Greatplains

Conflict on the Great Plains

By hfxamorie

  • Homestead Act of 1862

    Homestead Act of 1862
    The Homestead Act gave 160 acres of free land to settlers. They would then pay a filing fee and live on the land for five years. This act brought new settlers such as farmers, immagrants, and women to the land. Homestead is the earned ownership of land by settling on it. This took place in Colorado and Wyoming.

  • Fetterman Massacre

    Fetterman Massacre
    While army troops were guarding a fort, they were tricked into an ambush. "Crazy Horse", a Sioux military leader, acted as a decoy to lead U.S. troops into a trap. The troops were ambushed and killed by warriors. The Sioux warriors won the battle. This took place in Wyoming.

  • Treaty of Fort Laramie

    Treaty of Fort Laramie
    A treaty was established at Fort Laramie to bring peace between the Sioux and the whites. It granted the Native Americans the Black Hills to use as reservation land. The treaty was honored until General Custer led minors into the Black Hills to search for gold, invading the Sioux's land. Battles continued between the Sioux and the U.S. Army until the land was later confiscated. This took place in Wyoming.

  • Discovery of 1874

    Discovery of 1874
    An army expedition was led by General Custer to look for gold. They found gold saying it was "from the grass roots down." This brought many prospectors to the area. This took place in Wyoming.

  • Battle of Little Bighorn

    Battle of Little Bighorn
    Colonel George Custer led an army of 250 U.S. troops to attack the Native Americans. The Sioux and Cheyenne were ready with thousands of warriors. The warriors killed Custer and all of his troops. Soon after, the army crushed the tribes and they were forced to live on reservations to escape hunger and exhaustion. This took place in Montana.

  • Ghost Dance

    Ghost Dance
    The Native Americans went to a prophet seeking a way to restore their culture. The prophet told them to perform a ritual known as the Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance helped the Native Americans express their culture which was being destroyed. The Ghost Dance was banned by officials and it was believed that Chief Sitting Bull was leading the Ghost Dance. He was shot when officials tried to arrest him.

  • Wounded Knee

    Wounded Knee
    Lakota Sioux fled to a creek called Wounded Knee after Sitting Bull was killed. The army went to collect the Sioux's weapons and a fight broke out. There were over 200 Native Americans and 25 U.S. troops killed. This marked the end of fighting between whites and Native Americans. This took place in South Dakota.