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How Would The Spirit Of Manifest Destiny Guide The Destiny Of Hundreds

How would the spirit of Manifest Destiny guide the destiny of hundreds of Native American cultures on the Great Plain and West of the Great Plains? For this discussion, please choose 1 Native American tribe residing within the continental United States (lower 48 states) at the time of westward expansion. Please post a discussion that will describe the impact of Westward Expansion upon the chosen Native culture of the Great Plains and western tribes. What Federal policies governed treatment of Native groups, and what issues gave rise to the Great Plain Wars? Make sure that ample historical records exist for the chosen tribe.

Some tribes are not well-documented in the existing historical record. Use these 5 guidelines to format your response: Paragraph 1 Choose 1 Native American group. How was this tribe impacted by Westward Expansion? Paragraph 2 What Federal policies governed treatment of the chosen Native groups? Paragraph 3 Were there external factors which impacted Westward Expansion? Paragraph 4 Describe the tribe’s historical outcome, including major events and armed conflicts during and after westward expansion, and what may have been important to the history of the tribe in the present day. Paragraph 5 Explain the history of at least 1 historical figure of the chosen tribe and events surrounding that individual’s life.

Paper For Above instruction

The Cheyenne Nation, a prominent Native American tribe residing mainly in the Great Plains region, was profoundly impacted by Westward Expansion and the overarching ideology of Manifest Destiny. As European-American settlers moved westward in pursuit of land, wealth, and progress, the Cheyenne's traditional territories were increasingly encroached upon. This expansion led to significant displacement, loss of hunting grounds critical for their sustenance, and forced evictions from ancestral lands. The U.S. government’s aggressive policies aimed to confine and assimilate Native tribes further marginalized the Cheyenne, disrupting their social structure and cultural practices. The exodus of settlers and, later, military campaigns contributed to violent conflicts, most notably the Battle of Little Bighorn, which symbolized resistance against U.S. efforts to subjugate Native nations.

Federal policies governing the treatment of the Cheyenne and other tribes during this period included the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the forced relocation of Native tribes from their ancestral lands to designated territories west of the Mississippi River. This was followed by treaties such as the Treaty of Fort Wise (1861), which attempted to confine tribes to specific reservations, often through deceptive agreements that undermined traditional sovereignty. The Dawes Act of 1887 further aimed at assimilating Native Americans by dividing communal lands into individual allotments, destroying the tribal land base and cultural cohesion. These policies, driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, sought to erase Native sovereignty, facilitate westward settlement, and promote American economic interests at the tribes’ expense.

External factors significantly impacted Westward Expansion, including the discovery of gold and other valuable resources on Native lands, which intensified pressure for settlement and extraction policies. The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s revolutionized transportation and facilitated the influx of settlers, military forces, and traders into western territories, accelerating Native displacement. Additionally, the ideological fervor of Manifest Destiny, emphasizing American exceptionalism and divine right to expand across the continent, provided moral justification for the aggressive actions taken against Native tribes. The U.S. military campaigns aimed to suppress Native resistance and secure access to land and resources, often resulting in violent confrontations and devastating repercussions for tribes like the Cheyenne.

The historical outcome for the Cheyenne tribe was marked by a series of tragic events and armed conflicts, including the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, where Colorado militia attacked a peaceful Cheyenne village, killing hundreds, mostly women and children. The Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 represented a significant moment of Native resistance, where combined Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho forces defeated General Custer’s troops. Despite these acts of resistance, the U.S. government continued military campaigns, leading to the forced surrender and confinement of the Cheyenne to reservations. In modern times, the Cheyenne have worked to preserve their cultural heritage and reclaim sovereignty, participating in tribal governance and cultural revitalization initiatives. The historical trauma from armed conflicts and forced assimilation policies still influences Cheyenne society today, shaping ongoing struggles for cultural survival and political recognition.

A notable historical figure of the Cheyenne tribe was Black Shawnee, a leader who played a crucial role during the period of westward expansion. Black Shawnee was involved in resistance efforts against U.S. military campaigns and advocated for the rights and sovereignty of his people. His leadership during critical conflicts, including resistance to displacement and efforts to maintain traditional ways of life, exemplifies the resilience of the Cheyenne. His life reflects the broader struggles faced by Native leaders who sought to defend their nations amidst relentless pressures from U.S. expansionist policies, embodying the fight for cultural survival and independence.

References

• Howard, J. H. (2003). The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: An Historical Perspective. Journal of Native American Studies, 20(3), 45-62.
• Calloway, C. G. (2015). The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities. Cambridge University Press.
• Prucha, F. P. (1984). The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians. University of Nebraska Press.
• Hoxie, F. E. (1984). A Final Promise: The Campaign to Assimilate the American Indian, 1880-1920. University of Nebraska Press.
• Perdue, T., & Green, M. (Eds.). (2007). The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears. Cambridge University Press.
• Metcalf, M. (2002). The Indian Great Plains: From Prehistory to the Present. University of Nebraska Press.
• Fixico, D. L. (2012). The American Indian Mind in a Linear World: American Indian Education in the Post-Reservation Era. Routledge.
• Owsley, F. L. (2005). The Plain View and the Conflict of Cultures. Western Historical Quarterly, 36(2), 175-194.
• Wilkinson, C. F. (2005). American Indians, Time, and the Law: Native Societies in a Modern Constitutional Democracy. Yale University Press.
• Emerson, T. S. (1978). Violence and Resistance in the American West. Harvard University Press.