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Understanding Native American resistance movements is essential for grasping the broader themes of colonialism, sovereignty, and cultural survival that define the history of the Southwest. These movements weren't isolated events—they represent a continuous thread of Indigenous agency stretching from the 1680 Pueblo Revolt to the 2016 Standing Rock protests. You're being tested on your ability to recognize patterns: how colonial policies provoked resistance, why certain tactics emerged in specific contexts, and what these movements reveal about power dynamics between Indigenous nations and colonial/federal governments.
The key to excelling on exams is seeing resistance not as a series of dates to memorize, but as strategic responses to particular threats—whether Spanish religious suppression, U.S. military campaigns, forced relocations, or modern infrastructure projects threatening sacred lands. Each movement demonstrates concepts like collective action, cultural revitalization, legal advocacy, and media strategy. Don't just memorize who led what uprising—know what type of resistance each movement represents and why that approach made sense in its historical moment.
When Indigenous peoples faced direct military threats to their lands and lives, armed resistance often became the primary response. These conflicts demonstrate how Native nations employed sophisticated military strategies—from coordinated uprisings to guerrilla warfare—to defend sovereignty against technologically superior forces.
Compare: Pueblo Revolt vs. Apache Wars—both were armed resistance against colonial powers, but the Pueblo Revolt succeeded through coordinated mass uprising while Apache resistance relied on prolonged guerrilla tactics. If an FRQ asks about effective resistance strategies, note how context shaped approach: concentrated settlements enabled Pueblo coordination, while Apache mobility suited hit-and-run warfare.
Federal policies of removal and concentration onto reservations provoked distinct forms of resistance. These movements reveal how Indigenous peoples responded to displacement through both physical resistance and strategic negotiation, often combining survival tactics with long-term political advocacy.
Compare: Navajo Long Walk vs. Ghost Dance—both emerged from federal concentration policies, but Navajo resistance ultimately achieved territorial restoration through negotiation, while the Ghost Dance's spiritual approach was met with military violence. This contrast illustrates how federal responses varied based on perceived threat level.
The mid-20th century saw a strategic shift toward political organizing, media attention, and legal advocacy. These movements applied lessons from the Civil Rights era while asserting distinctly Indigenous frameworks of treaty rights and sovereignty.
Compare: Alcatraz vs. Wounded Knee—both were AIM-era occupations using media attention strategically, but Alcatraz emphasized symbolic reclamation of "unused" federal land while Wounded Knee confronted both federal and tribal governance failures. Wounded Knee's armed nature and historical location made it more confrontational and legally risky.
Some resistance efforts focused less on specific confrontations and more on building sustained political movements and cross-community alliances. These approaches demonstrate how Indigenous activism evolved to incorporate coalition-building, environmental justice frameworks, and social media organizing.
Compare: Red Power Movement vs. Standing Rock—both built broad coalitions, but Red Power focused on pan-Indian political unity while Standing Rock expanded to include non-Indigenous environmental allies. Standing Rock's success in generating mainstream support suggests how framing Indigenous rights within environmental justice can broaden appeal.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Armed resistance to colonialism | Pueblo Revolt, Apache Wars, Geronimo's Resistance |
| Resistance to forced relocation | Navajo Long Walk, Ghost Dance Movement |
| Coordinated multi-community action | Pueblo Revolt, Standing Rock |
| Guerrilla warfare tactics | Apache Wars, Geronimo's Resistance |
| Spiritual/cultural resistance | Ghost Dance Movement, Pueblo Revolt |
| Media-focused activism | Alcatraz Occupation, Standing Rock |
| Legal/treaty rights advocacy | AIM, Red Power Movement |
| Coalition and alliance building | Red Power Movement, Standing Rock |
Compare and contrast the Pueblo Revolt and the Apache Wars: What different resistance strategies did each employ, and how did their geographic and social contexts shape these approaches?
Which two movements used occupation of symbolic locations as their primary tactic? What made these sites strategically important for generating media attention?
If an FRQ asked you to trace the evolution of Indigenous resistance tactics from the 19th to 21st centuries, which three movements would best illustrate the shift from armed conflict to political/legal advocacy?
Both the Ghost Dance Movement and Standing Rock protests incorporated spiritual elements into their resistance. How did federal/public responses to these spiritual dimensions differ, and what does this reveal about changing attitudes toward Indigenous rights?
Which movements best demonstrate the concept of pan-Indian unity—the idea that diverse tribal nations could organize around shared goals despite cultural and historical differences? What factors made such unity possible in these cases but not in earlier periods?