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Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson submitted a bill to Congress calling for the removal of tribes in the east to lands west of the Mississippi. On May 28th, the Indian Removal Act was passed, and from 1830 to 1840 thousands of Native Americans were forcibly removed. Indian Removal Act -
California Gold Rush of 1849
James Marshall discovers gold near Sutter's Fort, California. This news of gold spreads among the Americans, increasing the want of westward expansion for the gold. This eventually becomes a problem for both the Indians and the Americans, since the Indians don't want the Americans moving into their territory. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 was signed between United States treaty commissioners and representatives of the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Navajo Crow, Shoshone, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations. The treaty sets forth traditional territorial claims of the tribes. The Indians guaranteed safe passage for settlers on the Oregon Trail in return for promises of an annuity in the amount of fifty thousand dollars for fifty years. Treaty of Fort Laramie -
Grattan Massacre (Mormon Cow Incident)
A small group of soldiers entered a large Sioux encampment to arrest a man accused of taking a migrant's cow. After one of the soldiers shot Chief Conquering Bear in the back and killed him, the Brulé Lakotas returned fire and killed a total of forty-eight soldiers, Lieutenant John Grattan, and a civilian interpreter. This is also the start of the Indian Wars.*** (Grattan Massacre) -
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American Civil War
Fought 1861-1865, the American Civil War was the result of decades of sectional tensions between the North and South. Focused on slavery and states rights, these issues came to a head following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. With the end of fighting a period known as Reconstruction began, with Union troops occupying Southern states and overseeing their gradual reintegration into the Union. -
Treaty of 1868 (Second Fort Laramie Treaty)
This treaty guaranteed the Sioux Indians' rights to the Black Hills of Dakota and gave the Sioux hunting permission beyond reservation boundaries. The treaty also creates the Great Sioux Reservation and agrees that the Sioux do not cede their hunting grounds in Montana and Wyoming territories. The Army agrees to abandon the forts on the Bozeman Trail and the Indians agree to become "civilized." Treaty of 1868 -
Transcontinental Railroad Complete
With the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, this impacted the Natives and their lives significantly. Because of the expansion of this railroad, it meant getting rid of the wildlife in order to make room for it. This did not make the Indians happy since it decreased the buffalo herds in the Indian territory. This also gave the Americans more of a reason topush forward for westward expansion. Transcontinental Railroad -
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Buffalo Hunts by Americans
Throughout this time period, whites were coming into the Indian territories because of the buffalo. They killed the buffalo because of their hide, which was highly profitable back then. Certain Americans (most likely hunters) also killed the buffalo because it was seen as a type of "sport" or enjoyment for them. Picture -
U.S. Seizes Black Hills
This treaty officially took away Sioux land, and permanently established Indian reservations. Article 1 of the act modifies the boundaries of reservations stated in the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, while Article 2 allows the United States government to establish roads for settlers to travel upon when crossing the territory. U.S. Takes Black Hills -
End of Indian Wars (Battle of Wounded Knee)
American troops went into a camp to disarm the Lakota. It is claimed that when they were disarming the Lakota, a deaf tribesman named Black Coyote wasn't giving up his rifle. A scuffle over Black Coyote's rifle escalated and a shot was fired which resulted in the military opening fire on the Indians, killing men, women, and children.Those few Lakota warriors who still had weapons began shooting back. By the time it was over, at least 150 Lakota had been killed. Battle of Wounded Knee
