto deepened the Pilgrims' trust by helping them find a lost boy, and assisted them with planting and fishing.

There was competition between the Natives and Europeans, but also between different European countries who wanted as much land as possible.

The French and Indian War was a major war fought in the American Colonies between 1754 and 1763. The British gained significant territory in North America as a result of the war.

From the name of the war, you would probably guess that the French fought the Indians during the French and Indian War. Actually, the main enemies in the war were the French and the British. Both sides had American Indian allies. The French allied with several tribes including the Shawnee, Lenape, Ojibwa, Ottawa, and the Algonquin peoples. The British allied with the Iroquois, Catawba, and the Cherokee.

The French and Indian War ended on February 10, 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This was after 7 years of fighting and many casualties on all sides, French, British & Natives. France was forced to give up all of its North American territory. Britain gained all of the land east of the Mississippi River and Spain gained the land west of the Mississippi.

Relay Race Questions –

Set 1

1. What European first discovered North America? (and when?)2. What was the first English settlement called? Where was it?3. What happened to most of the new settlers? Why did it happen?4. Describe the Pocahontas story.5. Name three countries that tried to take land in North America

Set 2

6. What was the hidden enemy that Europeans brought with them>7. Name three of the ‘new enemies’.8. Why did they have such a big effect on the Native Tribes?9. How significant was the damage caused by this ‘new enemy’?10. What were the two opinions of Natives held by Europeans before they

met them?

Set 3

11. What could the Natives offer Europeans in trades?12. What did the Europeans Trade in return?13. What new European Items had the worst impact on Native way of life

(need 2 and explain why)14. Who funded the European settlers trips to North America?15. What did they hope to find?

Set 4

16. Who was Squanto?17. How was he able to be a translator for the English?18.How did he use this ability to his advantage?19. What feast was first celebrated by Squanto, his tribe and the Europeans

in 1621?20. Describe the French Indian War (3 facts)

Task 2 – How Natives lived – Buffalo paragraph

One of the most important aspects of the Native American life was the bison (buffalo). They used all of the bison, not just its meat for food. They used the skin and fur for blankets and cloths. They tanned the hides to make the coverings for their teepees. Bones were used as tools. The bison hair was used to make ropes and the tendons could be used for sewing thread and bow strings.

Using the images – write a paragraph that describes all the different uses for a Buffalo for Native Americans. Can you think of any modern examples that has as many uses for us today?

Task 3 – Two worlds collide – just read

Although Natives used the buffalo they also respected the land and nature and treated them almost as part of their tribe. They had a very close relationship with nature and believed that animals and their surroundings were sacred.

You should remember that - whites arrived on the East coast after 1492 and originally made friends with the Natives. Trading together and learning their ways.

Whites and Natives signed the Sioux Treaty. This granted the Natives reservations in the West. The whites would not touch these sacred lands.

That was until the discovery of GOLD in California.

The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush.

As news spread of the discovery, thousands of prospective gold miners travelled by sea or over land to San Francisco and the surrounding area.

By the end of 1849, the non-native population of the California territory was some 100,000 (compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000).

A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852

The White European settlers had broken their promise and destroyed land, buffalo and resources all the way from the East to the West. The Gold Rush was the beginning of the end for the Native American way of life.

West (Gold) East (First settlers) Europe

Task 4 – Battle of Little Big Horn

After the Californian Gold Rush the White Europeans continued to destroy the land and force Natives away from their sacred lands.

The Europeans would put them on ‘reservations’ and say they were only allowed to live and hunt in certain parts. That would be like somebody coming in to your home/town and saying you are only allowed to go to certain places.

Europeans had much better technology so often won battles – but the most famous Native American victory came at the battle of Little Big Horn.

Pupil Task – read the following information about the battle and produce a battle report.

