Indian Reservations with a Wisconsin twist!

During the late 1800's many people were moving west to the "new frontier". It was the american dream, to move west were there is opportunity  Mostly because of the Homestead Act. Giving people 160 acres for $30. Now if I was someone back then I would say that is a bargain!

Since these pioneers were moving to the west there caused a lot of conflict. Now lets think, who always has conflict with the american's since the beginning of time? THE NATIVE AMERICANS! It beats me why the american's never got along with the Indians and why the Indians didn't like the american's. I mean if I put myself in the American shoes in the 1800's I could say that they attacked us first. But that was so long ago and too be honest the Indians are just trying to live their lives away from the Americans now.

It just keeps happening. From all these wars in the 1700's with Indians, to the trail of tears during Jackson's presidency. WHY CANT THEY JUST LEAVE THE INDIANS ALONE! GRRRRR!!!!!! The american people never really understood the Indian Society at all.

So the government decided to make the reservation system, which put boundaries on Indian territories. They gave a certain amount of land to the Indians too live on in peace. The government said they would leave them alone, so the Indian's agreed. But the compromise didn't last long. A lot of fighting between the army stationed in the west/ frontiersmen and the Indians. The battle of the little bighorn was one of the memorable battles. George Custer and his soldiers were killed. Over 250 soldiers were killed from "savages". The U.S. soldiers were going to get there revenge n many battles to come.
So on a side note: I can see why the american's didn't want to leave the Indians alone after this.... but it still is inexcusable to treat them any different then the rest of the american's.

Then once again the government struck against the Indians. The Dawes Severalty Act restricted the  Indians territories even more. Well actually it broke up the territory given to them in the reservation system. The american's wanted to civilize the Indians. To be honest since I am a very liberal person I may think this way for a reason but... the Indians were always civilized it just wasn't the way the american people were civilized. So the Americans just assumed that they were "savages".

Oneida Reservation

*Fun Fact!*
The Oneida tribe supplied corn for Washington's troops at Valley Forge!  

Okay now to the facts that actually matter. :)

The Oneida people originally moved to Wisconsin because of the Indian removal act. There were many Oneida people living in upper Wisconsin area. The Dawes act made it much more difficult for the Indians to live in that region. In the act it gave each Indian individual 160 acres. Well it was a good idea because it gave the frontiers people what they wanted and the Indians what they wanted. But it didn't quiet work out that way for the Oneida people. There wasn't enough land for everyone to get that much of land.

So the Head of a household got 90 acres, Unmarried 21 and over got 45 acres, and other Indians got 20 acres. But this land wasn't in one spot. It was in several areas over the reservation land.

This act destroyed much of the Oneida's culture. Most of the people had to sell there land to pioneers and move to the city. For the Indians that stayed in the reservation land that was given to them, they made casinos or gambling places. It would keep the Indians up-float in the economy.
So now my mom and dad have a place to gamble when they go to Green Bay!


If you were around back then would you of supported the regulations they put on the natives?