Westward Expansion

In the late 1870s, the American Indian life had changed drastically. Native Americans lived in the Great Plains, in the grasslands west of the United States. Tribes such as the Osage, Iowa, Sioux, and Cheyenne hunted, farmed, and made tools and clothing to survive. Horses, brought by the Spaniards in 1598, made hunting easier for Native Americans. They were capable of traveling farther and hunt more efficiently. Native Americans lived in small extended family groups. Young men became hunters and warriors, while women helped butcher the game and prepared hides. They also believed in powerful spirits, which resulted in people becoming shamans, medicine men and women. Indian tribes were never dominated by a leader, but by a counsel of people. On the other hand, white settlers had a different perspective. They believed owning land, making a mining claim, or creating a business is what made a successful country. Because Native Americans weren’t “improving” their land, white settlers traveled west to take over it. Later on, more and more settlers began to move west. Westward expansion threatened the American Indian way of life by the destruction of buffalo, bloody battles between the Native Americans and white settlers, and enforcing the Dawes Act.
The destruction of buffalo affected the Native Americans because buffalo were their main source of food, clothing, and shelter. Native Americans never let any part of the buffalo go to waste. They ate buffalo meat because it was nutritious and plentiful. As the population of buffalo dropped, Native Americans began to starve. Buffalo hides and skins were used for clothes, shoes, and blankets. After the destruction, the Native Americans had trouble collecting hides to make teepees and clothin...

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...cans could sell their land or build railroads. The whites had taken two-thirds of the territory and Native Americans got no money from the sales. Native Americans were prohibited from participating in traditional dances or feasts. This affected them because they were no longer allowed to do things that were a part of their culture. Children were sent to boarding school and forced to dress in an American uniform. This was not fair to children because they were forced to dress, look, and learn like an American. The Dawes Act changed Native American’s lifestyles.
The destruction of buffalo left Native Americans starving, cold, and without shelter. Indian Wars caused a huge decrease in population. The Dawes Act forced Native Americans to give up their beliefs and way of life and become part of the American culture. Westward expansion ruined Native American’s lives.