Native Americans in the late 1800s
The Native Americans began to struggle with keeping their land in the 1600s. As soon as the first settlers came across the Atlantic Ocean and step foot on what they thought was untoched land, the Native Americans were pushed back. When the Thirteen Colonies were established the Native Americans were pushed even farther west. But due to the railroads and other technology in the 1800s, everyone began to move west. The Native Americans had nowhere to go.
After the Homestead Act was created, the settlers began to draw property lines and create fences, claiming the land as their own. The Native Americans did not believe the land was theirs to claim; they believed the land was to be shared by all. The claiming of land caused many fights and battles between the settlers and Native Americans. There were many treaty compromises with the Native Americans and settlers, but all were broken soon after they were made. The settlers also killed large amounts of the buffalo population in the west. The Native Americans no longer had proper hunting grounds and proper game to hunt for.
Eventually, all Native Americans were forced to live on Reservations. By this time, after all of the battles, loss of land, and loss of game, the population of Native Americans had decreased significantly. Some of the Native Americans had made the decision to convert to Christianism and drop all of their customs in order to be able to have rights and live wherever they wished to live.
(Native American Reservation)
I think that it's very unfortunate that the Native Americans were forced to live on reservations, especially since they were such a big part in helping the original Pilgrims through the first winter, which helped build our country. It's sad that some Native Americans had to change their ways of life and their beliefs just so they could live where they pleased.
(Battle between Native Americans and settlers)
http://www.angelfire.com/nv/verbigerate/nativeamericans.html
Comments
Well done!