The American West Topic Summaries

History of the Plains Indians and Native American tribes

GCSE > History > Eduqas > GCSE History: The American West (1835-1895) > Early settlement (1835–1861) > History of the Plains Indians and Native American tribes
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Key terms
  • Indigenous peoples of the Plains lived in distinct tribes rather than a single unified nation, with each tribe having its own leadership, customs, and territory, although many shared similar lifestyles due to the Plains environment.
  • Plains Indians had deep spiritual beliefs centred on nature, believing that all living things had spirits and that humans were part of the natural world, not superior to it.
  • Tribes (such as the Sioux, Hunkpapa, and Cheyenne) were made up of bands, each led by a chief. Warrior brotherhoods existed within bands, responsible for fighting and protecting the tribe.
  • Decisions were often made through council discussions rather than imposed authority, and council leaders or chiefs were chosen for traits like bravery, wisdom, generosity, and success in battles or negotiation, reflecting a communal political culture rather than a centralised state.
  • Tipis were the main form of housing, made from 10-20 buffalo skins stretched over wooden poles. They were portable and durable, with flaps for ventilation and a central fire pit for warmth. They were arranged in circles for spiritual and practical reasons, with entrances facing east to protect against the wind, and maintained by women in the tribe. In winter, some tribes moved into wooden lodges insulated with soil, which could house up to 60 people and provided better protection from the cold.
  • The Plains environment shaped Native American ways of life, as the region had extreme weather, few trees, and vast grasslands unsuitable for settled farming. Most Plains Indians were nomadic hunter-gatherers who followed buffalo herds, as buffalo provided almost everything needed for survival.
  • Buffalo meat was used for food, hides were used for clothing and tipis, bones were used for tools, bladders were used for bags, and dung was used as fuel, demonstrating a highly efficient use of natural resources. The buffalo’s heart was returned to the earth for spiritual reasons.
  • Horses were vital for transport, hunting, and warfare. The more horses a person owned, the higher their status in the tribe.
  • Land was not viewed as private property to be owned or bought, but as a shared resource to be used responsibly by the tribe. Property was shared within tribes, and wealth was measured by generosity rather than accumulation. These beliefs clashed with white American capitalist ideas of land ownership, farming, fencing, and permanent settlement.
  • Gender roles:
    • Men hunted and fought and could have multiple wives (polygamy).
    • Women managed the home, prepared food, and turned buffalo parts into useful products.
    • Children learnt practical skills from their parents and did not attend school.
    • Elders were respected for wisdom but could be left behind if they threatened the band’s survival during travel.

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