Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 1 Indigenous…
Full specification wording
Option P3: Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 1 Indigenous peoples of the Plains: their beliefs and ways of life: Beliefs about land and nature and attitudes to war and property.
Plains Indians believed that land and nature were sacred, created by the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka).
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Plains Indians believed that land and nature were sacred, created by the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka). They viewed the earth as their mother, meaning land could not be bought, sold, or owned by individuals, which fundamentally clashed with white settler concepts of property. Nature was respected, and all living things had spirits. Property was communal; wealth was measured in horses, not land. War was fought for prestige, revenge, or resources, rather than territorial conquest. Counting coup (touching an enemy without killing them) was the highest honour, demonstrating bravery while minimising casualties, reflecting their need to preserve life for tribal survival.
What earns the marks
- Explain the belief in the Great Spirit and the sacred nature of the land, using examples such as the Black Hills.
- Contrast Plains Indian views on communal land use with white American concepts of individual land ownership.
- Describe the practice of 'counting coup' and how it relates to their attitudes towards war, bravery, and preserving life.
- Explain that property was generally shared within the band, with horses being the primary measure of individual wealth and status.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming Plains Indians fought wars to conquer and hold new territory.
Put it right: Explain that wars were fought for resources, revenge, or honour (counting coup), not to permanently conquer land.
Stating that Plains Indians had no concept of property whatsoever.
Put it right: Clarify that while land could not be owned, they did own personal items, weapons, and horses.
Assuming all Native American tribes had identical beliefs.
Put it right: Focus specifically on the nomadic Plains Indians' beliefs, which were uniquely adapted to their environment.
Exam tips
- Use the term 'counting coup' when discussing attitudes to war to demonstrate specific subject knowledge.
- When explaining conflict with settlers, explicitly link it to the fundamental difference in beliefs about land ownership.
- Avoid generalisations; refer specifically to Plains Indian beliefs such as the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka) to strengthen your explanations.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P3: Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 1 Indigenous peoples of the Plains: their beliefs and ways of life: Beliefs about land and nature and attitudes to war and property. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes the traditional Plains Indian belief regarding the ownership of land?
Listen
Plains Indians believed that land and nature were sacred, created by the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka). They viewed the earth as their mother, meaning land could not be bought, sold, or owned by individuals, which fundamentally clashed with white settler concepts of property. Nature was respected, and all living things had spirits. Property was communal; wealth was measured in horses, not land. War was fought for prestige, revenge, or resources, rather than territorial conquest. Counting coup (touching an enemy without killing them) was the highest honour, demonstrating bravery while minimising casualties, reflecting their need to preserve life for tribal survival. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the belief in the Great Spirit and the sacred nature of the land, using examples such as the Black Hills. Contrast Plains Indian views on communal land use with white American concepts of individual land ownership. Describe the practice of 'counting coup' and how it relates to their attitudes towards war, bravery, and preserving life. Explain that property was generally shared within the band, with horses being the primary measure of individual wealth and status. A common slip: Claiming Plains Indians fought wars to conquer and hold new territory. Instead, Explain that wars were fought for resources, revenge, or honour (counting coup), not to permanently conquer land. Exam tip: Use the term 'counting coup' when discussing attitudes to war to demonstrate specific subject knowledge.
Key words
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Culture and beliefs
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Land ownership
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Conflict and tension
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Social organisation
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See every definition
- Culture and beliefs
- Plains Indians held that land and nature were sacred, created by the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka), and that the earth was their mother.
- Land ownership
- Land could not be bought, sold, or owned by individuals, which clashed with white settler concepts of property.
- Conflict and tension
- War was fought for prestige, revenge, or resources rather than territorial conquest, and counting coup was the highest honour.
- Social organisation
- Property was communal and wealth was measured in horses, not land.
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