From Treaties to Statehood

1
From Treaties to Statehood

• Essential Question
• Why were treaties made with Native Americans, and
  what was the impact of this treaty-making period?

2
Relations between Indians and Settlers

• The first contacts were peaceful and profitable.
• However, the growing numbers of settlers caused
  difficulties for the Indians.
• The huge numbers of miners further increased
  these difficulties.
• Diseases carried by whites wiped out many of the
  Native Americans.

3
Cultural Conflict

• Settlers and Indians had different ways of
  getting food.
• They viewed ownership of land differently.
• They spoke different languages.
• They had different ideas about leadership.
• The whites believed their ways were superior.

4
Stevens Treaties

• Indians relinquished their tribal lands.
• Indians moved to reservations.
• The United States agreed to pay for the land it
  acquired.
• The United States built agricultural and
  industrial schools on the reservations.
• The United States provided free health care on
  the reservations.

5
Problems and Broken Promises

• Payment wasnt always delivered.
• Language barriers created misunderstandings.
• The United States did not account for tribal
  differences.
• Fishing rights were disputed.

6
The Yakama War

• The Yakama Nation was created by the governor.
• White miners trespassed on Yakama Territory and
  armed conflict began.
• Following the slaughtering of 700 Indian horses
  and the execution of 24 leaders, peace treaties
  were signed.

7
The Nez Perce War

• The Nez Perce had helped Lewis and Clark and
  lived in peace with whites.
• Treaties put the Nez Perce on a reservation.
• Discovery of gold on the reservation sparked
  conflict.
• Chief Joseph and his people were forced to flee.
• The Nez Perce fought hard.
• Chief Joseph surrendered with a famous speech.

Hear me, my chiefs.  I am tired.  My heart is
sick and sad.  From where the sun now stands, I
will fight no more forever.
8
Aftermath of Wars

• Disease and warfare greatly reduced the Indian
  population.
• Survivors were placed on reservations.
• The government was unable to stop miners and
  others from settling on reservations.
• The Indian Homestead Act tried to turn the
  Indians into farmers, and it opened the
  reservations to white settlement.
• Many Indians sold or were cheated out of their
  reservation land.

9
The Dawes Act

• The Dawes Act tried to reverse the damage of the
  reservations by breaking them up.
• Each Indian family was given a piece of
  reservation land.
• The remainder of the land was open to white
  settlement.
• Land-owning Indians could become U.S. citizens,
  but they had to break tribal ties.
• Tribal culture was weakened by the Dawes Act.

10
Boarding Schools

• Boarding schools took Indian children out of
  their homes and away from their culture.
• Children were taught how to speak, dress, act,
  and work like whites.
• The experience was a culture shock.
• Children were punished if they spoke their native
  language.

11
The Road to Statehood

• To become a state a territory needed
• a population of at least 60,000 people
• a state constitution
• public schools
• basic civil rights for citizens

12
Creating the State Constitution

• Two constitutional conventions were held before
  Washington became a state.
• Delegates debated many issues including
• voting rights for women
• an end to Indian reservations
• segregated schools for black children
• prohibition of alcohol
• Voters rejected these issues.
• The U.S. Congress rejected Washingtons first
  constitution.
• A second constitution was approved and
• Washington was granted statehood in 1889.

13
Washingtons Constitution

• The governor has the power to veto bills or
  sections of bills.
• Compared to the U.S. Constitution, rights are
  more specific and clear, such as
• the right to privacy
• the right of a citizen to bear arms
• The state is responsible for educating all
  children.

14
Indian Rights

• Washingtons constitution upholds tribal
  sovereignty on Indian reservations.
• However, the federal law is still supreme.