TITLE: Western Settlement and Native Americans: Analyzing Fact and Fiction through Art

US HISTORY: Settlement - Settlement of the West, U.S. Government Policy Toward Indians, "Custer's Last Stand"

GRADE LEVEL: 11th Grade

TEKS:

Chapter 113.32(c) (2) History (A) analyze political issues such as Indian policies (9) Geography (A) analyze the effects of physical and human geographic factors on major events (12) Economics (A) analyze the relationship between private property rights and settlement of the Great Plains (20) Culture (A) describe how the characteristics and issues of various eras have been reflected in works of art

OBJECTIVE:

Students will utilize a work of art to explore the topic of westward settlement and removal of the Native American from the settlement.

Students will analyze the U.S. Government's policy toward the Native Americans.

MATERIALS:

• See image below
• Other Images, such as Trumbell's Painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence

1. Why do you think the artist named the painting as he did?
2. What is the difference between "stand" and "fight"?
3. According to your reading, is this an accurate depiction of the Battle at Little Big Horn?  Explain.

ASSIGNMENT:

In groups of four, research and select two paintings in which the artist changed the event somehow in his/her painting? Each team will present findings in class, explaining event and artist's depiction of event. (Students should research artists as well as the event.)

RESOURCES:

Publications:
Settlement of the West in second half of 19th century
Garraty, John A. Historical Viewpoints, 6th ed. Vol. II. New York: Harper, 1991.
Bailey, Thomas A. and Kennedy, David, eds. The American Spirit, Vol. II, Lexington, Ma: Heath, 1984.