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Great Plains Reservation
In 1834, the federal government had passed an act that designated the entire Great Plains as one enormous reservation, or land set aside for Native American tribes. -
Boundary Changes
In the 1850's the government changed its policy and created treaties that defined specific boundaries for each tribe. -
Sand Creek Massacre
This attack happened at dawn and killed over 150 people, mostly women and children. -
Fetterman Massacre/Battle of the Hundred Slain
Crazy Horse ambushed William J. Fetterman and his company at Lodge Trail Ridge. Over 80 soliders were killed. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
This treaty stated that 'the Sioux will agree to live along the Missouri River', was forced upon the Sioux. Sitting Bull never signed it. -
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Red River War
Kiowa and Comanche engaged in six years of raiding that finally led to the Red River War. -
Battle of Little Big Horn
The Native Americans crushed Custer and his troops within an hour of the fight. Eventually, Sitting Bull had to surrender to keep his people alive. -
Dawes Act
Congress act passed the Dawes Act aiming to "Americanize" the Native Americans. The act broke up the reservations and gave some of the reservation land to individual Native Americans. -
Battle of Wounded Knee
The Seventh Calvary slaughtered as many as 300 unarmed Native Americans, including several children. The soliders left the corpses to freeze on the ground. This war brought the Indian wars, and an entire era, to an end.