American West Lesson 7: Fort Laramie Treaty 1851

Front

By 1850 there were many settlers within Indian Territory, causing a lot of tension. What treaty did the US Government therefore look to sign to ease these tensions? Options: Indian Appropriations Act 1851, Fort Laramie Treaty 1851, Dawes Act 1850, Fort Laramie Treaty 1868

Back

Indian Appropriations Act 1851, Fort Laramie Treaty 1851, Dawes Act 1850, Fort Laramie Treaty 1868

Front

The main aims of the US Government in signing the Fort Laramie Treaty 1851 were:

Back

To end tribal fighting/raids.

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To allow safe passage of white settlers along the trails while passing through Indian Territory.

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To ensure the destruction of the lifestyle of the Plains Indians.

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To make Plains Indians live in 'fixed territories'.

Front

What issues arose in trying to get the Fort Laramie Treaty signed?

Back

The fact that many tribes had multiple chiefs. This meant it was difficult to find a sole signatory for the Treaty who would bare responsibility on behalf of the Plains Indian tribes. Some tribal leaders chose not to attend the signing of the treaty. Therefore it could have been argued they were not expected to follow it. The US Government struggled to speak the language of the Plains Indians when writing the treaty. The treaty referred to boundaries on a map. However, this concept of land ownership and boundaries was not one the Plains Indians were used to; they struggled to understand exactly what the US Government demanded. The Plains Indians struggled to speak and understand the language of the settlers when the treaty was being written.

Front

The US Government agreed to do what as part of the Treaty?

Options:

Pay the tribes £50,000 a year as long as they kept the terms of the treaty.

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Pay the tribes $50,000 a year as long as they kept the terms of the treaty.

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Protect the Plains Indians from white Americans.

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To NOT protect the Plains Indians from white Americans.

Back

Pay the tribes £50,000 a year as long as they kept the terms of the treaty.

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Pay the tribes $50,000 a year as long as they kept the terms of the treaty.

,

Protect the Plains Indians from white Americans.

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To NOT protect the Plains Indians from white Americans.

Front

The Plains Indians agreed to do what as part of the treaty?

Options:

End the fighting between all of the tribes and to also not attack passing US settlers.

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Allow railroad companies and the US Government to build railroads and roads through their territory.

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To give up all of their land to the US Government.

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To pay compensation if any Indian broke the terms of the treaty.

Back

End the fighting between all of the tribes and to also not attack passing US settlers.

,

Allow railroad companies and the US Government to build railroads and roads through their territory.

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To give up all of their land to the US Government.

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To pay compensation if any Indian broke the terms of the treaty.

Front

What were the key consequences of the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty?

Back

This was the first step towards reservations as it divided and split the Plains Indians into certain territories. It undermined the Permanent Indian Frontier of 1834 as it allowed the free movement of settlers across Indian Territory. For the first time there was a formal relationship between the US Government and the Plains Indians. It was the first step towards the Plains Indians securing their rights as US Citizens. It led to the Plains Indians becoming dependent and relying upon the US Government. With the US Government providing resources to the Plains Indians, the Plains Indians started to become dependent upon them and gradually lost their nomadic lifestyle based around the buffalo.