Great plains

Conflict on the Great Plains

By hfxwilber2

  • Sand Creek Massacre

    Sand Creek Massacre
    The Pike's Peak Gold Rush in 1858 angered the Indians, causing them to attack anyone who came across their path. So the Indians and U.S. soldiers had battles and arguments over the matter until the Indians surrendered. But, a ranked officer named Chivington wouldn't let it end there. He wanted the Indians to suffer more, so he set up camp at Sand Creek and ambushed the indians, brutally murdering about 150 of them. (mostly elderly, women and children)

  • Fetterman Massacre

    Fetterman Massacre
    U.S. troops were manning a Fort on the Bozeman Trail in Wyoming that was used by prospectors heading towards Montana. Meanwhile, a group of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors were planning an attack. They sent the Sioux military leader, Crazy Horse, out as a distraction. At the sight of crazy horse, the fort commander sent 80 U.S. troops out in pursuit of him, but there were hundreds of Native American warriors waiting for an ambush, killing U.S. troops

  • Treaty of Fort Laramie

    Treaty of Fort Laramie
    A treaty made at Fort Laramie in Wyoming where the Sioux indians agreed to keep peace with the U.S. and stay on the land of the Black Hills.

  • 1874 Discovery

    1874 Discovery
    Custer led an expedition to the Black Hills because it was rumored to house gold. This broke the Treaty of Fort Laramie, which angered the Native Americans, leading to the Battle of Little Bighorn.

  • Battle of Little Bighorn

    Battle of Little Bighorn
    Caused by the Discovery of 1874. Custer commanded his regiment to attack Sioux and Cheyenne Indians to get the land of the Black Hills so they could search for gold. Custer was greatly outnumbered 250 soldiers to thousands of Indian Warriors. Custer and all of his men lost their lives. This shocked the U.S. citizens that they had lost.

  • Ghost Dance

    Ghost Dance
    This was a ritual done by the Sioux Indians to express their culture, lead by Chief Sitting Bull. It alarmed reservation officers and Sitting Bull was shot during an argument about the rituals

  • Battle of Wounded Knee

    Battle of Wounded Knee
    Hundreds of Lakota Sioux fled to a creek called Wounded Knee after Sitting Bull's death. So, the U.S. army went out to the creek to collect the Native Americans' weapons; its not known how the fighting started, but an unexpected gunshot started the battle. More than 300 Sioux and 25 soldiers were killed