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Fort Laramie Treaty
Signed on September 17th, 1851, Fort Laramie Treaty guranteed the Native Americans a reserved spot of land that would be there's forever, along with the U.S. government giving them money, domestic animals, agricultural tools, and other goods. The importance of this treaty was that it brought a temporary piece between settlers and Native Americans, but lead to the Chivington Massacre in 1864, which would lead to a public outcry among America, and more problems for the Native Americans. -
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Comstock Lode
The Comstock Lode was in essence the discovery of silver ore in the west which lead to the discovery of gold and in effect cased boom towns, jobs, and large numbers of people mirgating from the east to the west. The mines died down around 1874. -
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The First Transcontinental Railroad
Two companies, Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, began constructing the first transcontinental railroad across the United States, beginning in Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California, the railroad took 6 years to complete and once completed, it completely changed everything it touched, bringing settlers to new homes, speeding up trade incredibly and uniting the U.S. in a new way like never before. -
Chivingtons Massacre ( Sand Creek Massacre)
Chivingtons Massacre was one of the most brutal and bloody events that were inflicted on the Native Americans during this time period. Colonel John Chivington and his militia brutally mutilated and killed 200 women, men, and children in a peaceful Native village, in retaliation to the Native American attacks on settlers. Sand Creek Massacre lead to a public outcry against the violence.Chivingtons Massacre was a sign of how bad things became between settlers and Natives. -
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The Cattle Kingdom
Demand for beef was high in the United Sates and so Cowhands would herd cattle from southern Texas, where stray cattle from Mexican Ranches had increased in number. Cowhands would use trails called Cattle Drives to drive their cattle up to railroads. Not only did this provide beef, it also helped grow towns in the west. Sadly, the Cattle Kingdom lasted a short 20 years. -
Battle of Little Big Horn (Custers Last Stand)
After prospectors found gold in Native American reservations, Colonel George A. Custer led some 600 men into Little Bighorn Valley to protect miners. With 2,000 indians awaiting Custer, Custer divided his men and with 225 men lead them against the Natives. Sadly all of the soldiers lost their lives. This lead to congress halting food rations, starving the Natives until they agreed to the United States terms. This resulted in Native Americnas losing 1/3 of their promised land. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act was an attempt to merge cultures. It encouraged Native Americans to become farmers. The act gave Natives land to farm but to Natives, land was for riding and hunting so this lead to them selling their land for low prices, thus making the act unsuccessful. The act was an example of how diverse the two cultures were and how difficult it was to merge cultures and form an understanding and peace. -
Massacre at Wounded Knee
Groups of Lakota were fleeing the country with the U.S. Army pursuing them. In present day South Dakota, Natives were surrendering their guns when a shot rang out and the U.S. Army opened fire killing 300 women, men, and children. The massacre at Wounded Knee led to the end of the Ghost Dance tradition among Natives and another sign of the ending Native life.
