The Real West

Sitting Bull and the Great Sioux Nation

Discussion Questions

  1. Who introduced the horse to North America? When were horses introduced?

  2. How did horses change the lifestyle and culture of the Sioux? In what ways was the Sioux culture dependent on buffalo?

  3. What were some important elements of Sioux life? What is the importance of family? What did the Sioux think of the way immigrants treated their own children? What were the roles of men and women in Sioux life?

  4. How did the Sioux express their spirituality? What was the importance of war in Sioux culture?

  5. Why did the whites want the same land that the Sioux occupied? What was the importance of this land to the Sioux people?

  6. Did the Sioux and the whites reach a resolution at the first Peace Conference at Fort Laramie? What happened at the Fetterman Massacre? Was Red Cloud willing to compromise his goals in declaring peace?

  7. What were the terms of the Peace Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868? Was this treaty upheld? Why or why not?

  8. What were the intentions of the U.S. Government in bringing the war chiefs East? How did they accomplish these goals? How did visiting Washington, D.C. affect Red Cloud's role as a negotiator with the white man and as a respected leader of the Sioux?

  9. Why weren't the Sioux interested in gold? What is the importance of the Black Hills to the Sioux culture?

  10. What was General Custer's role at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? What was Crazy Horse's role at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? What was Sitting Bull's role in this battle? Were any of these roles premeditated?

  11. Why did the Sioux surrender? How were the Sioux treated once they surrendered? How did surrendering affect the Sioux culture? How did James McLaughlin perceive Sitting Bull? Why? Was this opinion typical of whites at the time?

  12. What was Sitting Bull's role in the Sioux Nation after their surrender? How was his role different than other Indian leaders at this time?

  13. What was the ghost dance religion? Why did so many Indian tribes believe in this religion? How did white men perceive this religion? How did McLaughlin react to ghost dancing? What was the result of this policy?

  14. How did the death of Sitting Bull affect the Sioux tribe? Why were the Indians at Big Foot moved to Wounded Knee? What happened at Wounded Knee?

  15. How has the Sioux culture survived Reservation life?
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