STORY: “The Death of Marcus Whitman”

1. Name the Indian tribe and the location where Henry and Eliza Spaulding settled to spread God’s word.

Nez Perce

2. According to the missionaries, what were the Indians supposed to become if they were to glorify God?

Become farmers and homemakers

3. List several chores that Mary Walker and her husband did which kept them from their missionary duties. What activity did they not do that they should have done?

A. Digging wells, herding livestock, gardening, making shoes, butchering meat, dipping candles, making soap, baking bread, washing clothes, sewing, milking cows, raising children
B. Learing the Indian language

4. What turned Whitman’s energies away from converting Indians?

Helping the pioneers on the Oregon Trail

5. What happened to Narcissa Whitman’s daughter?

Alice Clarrissa Whitman drowned at the age of 2 in the Walla Walla River.

6. How did the measles effect white children and how did it effect the Indians?

White children survived the disease and the Indians, adults as well as children, died.

7. How many Cayuse Indians died of the measles?

About half of the tribe of 350

8. What did the Indians believe was the cause of their sickness?

The Indians believed that Dr. Whitman was poisoning Indian children even as he pretended to treat them.

9. How many people were killed and how many died later?

Fourteen were killed, 11 men, one woman and two children; three more children died of measles from the lack of attention.

10. How did the Hudson Bay Company help after the massacre?

They ransomed 47 hostages.

11. What did the Cayuse do to the mission?

They burned it.

12. What law was passed by Congress as a result of the Whitman Massacre?

The law established the Oregon Territory.

13. How did the Cayuse Indians buy peace for themselves? What happened to them?

Five warriors (including Tiloukaikt and Tomahas) gave themselves up. All five were given a trial and hung.