Life on the Reservation

Read this quote from the speech:

^{"We were faint with hunger and maddened by despair"}

What does the phrase "maddened by despair" mean as it is used in the article?

• a. They are weakened by their hunger

• b. They are distressed with their lack of control

• c. They are angered with the death of their loved ones

• d. They are content with the conditions on the reservation

Read the excerpt from the speech:

^{“Great efforts were made to break up our customs, but nothing was done to introduce us to customs of the whites. Everything was done to break up the power of the real chiefs. Those old men really wished their people to improve, but little men, so-called chiefs were made to act as disturbers and agitators.”}

Why does Red Cloud use the phrase “disturbers and agitators” to describe the Native American chiefs?

• a. to describe the aggressive nature of the chiefs toward the Indian Department

• b. to argue that the chiefs were responsible for unjustly attacking the Indian Department

• c. to emphasize the Indian Department’s belief that the chiefs were the cause of the issues on the reservation

• d. to show that the chiefs were peaceful men that were willing to let go of their traditions and work with the Indian Department

Which quote from the text helps develop the idea that the Ghost Dance was believed to be one of the last hopes for many Native Americans living on the reservation?

• a. “I will tell you the reason for the trouble. When we first made treaties with the Government, our old life and our old customs were about to end...” (Paragraph 1)

• b. “Great efforts were made to break up our customs, but nothing was done to introduce us to customs of the whites.” (Paragraph 5)

• c. “The people did not know; they did not care; they snatched at hope; they screamed like crazy people to Him for mercy they caught at the promise they heard he made.” (Paragraph 9)

• d. “We begged for life and the white men thought we wanted theirs; we heard the soldiers coming. We did not fear.” (Paragraph 10)

Part A: How does Red Cloud order the ideas in his speech?

• a. by outlining the plan to help Native Americans assimilate to life on the reservation

• b. by stating all of the resources that were taken and replaced by the Indian Department

• c. by providing examples of the terrible acts Native Americans were forced to do on the reservation

• d. by highlighting the challenges Native Americans faced while living under the care of the Indian Department

Part B: What effect does the order of ideas have on the meaning of the speech?

• a. It justifies the Native Americans’ response at Wounded Knee.

• b. It defends the actions of the Indian Department at Wounded Knee.

• c. depicts the Indian Department’s struggle to provide for the Native Americans.

• d. It emphasizes the importance of the Indian Department for the survival of Native Americans.

What is Red Cloud’s point of view regarding the “Indian Department” that was left in charge of reservation life?

• a. He blamed them for the Wounded Knee massacre.

• b. He sympathized with their efforts to help the reservation.

• c. He believed the department was unnecessary for the Native Americans’ wellbeing.

• d. He considered them corrupt individuals that did not improve life on the reservation.

Part A: What is Red Cloud’s purpose for recounting his experiences on the reservation?

• a. to show that the Government did not help the Native American people

• b. to criticize the actions of the Native American people in a time of desperation

• c. to prove that the Native American people that fled were mistreated and scared

• d. to illustrate the needs of the Native American people in order to survive on the reservation

Part B: Which phrases does Red Cloud use to emphasize this purpose?

• a “mocked in our misery” and “could not be induced to return”

• b. “large number of agents” and “promised all the means necessary”

• c. “replaced by oxen and large horses” and “wanted the ways of the whites”

• d. “we first made treaties with the Government” and “all was done to discourage us”