Great Sioux Reservation

Definition

The Great Sioux Reservation was a large tract of land designated for the Sioux Nation by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. This reservation was established in response to the U.S. government's attempts to control the territory of the Great Plains and was intended to ensure the Sioux people's rights to their ancestral lands. Over time, however, the U.S. government violated the treaty, leading to significant loss of land and resources for the Sioux people, which illustrates the broader complexities of the treaty-making process in U.S. history.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Sioux Reservation originally encompassed a vast area that included parts of present-day South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
2. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 established the Great Sioux Reservation as a means to secure peace between the U.S. government and the Sioux Nation after a series of conflicts.
3. In 1874, gold was discovered in the Black Hills, which led to an influx of settlers and miners, prompting the U.S. government to seize this sacred land from the Sioux despite treaty obligations.
4. The U.S. government's disregard for treaty agreements significantly contributed to ongoing tensions and conflicts between Native Americans and settlers throughout American history.
5. By 1887, with the Dawes Act, many lands within the Great Sioux Reservation were allotted to individual families, further eroding tribal landholdings and sovereignty.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Great Sioux Reservation reflect the U.S. government's strategy toward Native American tribes during this period?
  • The establishment of the Great Sioux Reservation highlighted a strategy aimed at confining Native American tribes to specific areas while also seeking to control their movement and resources. By designating a large tract of land through treaties like Fort Laramie, the government aimed to minimize conflicts with settlers and facilitate westward expansion. However, this approach often resulted in broken treaties and encroachments on Native lands, revealing a pattern of exploitation and disregard for indigenous rights.
• Evaluate the consequences of the violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty by the U.S. government on the Sioux Nation.
  • The violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty had devastating consequences for the Sioux Nation. Following gold discoveries in the Black Hills, which were part of their reserved lands, pressure from settlers forced the U.S. government to ignore its treaty obligations. This led not only to significant loss of land but also to cultural dislocation, economic hardship, and increased military confrontations. The ramifications of these actions resonate through history, continuing to affect contemporary discussions regarding treaty rights and reparations for Native American tribes.
• Analyze how policies like land allotment and forced relocations impacted Native American sovereignty and identity, particularly in relation to the Great Sioux Reservation.
  • Policies such as land allotment and forced relocations drastically undermined Native American sovereignty and identity by dismantling communal land ownership and imposing Euro-American cultural values. In relation to the Great Sioux Reservation, these policies disrupted traditional ways of life and governance within tribes. The Dawes Act allowed for individual ownership of land but led to significant losses as non-Natives acquired 'surplus' lands. Such measures not only fragmented tribal communities but also challenged their cultural integrity, leading to long-lasting effects on identity and self-determination that are still felt today.

Related terms

Fort Laramie Treaty: An agreement signed in 1868 between the United States and several Native American tribes, which guaranteed the Sioux Nation ownership of the Black Hills and recognized their rights to their land.

Indian Removal Act: A federal law enacted in 1830 that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral homelands to designated 'Indian Territory' west of the Mississippi River.

Land Allotment: A policy implemented in the late 19th century that divided communal Native American land into individual plots, undermining tribal sovereignty and leading to significant loss of land among Native Americans.