Explain how the discovery of gold influenced events leading up to Chief Joseph's War. (4 points)
1. The discovery of gold in the 1860s in the region inhabited by the Nez Perce people led to an influx of prospectors and settlers into their lands. This resulted in increased tensions between the Nez Perce and the newcomers as the settlers encroached on their traditional hunting grounds and disrupted their way of life.
2. The influx of settlers also put pressure on the US government to acquire Nez Perce land for further development and exploitation of resources. This led to a series of broken treaties and agreements with the Nez Perce as the government sought to force them onto reservations.
3. The discovery of gold further intensified these tensions as prospectors and settlers were unwilling to respect the Nez Perce's rights to their land and resources. As a result, the Nez Perce were pushed further and further into smaller and smaller reservations, leading to feelings of resentment and betrayal among their people.
4. Chief Joseph's War, also known as the Nez Perce War, was ultimately sparked by the US government's attempt to force the Nez Perce to relocate to a reservation in 1877. The discovery of gold in their territory played a significant role in the events leading up to the war by fueling the conflict over land and resources between the Nez Perce and the settlers and government forces.