Native Americans have faced a difficult struggle to embrace both their ethnic identities and mainstream American culture. While modern Native Americans are proud Americans who integrate aspects of their traditions and Christianity within capitalism, gaining this identity required overcoming a tragic and bloody history of conflicts with the U.S. government over land and sovereignty. These conflicts arose from the government seeking to expand its lands at the expense of Native territories, stop raiding between tribes, and force relocation of tribes resisting loss of independence.

1. Native AmericansStereotypes, Generalizations, and Perspectives

2. Reflect on your education and experience
and complete this sentence: Native
Americans are……………….

3. “Modern Indians are proud Americans who simultaneously embrace
their Indian ethnicity and folk traditions, Christianity, western legal
traditions, capitalism, and all facets of mainstream American
civilization. But getting there has been difficult, bloody, and tragic
struggle.”
Respond to this statement. From what you know, do you agree?
Disagree? How would you edit it to make it more accurate? Explain.
If you feel you can’t answer the question, what more information
would you need? What questions would you need answered?

4. “Cowboys and Indians”

6. The “Indian Wars”
Three Conflicts:
1.Expanding Indian lands vs. Expanding US government
lands. (e.g. Sioux)
2.Government attempts to stop raiding. (e.g. SW)
3.Tribes trying to remain neutral and resisting forced
relocation. (e.g. Nez Perce)