What was the lifestyle of the Native Americans?

Overview. Plains Native Americans lived in both sedentary and nomadic communities. They farmed corn, hunted, and gathered, establishing diverse lifestyles and healthy diets.

Why did Native Americans move onto reservations?

The main goals of Indian reservations were to bring Native Americans under U.S. government control, minimize conflict between Indians and settlers and encourage Native Americans to take on the ways of the white man.

In what ways did the Dawes Act of 1887 affect Native American life?

The objective of the Dawes Act was to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream US society by annihilating their cultural and social traditions. As a result of the Dawes Act, over ninety million acres of tribal land were stripped from Native Americans and sold to non-natives.

Where did the Plains Indians live in the 1800s?

Several tribes dotted states such as Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas, though conditions were rough. Approximately 75,000 Indians inhabited the Plains in the mid-1800s. The buffalo was depended on by the Plains Indians; it was vital that these were chased and hunted for necessary supplies such as food, shelter, and tools.

Why did the United States want to acquire land from the natives?

The United States was eager to expand, to develop farming and settlements in new areas, and to satisfy land hunger of settlers from New England and new immigrants. The national government initially sought to purchase Native American land by treaties.

How did Native American populations decline from the 16th to 19th centuries?

From the 16th through the 19th centuries, the population of Native Americans declined in the following ways: epidemic diseases brought from Europe; violence and warfare at the hands of European explorers and colonists, as well as between tribes; displacement from their lands; internal warfare,…

What were the effects of the Indian Land Act of 1830?

The act destroyed tribal tradition of communal land ownership. Many Native Americans were cheated out of their allotments or were forced to sell them. Ultimately, Native Americans lost millions of acres of Western native lands. Poverty among Native Americans became widespread.