This should include;

When and where it took place. Why it happened. Who was involved (including leaders) The events of the battle (in detail) Fatalities on both side Outcome of the battle

The Battle of the Little Bighorn is a legendary battle fought between the U.S. Army and an alliance of Indian tribes. It is also known as Custer's Last Stand. The battle took place over two days from June 25–26, 1876.

The U.S. Army was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and Major Marcus Reno. Both men were seasoned veterans from the Civil War. They led a contingent of around 650 soldiers.

The tribes were led by several famous chiefs including Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Chief Gall, Lame White Man, and Two Moon. The tribes involved included the Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. Their combined forces totalled around 2,500 warriors (note: the actual number is disputed and not really known).

How did it get its name?

The battle was fought near the banks of the Little Bighorn River in Montana. The battle is also called "Custer's Last Stand" because, rather than retreat, Custer and his men stood their ground. They were eventually overwhelmed, and Custer and all his men were killed.

Leading Up to the Battle

In 1868, the U.S. government signed a treaty with the Lakota people guaranteeing the Lakota a portion of land in South Dakota including the Black Hills. However, a few years later, gold was discovered in the Black Hills. Prospectors began to trespass onto the Dakota's land. Soon, the United States decided they wanted the Black Hills land from the Indian tribes so they could freely mine the gold.

When the Indians refused to give up the land, the U.S. decided to force the Indian tribes out of the Black Hills. An army was sent to attack any Indian villages and remaining tribes in the region. At one point, the army heard of a fairly large gathering of tribes near the Little Bighorn River. General Custer and his men were sent to attack the group in order to keep them from escaping.

The Battle

When Custer encountered the large village of Lakota and Cheyenne near the river at the bottom of a valley, he initially wanted to wait and scout the village. However, once the people of the village discovered his army's presence, he decided to quickly attack. He had no idea how many warriors he was up against. What he thought was just a few hundred warriors, turned out to be thousands.

Custer split his army up and had Major Reno begin the attack from the south. Major Reno and his men approached the village and opened fire. However, they were soon overwhelmed by a much larger force. They retreated into the hills where they eventually escaped and were saved when reinforcements arrived.

The fate of the soldiers with Custer is less clear because none of them survived. At some point, Custer engaged the Indians from the north. However, his small army was overwhelmed by the much larger Indian force. After some fierce fighting, Custer ended up on a small hill with about 50 of his men. It was on this hill where he made his "last stand". Surrounded by thousands of warriors, Custer had little hope to survive. He and all his men were killed.

Aftermath

All 210 men who remained with Custer were killed. The main force of the U.S. army eventually arrived and some of the men under Major Reno's command were saved. Although the battle was a great victory for the Indian tribes, more U.S. forces continued to arrive and the tribes were forced out of the Black Hills.

Task 5 – History Comparison Questions

Learning Intention

We are learning how to answer a N5 History source questions.

Success Criteria

I can interpret a source of historical information.

I can compare two sources and see if they agree or not.

I can structure my answer like a N5 exam Q.

1)

How to Answer –

Sources A & B agree __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________.

Source A says _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________.

Source B agrees saying ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________.

Sources A & B also agree ______________________________________________________.

Source A says _______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________.

Source B agrees saying _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________.

2) Compare the views of Sources C & D about the importance of S2. (4)

Sources C & D disagree about _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________.

Source C says ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Source D disagrees saying ____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________.

Sources C & D also disagree that _______________________________________________.

Source C says _______________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________.

Source D disagrees saying ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

N5 Examples – Native Americans

These are questions you would do in S4 History so do not worry at all if you struggle. They have appeared in N5 exams before so they should test you. Just look for things they agree about, or disagree about and then quote from the source the information.

Structure

Sources B & C agree/disagree that -

Source B claims –

Source C agrees/disagrees saying –

Sources B & C also agree/disagree that -

Source B claims –

Source C agrees/disagrees saying -

Structure

Sources B & C agree/disagree that -

Source B claims –

Source C agrees/disagrees saying –

Sources B & C also agree/disagree that -

Source B claims –

Source C agrees/disagrees saying -