The Plains Wars

Summary
This lesson is designed to familiarize the student with the Plains Wars.

Objectives
• To be able to describe some of the harmful experiences the Native Americans went through.

• To be able to identify the events surrounding Custer?s Last Stand.

• To be able to explain the massacre that took place at Wounded Knee.

Suggested Grades
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade

Excerpt
Native American tribes in the plains areas depended on the buffalo to meet most of their needs. Buffalos provided shelter, food, and tools. With the construction of the transcontinental railroad, thousands of Americans began settling westward. In the process, these settlers killed or were responsible for the death of most of the buffalo population. Prior to the westward expansion, there were millions of buffalos living in the plains areas. By 1890, the buffalo population was less than a thousand. This meant that the Native American tribes in the plains region were unable to survive in the traditional way.

Continued...